Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas: You cannot fuck with this album.

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This is in my top 10 ever, so I'm not hating. But, has anyone else felt jarred by the Hark the Herald Angels number? I feel like it's at a different volume than the rest of the record.

Bobbi Peru, Thursday, 13 December 2007 20:36 (eighteen years ago)

LP on sale for $7!
http://www.turntablelab.com/vinyl/147/434/2635.html

mizzell, Thursday, 20 December 2007 13:17 (eighteen years ago)

It truly is one of the very few albums I can listen to in seemingly endless rotations (so long as it's December, that is).

Alex in NYC, Thursday, 20 December 2007 13:23 (eighteen years ago)

"Hark the Herald Angels Sing". It's cute, but can also be a mood killer.

It's grown on me, but it's taken a long while. I agree, though -- it does act as a mood killer. If not killer, then certainly a mood maimer.

Alex in NYC, Thursday, 20 December 2007 13:25 (eighteen years ago)

Guaraldi hits a few clinkers during his Charlie Parkerish take on "O Tannenbaum," but I could care less. The epitome of a cool yule.
I had the earlier version of the album and the sound quality of the reissue is dramatically improved.

Jazzbo, Thursday, 20 December 2007 14:12 (eighteen years ago)

So unfuckwithable. This shit just rules.

B.L.A.M., Thursday, 20 December 2007 19:55 (eighteen years ago)

Most of the Peanuts TV specials did get screened in Britain but I don't recall ever seeing the Christmas one.

Nonetheless I did go out and buy this album last weekend on the basis of the above recommendations and it is indeed a lovely and wistful thing, sort of a missing link between Bill Evans' Conversations With Myself and Low's Christmas. The vocal version of "Christmas Time Is Here" would have caused a sensation if Brian Wilson had come up with it, except that the absence of harmonies - the kids all sing the topline of the melody - makes it even more poignant. Not sure that "Hark The Herald Angels" acappella quite works in this context, though.

Dingbod Kesterson, Friday, 21 December 2007 09:19 (eighteen years ago)

Also, "Skating" has one of the loveliest chord sequences ever. It's a real tragedy that Guaraldi died so young.

Dingbod Kesterson, Friday, 21 December 2007 09:21 (eighteen years ago)

eleven months pass...

I'm a year late but it's that gruesome time again.This reminds me of proper Xmas. Those that don't happen anymore. Cry.
Got this at the weekend and came on here just knowing there would be a thread.

You're all so otfm.
'Skating' is indeed beautiful, 'Linus and Lucy' is as great as ever but 'Christmas Is Coming' is also so good, eventhough the jazz breakdown pushes it slightly too much for these ears.

So where do I turn next Guaraldi wise? Or anybody in a similar vein

Appreciated

Oh and Merry Fucking Christmas

Fer Ark, Monday, 1 December 2008 22:18 (seventeen years ago)

Aw Fk _I missed 'Christmas Time is Here'...

Fer Ark, Monday, 1 December 2008 22:30 (seventeen years ago)

Oh and Merry Fucking Christmas
― Fer Ark (13 minutes ago)

Aw Fk _I missed 'Christmas Time is Here'...
― Fer Ark (1 minute ago)

Yer one contradictory dude! :)

t**t, Monday, 1 December 2008 22:36 (seventeen years ago)

O and Merry Fookin Xmas to ya too, then!

t**t, Monday, 1 December 2008 22:37 (seventeen years ago)

Sorry, I was wrapping presents and lost the end of the sellotape - lost my temper too ;-)

Fer Ark, Monday, 1 December 2008 22:45 (seventeen years ago)

A remarkably early wrapper, you.

I wish I could talk more 'bout Vince Guaraldi but, eh, I've only heard a couple of tunes by him.

t**t, Monday, 1 December 2008 22:59 (seventeen years ago)

Hah - I played this last friday night to some random drunken chixorz

baaderonixx, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 08:32 (seventeen years ago)

so, uh, BEST ALBUM EVER!

Mangiafuoco (PappaWheelie V), Tuesday, 2 December 2008 08:34 (seventeen years ago)

So true, on my pod all year round...

MaresNest, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 10:06 (seventeen years ago)

Last night I saw my son dancing to this album and oh, it was total happiness...

Marco Damiani, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 15:22 (seventeen years ago)

:-D And how is that good little dude?

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 15:27 (seventeen years ago)

very well indeed! - but the news is that he will be joined by 2 (TWO!) little brothers next March...next Christmas will be busy around here.

Marco Damiani, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 15:30 (seventeen years ago)

! (Did I mention I was planning on swinging by your neck of the woods again in June...)

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 15:37 (seventeen years ago)

This just means we will place you in the twins' room - and good luck! : )

Marco Damiani, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 15:54 (seventeen years ago)

Hahah.

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 15:58 (seventeen years ago)

So did Vince ever sing any numbers other than "Joe Cool" and "Little Birdie"? He should have!

