Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas
AllMusic; Amazon; B&N; Discogs; iTunes; Wikipedia

The CD I have is from 1988, but the Amazon and iTunes links are for a 2012 reissue that has two songs that aren't on my copy. But my CD has one song that isn't on the original release of the album in 1965. Anyway, it's a soundtrack to the 1965 TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas. It includes the instrumental composition "Linus and Lucy," which was originally released in 1964, and since being included in the special the next year, became virtually synonymous with the whole Peanuts gang. It also includes some songs which will be very nostalgic to fans of the special. For me, the main one of these is "Christmas Time is Here". There's also some music on the CD that wasn't actually in the special. But whatever, it's all good.

1. O Tannenbaum: This is entirely instrumental, which surprises me, because the song was at least briefly sung in the special. Or at least I think it was; it's been awhile since I watched it.

2. What Child Is This: Also instrumental.

3. My Little Drum: This basically sounds like an instrumental version of "The Little Drummer Boy", but there are some non-singing vocals in the background, some of them that sound like drumming and some that are just humming. This wasn't in the special.

4. Linus and Lucy: Of course I remember this. This is iconic, and a lot of fun. It's almost impossible to hear it without seeing the Peanuts kids dancing in your mind's eye.

5. Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental): This is around 6 minutes long, making it the longest song on the album. It's very nice, and also somewhat iconic. I think it's some of the most memorable music from the special. And there's a good reason that "instrumental" is included in the title. (See the next track.)

6. Christmas Time Is Here (vocal): This one's less than half the length of the instrumental version, but I still prefer it. For me it's even more memorable than the instrumental version, and it's probably my favorite part of the album. I also want to mention a cover that I really like, by Leftover Cuties.

7. Skating: This is also instrumental, and I definitely remember it being in the special.

8. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing: This is another song I particularly remember from the special, and I quite like it. And it's possible I was confusing "O Tannenbaum" being sung with this song being sung. And other than the vocal version of "Christmas Time Is Here", it's the only track on the album that actually includes singing (even if most of it is humming).

9. Christmas Is Coming: This is also definitely from the special. But it's longer than I remember, and not all of it sounds familiar. Probably a lot of these pieces are longer on the album than in the special. But anyway, it's nice.

10. Für Elise: Another piece of music I remember from the special, but don't particularly associate with the special, because of hearing it elsewhere. It's the shortest track on the album, at just over a minute.

11. The Christmas Song: This wasn't in the special.

12: Greensleeves: For some reason Wikipedia lists this bonus track from 1988 as "What Child Is This (extended version)", but that's not what's on the CD. Still, most of the piece isn't familiar to me, and only a little bit of it sounds anything like "Greensleeves". This wasn't in the special.

Well, the whole album sounds pretty good, and I think it works well as a jazz album whether you're familiar with the special or not. (But who isn't?) But mostly I'd have to say the reason I like it as much as I do is because of nostalgia for the special. In fact there are a few parts I could even say I love, but my overall rating is a bit lower than that.