I remember how special Sunday mornings were in my household. My dad would have one of us kids bring in the newspaper and we’d divide it up: my dad would get the main section, my oldest brother would get sports, my second oldest would get the entertainment, and I would reach for the comics. My mom was always so disappointed because I wanted the part of the newspaper that was the “least educated…” I”m glad she never saw me salivate over the coupon section.
Anyhow, the first comic read was always Peanuts. I would always crack up at the antics of Charlie Brown and the gang… my favorite character was Snoopy… he could do everything and do it well. The dog was Joe Cool, after all.
Like many of you, I watched every Charlie Brown television special and knew them by heart. One aspect of these specials – the music – has thankfully never been overlooked as an integral part of the presentation. Vince Guaraldi‘s scores played a major role in not only defining the cartoon and characters, but it also showed how jazz still had an influence on popular culture. I can’t tell you how many hours my brothers and I spent at the piano, trying to figure out “Linus and Lucy,” perhaps the most famous Guaraldi composition
It’s been 34 years since Guaraldi’s unfortunate passing, and his music is still as alive today as ever, thanks to artists like George Winston Winston has already released a collection of Guaraldi’s pieces in an album called Linus and Lucy – The Music of Vince Guaraldi, and he’s continued this homage to one of his musical idols with another volume titled Love Will Come – The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 2. This solo-piano album goes deeper into Guaraldi’s catalog while reimagining some of his classic Peanuts scores.
I’m always interested to know how one artist gets excited about another, so I was pleased that the CD’s liner notes included inston’s recounting of the first time he saw a Charlie Brown special:
“On Thursday, December 9, 1965, I saw the first broadcast of the Charlie Brown Christmas episode on TV. I was enjoying the show, and then the scene happened when Charlie Brown was trying to get the kids in line to rehearse for the annual Christmas play. He asks Schroeder to set the mood with some Christmas music, and instead Schroeder plays Linus and Lusy and the kids dance. As the song was played twice more in the episode, I went more and more crazy over it.”
He goes on to say, “I went with my friend Clark Cochran to a record store in Miami the next night, and I saw the soundtrack album of A Charlie Brown Christmas displayed up on the wall at the store. That’s when I realized that the soundtrack was by Vince Guaraldi… I could believe it, and I was so excited ‘that song’ might be on the record. I bought it, went home immediately, and played the beginning of each song until i found it.”
I own a few of Guaraldi’s Peanuts scores, so it’s great to hear Winston perform some of the pieces on the first volume, but much of Love Will Come – The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 2 is unfamiliar to me. Winston has put together a fine tribute in showing the range of Guaraldi’s skills as a player and composer. You’ll find Lyrical and Impressionistic Jazz (as Winston categorizes it) in pieces like “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown,” or Mainstream Jazz/Bebop in “Air Music,” and then there’s the Up-tempo Peanuts Music found in songs like “Woodstock” and “You’re Elected Charlie Brown.” It’s a fun listen and suits me perfectly when I want to unwind and just enjoy what life has to offer at that moment.
My absolute favorite track off this album didn’t end up to be part of the Charlie Brown repertoire. “Love Will Come 2″ was apparently a music cue that was never used… Winston’s interpretation is gorgeous and so very peaceful… and has been on repeat now for the past thirty minutes. I’ve included it in the Dig-It section below because it’s a must-hear in my book.
Here’s a video of Winston performing “Great Pumpkin Waltz / In Love Charlie Brown” with bits of an interview with Winston thrown in to boot.
I’ve been spinning this album for the past few weeks, and it’s brought back so many memories for me. It’s hard to imagine what the Peanuts television specials would have been like without Guaraldi’s score… and it’s even harder to imagine that some CBS executives at the time didn’t want jazz for the soundtrack. George Winston put it well when he said that “Vince Guaraldi and his music are so much a part of the deep heart and soul of SanFrancisco, and of the experience of childhood, and beyond.”
If you’re looking for an addition to your “chill out” music library, this will fit quite nicely. If you’d like another Winston album to check out, click here.
Your Dig-It Downloads:
Download: Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
Download: Love Will Come 2
Buy George Winston on Amazon
Buy George Winston on iTunes
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Brings back a lot of good memories for me as well, I love Charlie Brown and the Peanuts comics, and even though I unfortunately never thought about it the music during those specials was so important and so recognizable.
I can't imagine being that relevant that 34 years later people are still writing about my contribution. How amazing is that!
Wow – had no idea this was out. I love Guaraldi's stuff, and my dad is a big Winston (and Guaraldi fan), so this is a must purchase for him!
I have been bonkers for the Guaraldi/Peanuts music since first listen, when I was about FIVE. I was riveted. After that, I had to hear every single note, every single special, every single year, just as much as I had to see every single thing Snoopy did (comic genius) and read every Peanuts comic book published.
Name one movie or TV series where the choice of music was MORE integral to the show.
To this day, just the first notes of “Christmastime is Here” can reduce me to tears. It is simply NOT Christmas without hearing the whole soundtrack. EVERY YEAR.
Delighted Winston is keeping him alive.