A previously unreleased Peanuts television soundtrack hits the mark again!
Vince Guaraldi – It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown! – Original Soundtrack Recording Peanuts 75th Anniversary Edition Lee Mendelson Film Productions LM25EB01 45 r.p.m. stereo vinyl [3/21/2025] ****1/2:
(Vince Guaraldi – piano, electric piano, electric harpsichord, electric guitar; Seward McCain – bass; Robert Claire – flute; Glen Cronkite – drums; Eliot Zigmund – drums; Mike Clark – drums; and special guest David Benoit – piano)
The pairing of Vince Guaraldi and the Peanuts franchise became a cultural phenomenon. Even though the San Francisco pianist/composer achieved Grammy recognition for his 1962 opus, “Cast Your Fate To The Wind”, wide commercial appeal often eluded jazz artists. That changed with the 1964 album, Jazz Impressions Of A Boy Named Charlie Brown. Piano jazz broke through to mainstream audiences, as Guaraldi composed the music for 16 television specials, establishing an unprecedented popularity with songs like “Linus And Lucy” and “Christmastime Is Here”. No other jazz composer had this impact. His fans included other renowned pianists like Dave Brubeck, George Winston and David Benoit.
Lee Mendelson Film Productions has released for the first time a 45 r.p.m. vinyl (also available on CD and digital) of the 12th Peanuts special, It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!. Like the other soundtracks, there are several new songs (with reprises, classical snippets and a surprise bonus). Side A opens with the finger-snapping, “Peppermint Patty”. Guaraldi plays electric piano for modern texture. “Easter Theme”/“Easter Theme Reprise” and Bach’s “Piano Sonata No.3 in C Major” are connections to classical music. Hitting a funkier groove, “Snoopy and Woodstock”, the irrepressible “Linus And Lucy” (which has a reworked arrangement) and “Woodstock’s Dream” are multi-faceted with some electric guitar (Guaraldi) for rock essence. Soaring and funky piano riffs infuse the different cuts, especially the reprise of “Woodstock’s Dream” (this tune and the variations represent the breezy aesthetics of this album). Guaraldi injects blues into the “kitchen music”. A certain highlight is the electric harpsichord rendition of Bach’s “Minuet In G Major” or “Music Box Dance”.
Those familiar with Guaraldi’s compositions will appreciate the jaunty 3/4 tempo flow (again with electric piano) on “Easter Egg Soup”. This is followed by two reprises of “Linus And Lucy” which also diverge from the original arrangement, but include the effervescent punctuation. There is more Beethoven (2 movements from “Symphony No. 7”). The first (“Allegretto”) imbues the moodiness with jazzy nuances. The “Vivace” is a sprightly flute interpretation. The last of the original studio recordings is a medley (“Salting Eggs”/“Linus And Lucy”). While the album consists of abbreviated songs, the finale moves in an expanded direction. David Benoit contributes a bonus track with two vibrant medleys. His acoustic piano runs are formidable and pay homage to the jazzy pedigree of Vince Guaraldi.
It is always a treat to hear vintage jazz for the first time. It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown! Is another glimpse into the artistic contribution of Vince Guaraldi and the beloved Peanuts legacy. This album was made with 100% sustainable Bio-vinyl. The mix is crisp and balanced. This 19-track vinyl will be followed by an Easter-egg-shaped mystery-color “selections from” eight-track, 10-inch versions on Record Store Day.
Highly recommended!
—Robbie Gerson
Vince Guaraldi – It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!
TrackList:
Side A:
Peppermint Patty; Easter Theme/Easter Theme (Reprise); Piano Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op 2 No. 3 – Allegro Con Brio; Snoopy And Woodstock; Linus And Lucy; Woodstock’s Dream; Snoopy’s Gumballs/Sally And Linus; Woodstocks Dream (Reprise); Marcie’s Song (Kitchen Music); Linus And Lucy (Reprise); Woodstock’s Pad; Woodstock’s Dream (2nd Reprise0; Music Box Dance (Minuet In G Major, BWV And. 116); Woodstock’s Dream (3rd Reprise)
Side B:
Easter egg Soup (Kitchen Music 2); Linus And Lucy (2nd Reprise)/Linus And Lucy (3rd Reprise); Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 – II. Allegreto; Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92 – I. Poco Sostenuto/Vivace; Salting Eggs/Linus And Lucy (4th Reprise); Bonus: Woodstock’s Medley (Woodstock’s Wake-Up Call/Little Birdie/ Woodstock’s Dream/Thanksgiving Theme/Little Birdie (Reprise).
