...every year around this time, I lift my hands to the heavens in praise that I don't have to listen to the radio because the holiday-themed schlock-fest that begins at the stroke of midnight on Thanksgiving always invokes projectile wretching but I'm not a total Grinch, yo...John Coltrane's cover of "My Favorite Things," notwithstanding, some of my favorite yuletide jazz jams comes from the Vince Guaraldi Trio, a group most widely known for spreading the jazzy sonic backdrop for those chuck Schulz Peanuts speacials...more precisely, The Charlie Brown suite I'd recommend a quick pass over Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits which is a great place to start if you're not familiar with the trio...while the instrumental version of "Christmas Time is Here" might be a trifle ubiquitous right about now, some of the cuts I'm checking are, "Joe Cool", "Great Pumpkin Waltz", "Charlie's Blues" and "Thanksgiving Theme" but the whole set is decent enough to buy outright...admittedly, I grew up with these tunes, I could wait year to year for the TV specials-- I didn't really get hooked until I could appreciate what the trio were doing ("Surfing Snoopy" is quite swingin' and that bossa nova on "Track Meet" would make Sergio Mendes smile, yo) and besides, who watches TV any more???
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best Xmas album ever.
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I'm so delighted that A Charlie Brown Christmas made it onto the MOG Great 501. It's totally worthy of being the only holiday album on the list.
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if you don't smile looking at that cover.... love it!
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Yes, yes and yes again.
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It's one of very few Christmas music collections I enjoy thoroughly, let alone tolerate.
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Echoes of "Skating" in my head, I'm gonna add how much I love Vince's exquisite "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" and his collaboration with the great Brazillian guitarist Bola Sete on "Samba De Orpheus." Search them out, and be rewarded.
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I was raised on the Charlie Brown Christmas record. Love it, always.
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LEMONTWIST SENT THIS TO ME! OH THE JOLLYGOODGOODNESS OF MEMORIES THIS BRINGS I LOVE IT LOVE IT YES JESS BEST EVER I HAD FORGOTTEN HOW BEAUTIFUL POIGNANT AND WONDERFUL IT WAS!!! KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS AND LOVE FOR THA TWIST
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I love the Charlie Brown Christmas music!!!
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Was driving up the NYS Thruway this evening and was turning to various stations looking for some interesting music. Happened upon a Christmas station playing this music - all I knew was that it was the 'background' music to the Charle Brown Christmas show I watch every year (still get a teary eye watching the old cartoons...even Frosty and Rudolph!) I had to press the TEXT button on my radio to see who was the artist...and for the first time learned the name of the trio...and then read this post 2 hours later..
Funny how all the pieces came together...been listening to this for 20 years and didn't know who was responsible. Will now have to give a listen to more
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Many good songs here, but it's Skating that reminds me most of winter and snow and the holiday season.
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agreed. this is a classic album, also my favorite and only christmas album. i concur that 'skating' always brings fond winter memories to mind.
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Love this album. I profoundly identified with the whole Charlie Brown vibe as a kid - confused, alienated, slightly depressed, always hoping for understanding.
There's really only two holiday albums that do it for me: Guaraldi's soundtrack and the Phil Spector album.
I do have a soft spot for a bit of Burl Ives, though.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN!
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I think I'm going to try to find the smallest, ugliest Christmas tree I can, just to honor that round-headed kid and his deep love for the little red-haired girl.