40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas

40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Compilation album by
David Benoit
ReleasedOctober 4, 2005
Studio
  • Castle Oaks, Calabasas, California
  • Oceanway Recording Studios, Hollywood, California
  • WonderWorld Studio, Los Angeles, California
  • Paramount Encore Studios, Hollywood, California
  • Surfboard Studios, Boca Raton, Florida
  • Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Backroom Studios, Glendale, California
Genre
Length43:45
Label
Producer
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
All About Jazz[2]
Five Cents PleaseMediocre[3]

40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas is a compilation album released in the U.S. by Peak Records in October 2005. The album is a tribute to the soundtrack album A Charlie Brown Christmas released by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (credited to the Vince Guaraldi Trio) in December 1965.[4]

Reception

Rob Theakston of AllMusic noted that the original soundtrack recording has become "a cornerstone for jazz orientation and an essential holiday remedy for the run-of-the-mill-predictable contemporary favorites," adding that the musicians assembled for this tribute album represent a "veritable who's who of adult contemporary and jazz performers." Theakston added that the resulting music is "very warm sounding, heavily polished" and "well-played".[1]

Guaraldi historian Derrick Bang noted that the album is "quite nice", adding that David Benoit's rendition of "Christmas Is Coming" is a "punchy, swinging cover", while Dave Koz's version of "Linus and Lucy" is "equally lively".[3]

All About Jazz critic Woodrow Wilkins called the album a "jazz lover's delight".[2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Vince Guaraldi, except where noted

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."Christmas Is Coming" David Benoit2:54
2."Just Like Me"
Vanessa Williams4:12
3."Linus and Lucy" Dave Koz4:02
4."It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
Toni Braxton4:17
5."My Little Drum" Rick Braun3:28
6."Skating" Norman Brown4:01
7."Christmas Time Is Here" (vocal)
  • Vince Guaraldi
  • Lee Mendelson
Brian McKnight4:25
8."O Tannenbaum"Ernst AnschützGerald Albright3:53
9."Red Baron" The Rippingtons4:10
10."The Christmas Song"
Chaka Khan4:03
11."Für Elise"Ludwig van BeethovenDavid Benoit1:07
12."Christmas Time Is Here" (instrumental) Eric Marienthal3:13
Target exclusive
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
13."Charlie Brown Theme"
Wayman Tisdale 
14."Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
LaToya London 

Session information

Credits adapted from CD liner notes.

Additional personnel

  • Producer: David Benoit (Tracks 1–6, 8, 10–12)
  • A&R coordinator: Valerie Ince
  • Art direction: Abbey Anna
  • Production coordinator: Yvonne Wish
  • Design: Andrew Pham
  • Engineer (second): Brian Vibberts, George Gumbs, Jeff Wakolbinger, Josh Blanchard
  • Engineer (mix): Clark Germain (Tracks 1–8, 10–12)
  • Engineer (tracking): Clark Germain (Tracks 1–8, 10–12)
  • Executive producer: Andi Howard, Mark Wexler, Ron Moss
  • Mixing: WonderWorld Studio, Los Angeles, California
  • Mastering: Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, California

References

  1. ^ a b Theakston, Rob. 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas at AllMusic. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b Wilkins, Woodrow (December 16, 2005). "40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas". allaboutjazz.com. All About Jazz. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b Bang, Derrick. "A Charlie Brown Christmas Redux ... and redux and redux". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  4. ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 29, 2020). "'Charlie Brown Christmas' Soundtrack Hits Billboard 200 Top 10 for the First Time". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2021.