Fantasy actually released "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" as the B-side of the bossa nova-flavored "Samba de Orpheus" single. However, U.S. radio disc jockeys preferred the more accessible, catchy "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", propelling it to No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart[3] and No. 9 on the Easy Listening chart.[4] In an effort to exploit the unexpected popularity of the song, Fantasy retitled Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus as Cast Your Fate to the Wind for future album pressings.
Peanuts
Peanuts executive producer Lee Mendelson cited "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" as the tune he heard on the radio that prompted him to commission Guaraldi to compose music cues for the 1963 documentary A Boy Named Charlie Brown, which was ultimately not broadcast due to a lack of sponsorship. The resulting album, Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown, proved to be popular enough to retain Guaraldi's services for A Charlie Brown Christmas. The collaboration between Guaraldi and the entire Peanuts franchise lasted until Guaraldi's death in 1976.[5]
"Cast Your Fate to the Wind" has been covered by many artists in a wide range of genres, including both male and female solo vocalists, pop, folk, and rock groups, as well as many instrumental performers.
In 1965, the British easy listening group Sounds Orchestral redirected the tune away from the jazz-influenced midsection to more of a nightclub sound and concluded the tune with a short piano section. That version attained No. 5 in the UK, No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, No. 1 on the US Easy Listening chart, and No. 5 on the Canadian AC charts.[6][7]
Vocal versions
In 1966, North Hollywood singer Shelby Flint released a version of the song which peaked at No. 61 on the Hot 100, No. 11 on the Easy Listening chart, and No. 92 in Canada.[8] Interestingly enough, Shelby Flint would later perform a song for Snoopy Come Home, a film based on Peanuts, which Vince Guaraldi of course had relations to.