Ruudside Picnic (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 2 December 2008 16:04 (seventeen years ago)

Seriously, Ned, just let me know when. Mi casa su casa!

Marco Damiani, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 16:09 (seventeen years ago)

Will do!

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 2 December 2008 16:12 (seventeen years ago)

eleven months pass...

everyone start listening to this album again, at the request of chaki

house of flying jaggers (J0rdan S.), Monday, 16 November 2009 07:57 (sixteen years ago)

Always do, always will, as evinced upthread, there's just some shit you can't mess with.

MaresNest, Monday, 16 November 2009 11:56 (sixteen years ago)

it is way too early to revive xmas album threads but y this is fucking xcllnt

plaxico (I know, right?), Monday, 16 November 2009 12:15 (sixteen years ago)

not yet, but soon. this album still has such an aura and power and is tied to so many memories that i really try not to play it outside of december, out of fear that it will lose its punch. but i would second black orpheus as a capable placeholder in the meantime.

rent, Monday, 16 November 2009 12:29 (sixteen years ago)

Too early to play it just yet, but just an hour ago I was thinking about giving this as my Secret Santa present to a workmate.

Officer Pupp, Monday, 16 November 2009 14:51 (sixteen years ago)

I'm not ashamed to admit I listened to some Xmas tunes last night and enjoyed it.

o. nate, Monday, 16 November 2009 17:36 (sixteen years ago)

Classic, times infinity. One of the few Christmas records that I can still enjoy front-to-back.

Tantrum The Cat, Monday, 16 November 2009 18:20 (sixteen years ago)

Always a tiny thrill when "Skating" or "Christmas is Coming" kicks in during shuffle play

Race Against Rockism (Myonga Vön Bontee), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 16:04 (sixteen years ago)

I usually cant stand Christmas music, but this record is fantastic. The only other Guaraldi I know is James Gang's version of "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" which, if I remember right, is part the Bomber.

Bill Magill, Wednesday, 18 November 2009 16:43 (sixteen years ago)

love this stuff, also recommend the modern jazz quartet album "on tour" which hits a similar vibe as this

mr. que, covering up the vital parts, lest he embarrass the ladi (M@tt He1ges0n), Wednesday, 18 November 2009 16:47 (sixteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

i was about to post to the "hate everybody and everything" thread
and then i put this on. now is nice.
and dude died too early at 47.

Shackleton Crater (jdchurchill), Wednesday, 2 December 2009 21:44 (sixteen years ago)

ok but now is not too early 2 put this on!

plaxico (I know, right?), Wednesday, 2 December 2009 21:48 (sixteen years ago)

no i know, just sayin

Shackleton Crater (jdchurchill), Wednesday, 2 December 2009 21:49 (sixteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

http://indianapublicmedia.org/nightlights/jazz-charlie-brown-vince-guaraldi-story/
http://www.fivecentsplease.org/dpb/guaraldi.html

alter cocker jarvis cocker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 18 December 2009 16:38 (sixteen years ago)

"You'd never know when you were going to recognize him," Schulz once commented. "Something was always growing or not growing."

alter cocker jarvis cocker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 18 December 2009 19:42 (sixteen years ago)

havin a moment to this tbrr

sugg knight (The Reverend), Friday, 25 December 2009 10:44 (sixteen years ago)

prrrrrrum prrrrrrrum prrrrrum pum pum.

Brad Nelson (BradNelson), Friday, 25 December 2009 11:27 (sixteen years ago)

sweet icicles of piano

Brad Nelson (BradNelson), Friday, 25 December 2009 11:28 (sixteen years ago)

ten months pass...

way early i know but i'm just giving 'skating' my first listen of the year and :').

Antoine Bugleboy (Merdeyeux), Monday, 22 November 2010 23:50 (fifteen years ago)

I'm considering using Skating at my wedding next May.

let's all go down the strand.....galifianaaakis (MaresNest), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 00:12 (fifteen years ago)

i for one would offer much in the way of :') to that.

Antoine Bugleboy (Merdeyeux), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 00:14 (fifteen years ago)

The only Christmas album worth owning. All the others are cheesy classless novelties.

That's not a "laugh track", it's an audience and you're in it. (MintIce), Tuesday, 23 November 2010 00:38 (fifteen years ago)

Gidouddahere.

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 00:40 (fifteen years ago)

The only Christmas album worth owning. All the others are cheesy classless novelties.

This is a falsehood.

seandalai, Tuesday, 23 November 2010 00:47 (fifteen years ago)

awesome

Eric Blore Is President (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 13 February 2026 00:50 (three months ago)

so good

comrade jhøsh (k3vin k.), Friday, 13 February 2026 04:28 (three months ago)

I finally discovered/got around to the recordings with Bola Sete and have been binging on them nonstop, they're just so good. And some early versions of Charlie Brown Christmas material!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr9Uiw1b21U

waste of compute (One Eye Open), Sunday, 15 February 2026 16:30 (three months ago)


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