Vince Guaraldi: You’re Not Elected Charlie Brown – Original Soundtrack Recording – Lee Mendelson Film Productions

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The latest re-mastered Peanuts vinyl soundtrack is a welcome addition to any jazz library.

Vince Guaraldi: You’re Not Elected Charlie Brown – Original Soundtrack Recording – Lee Mendelson Film Productions LM24NE01(1972/2024) stereo vinyl ****1/2:

(Vince Guaraldi – piano, electric piano, guitar, vocals; Seward McCain – bass, flute; Tom Harrell – trumpet; Glen Cronkite – drums; Mel Martin – woodwinds, Pat O’Hara – trombone)

Just before the 1972 presidential election, CBS aired the 8th Peanuts special, You’re Not Elected Charlie Brown. With a score composed by Vince Guaraldi and arranged/conducted by John Scott Trotter, the humorous misadventures of Charlie Brown were captured with jazzy resonance. As with the prior television events, Guaraldi transformed breezy jazz aesthetics into accessible entertainment. Lee Mendelson Film Productions has released a re-mastered vinyl of the original soundtrack with bonus material. Both the 12” disc and packaging uses eco-friendly materials.

As with the other Guaraldi Peanuts soundtracks, this one showcases the ebullience and deft musicality of this artist. This soundtrack can be appreciated on its own without the narrative of Charlie Brown’s hapless antics running for office. The album consists of short tracks, cues, alternate takes and several reprises, that showcase Guaraldi and his band. A certain highlight is the appealing “Incumbent Waltz” with the breezy 3/4 time signature. Also of note is the utilization of Fender Rhodes to create a glowing tonality. There are four versions of the song, evidence of its unique catchiness and positive vibe. Another crowd-pleaser is the extended (by Charlie Brown soundtrack standards) “Joe Cool (instrumental)” which has a finger-snapping groove with electric piano, mellow flute and a crisp, rock-themed guitar. Guaraldi offers his first vocal on another version of the song. This mixture of style and delivery is also present on both versions of “You’re Not Elected Charlie Brown”. The slower acoustic piano version is outstanding and there is an up tempo version with Dixieland accents.

This is a spirited jazz-infused album. “Blue Charlie Brown” teems with nuanced jazzy flair. For those with vintage nostalgia, Guaraldi brings back the infectious “Linus And Lucy”. There are several bonus tracks consisting of alternate takes (“Joe Cool”, “Incumbent Waltz”, “Blue Charlie Brown”, “Cookin’ Snoopy”) and a muscular (horns) arrangement of “African Sleigh Ride”. 

This re-mastered vinyl of the soundtrack from You’re Not Elected Charlie Brown is a vivid reminder of the enduring legacies of Charles M. Schulz and Vince Guaraldi. The new sound mix is top-notch. It is also available on CD and digital, due out on 9-6-2024.

Highly recommended!

—Robbie Gerson

Vince Guaraldi: You’re Not Elected Charlie Brown

TrackList:

Side A: Incumbent Waltz; You’re Not Elected Charlie Brown; Oh, Good Grief! Cookin’ Snoopy (Fast Piano Jazz); Blue Charlie Brown; Incumbent Waltz (Reprise); Linus And Lucy/Poor Charlie Brown; Joe Cool; Incumbent Waltz (2nd Reprise); Elect Linus (Dilemma)/Woodstock’s Wake Up; Joe Cool (Unused Reprise); Oh Good Grief! (Reprise); Deserted Charlie Brown

Side B: You’re Not Elected Charlie Brown (Reprise); Linus And Lucy (Reprise); You’re Not Elected Charlie Brown (2nd Reprise-End Credits;

Bonus Tracks: Joe Cool (Alternate Take 1); Joe Cool (Alternate Rehearsal Take); Blue Charlie Brown (Alternate Take 1); African Sleigh Ride (Bonus); Cookin’ Snoopy (Fast Piano Jazz-Alternate Take 1,2,3); Incumbent Waltz (2nd Reprise Alternative Take 1); Incumbent Waltz (2nd Reprise Alternate Take 3); Incumbent Waltz (Unused Cue); Linus And Lucy (Acoustic Piano Mix).  

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