Charlie Brown Christmas

If “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is part of your Christmas memories, then a CD of the music is definitely worth owning. It contains many of the full versions of the music from the video (from which, parts were plucked to use in the video), plus some songs that were not on the video, but may be appealing since Vince Guaraldi plays them.However, there are some variances from the original video and, apparently, from CD to CD. I was fortunate enough to buy the Fantasy CD from 1988, which has all of the original music. If you look at these Amazon reviews, they span multiple CD versions, so you can’t tell, easily, to which versions the reviews apply. I think that you’d find reviews for grills here if the grill was named “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” This is very poor control on Amazon’s part but, unfortunately, common in their review system. I have read that the “Linus And Lucy” music can vary quite a bit, as an example. I have also read that the SACD version is accurate, but do not know if the current 2012 version is or is not.Although all of the CD’s contain the original recording of “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing”, none of them are the same version that was used in the video. In the video, they took this recording and slowed the singing section down by 9.7% (probably to fit the sequence), which also changed the pitch and tempo. The difference is noticeable and changes the feel, so the CD version may not sound quite right to you. However, the pre-singing part (dooo-dooo-dooo-etc) is normal time in the video, as is found on the CD. So, if you want the exact presentation as was in the video, you’ll have to use a program, such as Audacity (free), to adjust the speed of the singing part, slowing it down by 9.7%. Incidentally, if you also own the video, you will find that the end of the video has faded-out the end of this song. Originally, the video contained the full ending as found on the CD, but it also had a sponsor message that caused CBS to cut that ending out long ago (in the 60’s), leaving all copies without the original ending. So, if you make the speed adjustment with the singing part, you can also place that into the video (if you’re handy with video files) and then you will have the original full ending on your video as well (you’ll also have to reduce the amplification to match the video volume).

Perfect A+++++++++

I love this album! It’s great for Christmas, we have been using it every day since we got it and it’ll become a yearly December tradition in our household. Only complaint is the actual record doesn’t have any green on it, only red and white

This album embodies my generation's collective holiday musical memories. Charlie Brown Christmas was the holiday TV special that life stopped for. The gentle if slightly forlorn jazz piano of Vince Guaraldi gave just the right lilt to both the pleasantness of holiday memories but also the occasional blue underlying themes that can occur to some over the holidays. Simply put, Guaraldi's score is as close to perfection and tasteful understatement as it gets.However this reissue is suspect. There is actually more hiss, not less. The instruments are all more upfront in the mix but darn it I do not want louder, I want clearer. One can say at times certain minor details emerge not easily heard on other mixes but not enough here to be revelatory or satisfying. The inclusion of Halloween and Thanksgiving music here feels like a consolation prize that could be created through playlists anyway. This reissue tries to throw the music out of the bounds of subtlety that made it so beautiful in the first place. Someone obviously does not understand the meaning of Christmas here as this feels like, to quote our philosophical hero, "...just another commercial racket."

I don't know of anything ever reviewed on this site which seems to have inspired so much love. What else need be said? Like a score of other reviewers, I try to watch the television broadcast each and every time it comes on. What makes Guaraldi's music so memorable is the fact that upon hearing it, time seems to slip away. I defy anyone to listen to this music and not be transported back to the first time seeing "A Charlie Brown Christmas", and (hopefully) happy childhood memories.What makes it special is, as another reviewer has noted, it has just the slightest tinge of melancholy to it. Like good ol' Charlie Brown, many have a difficult time at Christmas because of personal difficulties (like lost loved ones, or even too-high expectations for the season.) But in the end, the joys outweigh the sorrows, and hope continues to spring eternal.Speaking more substantively, this music seems to be joyous and sad at the same time, as the best jazz can be. Guaraldi's score is gentle, cool and smooth. His fingers fly over the piano keys, and the instrumental backing to familiar Christmas carols is never overbearing, and remains the perfect compliment. I agree with another reviewer: there's really no point in trying to pick out any particular song over the others. They are all so special.Unlike most Christmas music, this CD is one that's simply cannot be played too often during the season. If you put this on at the office during the Christmas season (or any other time), people will stop by your place and join you in a smile.

The sound was comparable to (though not 100% as good as) a 180 gram black vinyl QRP pressing that I have. But, the quality was much, much better than the example of the 'green vinyl' that you also see advertised. I took off one star as the item I received has a very slight warp/hump, but not any worse than some of the other new vinyl I've gotten lately and it does not affect playback. If I decide to have this one replaced I'll update the review to include comment on the replacement.

This is now, by far, my FAVORITE holiday CD. I took the advice of another reviewer and bought it. If you want the full variety of the full original songs in the Peanuts Christmas show, this is what you need to get. Perfect and great sound!!!! Love it!!!!!!

Please note that this review is for the 16 track version of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" CD.This beautiful collection of mainly instrumental Christmas themed jazz recordings from Vince Guaraldi has an understated quality that will appeal to both young and old listeners - with the added advantage that it is an easy way to introduce todays children to the delights of Charlie Brown - when you show them the albums cover they are sure to be intrigued by the cartoon picture which may tempt them to watch Peanuts cartoons this Christmas, as well as to listen to beautifully performed easy listening jazz. The whole feel of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is one of nostalgia and of simpler times...The cd is presented in a gatefold package with the original 1965 sleeve notes on the inside plus there is a 12 page pullout that contains photos of Vince Guaraldi, a 4 page mini biography of Vince, as well as a tracklist that contains songs timings and writers. The stereo recordings are crisp and contain 4 alternative bonus tracks giving this iconic Christmas album a running time of just over 55 minutes.

I put this album on at Christmas as my wife and granddaughter decorated the Christmas tree.It was the closest I’ve got to a perfect Christmas moment ever

Love Peanuts and this is a great album for christmas. Its remastered but I haven't heard the old one to compare. Sounds great though and really clear on my B&O dock.The packaging is awesome too, comes with Snoopy's dog house and cardboard cut outs of some of the characters. Very festive.

So many lovely memories - only reminding us how old we are!

This music collection by the very talented Vince Guaraldi evokes the friendship and warmth we ought to have in our lives, especially with Christmas nearing, it is particularly resonating.