Following the passing of producer Lee Mendelson in December 2019, his children undertook an extensive search of archival materials in hopes of locating original music score recordings from the Peanuts television specials. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, they uncovered a collection of analog session tapes, recorded by Guaraldi for several of the specials. These recordings, long believed to be lost, comprised not only all of Guaraldi's music cues but also the arrangements by John Scott Trotter, including multiple alternate takes.[6]
The session tapes preserve the complete, unedited recordings, which were originally captured and mixed in stereo. These analog recordings were carefully transferred to high-resolution digital format at 192 kHz/24-bit from the original 2-inch, 16-track stereo masters.[6]
Recording
The recording sessions for You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown took place at San Francisco’s Wally Heider Studios on August 22, 1972, featuring Guaraldi (acoustic piano, electric keyboards, guitars, vocals), Seward McCain (electric bass, flute), Glenn Cronkhite (drums), Tom Harrell (trumpet), Pat O'Hara (trombone) and Mel Martin (piccolo).[6][7]
This marked the eighth Peanuts animated special scored by Vince Guaraldi. The sessions introduced several key developments in the Peanuts musical canon, including the debut of Woodstock, and featured notable first-time contributions from musicians such as Seward McCain on bass and Tom Harrell on trumpet. Guaraldi also experimented with new sound textures, employing a range of electric instruments and synthesizers to further develop his evolving musical style. This special represented the first time McCain, Guaraldi’s longest-tenured bassist, recorded with the Peanuts ensemble. McCain, who came from a jazz fusion background, was instrumental in modernizing Guaraldi's sound. At Guaraldi’s urging, McCain switched from the upright acoustic bass traditionally used in jazz to the electric bass, which aligned with the prevailing trends in rock and popular music of the early 1970s. McCain’s influence extended beyond the bass, as he also contributed flute parts, including a key improvised section on "Woodstock's Wake-Up" and the flute bridge on "Joe Cool (Vocal)".[6][7]
Drummer Glenn Cronkhite, who played on this and one subsequent Peanuts special, added rhythmic depth to the score. His collaboration with McCain and Guaraldi helped infuse the soundtrack with a more contemporary feel, blending elements of jazz with rock and popular music. This shift in sound was part of Guaraldi's broader effort to adapt to the changing musical landscape of the early 1970s.[6][7]
Guaraldi also introduced new instrumentation and recording techniques during these sessions. Notably, he layered multiple electric piano tracks, a practice that had not been a dominant feature of his earlier Peanuts scores. While Guaraldi had previously used electric piano, particularly in Play It Again, Charlie Brown (1971), his use of synthesized sounds and the wah-wah pedal became more refined in this session. The wah-wah effect, which Guaraldi had first experimented with in earlier recordings, found its fullest expression in the track "Joe Cool (Vocal)," where it complemented the electric piano and flute sections.[6][7]
The recording session also featured a notable innovation in the form of Guaraldi’s vocals. This was the first time Guaraldi sang on a Peanuts special, providing vocals for the "Joe Cool" track, a decision that initially caused some hesitation but ultimately proved successful. Guaraldi’s unpolished yet fitting vocal style lent the song an authenticity that matched the whimsical, laid-back persona of the Joe Cool character.[6][7]
The session itself included a range of musicians contributing to the score’s various tracks. In addition to McCain and Cronkhite, other prominent players included Mel Martin on piccolo and Pat O'Hara on trombone, who contributed to the title theme. The score also featured a more extended version of the title theme during the end credits, arranged with a Dixieland jazz influence, where Martin played clarinet and soprano sax, alongside O'Hara and Harrell on trumpet.[6][7]
The recording of You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown demonstrated Guaraldi’s ability to evolve musically, incorporating contemporary elements while maintaining the jazz foundation that defined his earlier Peanuts soundtracks. The session yielded a score that balanced innovation with tradition, reflecting both the changing musical trends of the early 1970s and Guaraldi’s personal experimentation with new sounds and techniques.[6][7]
Release
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording was released on September 6, 2024, in CD, vinyl, and digital download formats. The release coincided with the 2024 United States presidential election, which occurred on November 5, 2024.
In addition to the standard black vinyl, "Woodstock Yellow" was offered as a Record Store Day Indie Exclusive. To reduce the carbon footprint of production, these records are made with BioVinyl, a material that replaces petroleum in S-PVC by recycling used cooking oil or industrial waste. This results in a 100 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional PVC vinyl, while maintaining the same acoustic and visual quality.[4]
Critical reception
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording was met with critical acclaim upon its release.
All About Jazz critic Joshua Weiner describes the music as "uniformly delightful and extremely varied," highlighting its range from Dixieland to funk. Standout tracks include "Cookin' Snoopy," "Incumbent Waltz," and "African Sleigh Ride," with Weiner comparing the latter to a "lost Chick Corea track" for its "mysterious modal 5/4 jazz fusion" style. He also emphasizes Guaraldi's use of the Fender Rhodes electric piano, his introduction of bassist Seward McCain, and his vocal performance on "Joe Cool." Weiner concludes that, "Excluding the unmatchable triumvirate of the Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving specials, You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown may well be one of the best Guaraldi soundtracks, and this album does the music full justice."[1]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Vince Guaraldi, except where noted
