Fans of Vince Guaraldi's Peanuts music probably fall asleep every night humming "Linus and Lucy," and of course
"Christmas Time Is Here" has become an essential part of the holiday season.
But these are only the two most common of literally dozens of tunes
Guaraldi composed for the animated adventures of Charlie Brown and the gang.
For purposes of publishing and copyright, every piece of music used in such a fashion -- whether a complete
song or a "fragment" lasting no more than a few seconds -- must be registered with a title. Regular civilians
can be forgiven for not knowing this; since the brief credits for Peanuts animated television specials do not
include such information, a lot of folks still refer to "Linus and Lucy" as "the Peanuts main theme."
Things are different on the production end, where Music Use Sheets, as they're called, carefully tabulate
every foreground song or background theme. Guaraldi provided music for the first 15 animated Peanuts specials;
he died just after completing "It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown." He also worked on an early unaired documentary
called "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," which was re-edited and eventually televised under the title "Charlie Brown
and Charles Schulz." Finally, Guaraldi contributed to the first full-length Peanuts theatrical feature,
"A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (same title, different medium). These 17 projects produced a wealth of material,
only a portion of which has been released on albums by Guaraldi himself, or by other performers.
Most of the tunes currently available have, when necessary, been expanded into complete tracks -- full
jazz compositions -- from their often humbler (and shorter) television renditions. Some didn't really need
that much work; "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," for example, opens with a superb rendition
of "Linus and Lucy" that plays, unmarred by dialogue, for nearly two minutes during the pre-credits "teaser."
The prime concern for the avid Guaraldi fan, of course, is getting as much of the music as possible: Has
it been recorded, and by whom, and on which album? The list below serves two purposes: First, it charts every
selection, by official title, that appears in each of the 15 TV shows and the documentary special on which
Guaraldi worked; second, it indicates where the tune can be found, if it has been recorded and released on an album.
I must, however, add one major caveat: Music Use Sheets are very much like movie scripts, which is to say
they change all the time. An initial list may be modified as the music actually is worked into a show, so a
"first draft" use sheet may be quite different from a "working draft." You'll note below that some of the
lists seem much less complete than others; this is because we have no way of knowing where, in the process of
each show, any given use sheet was tabulated. In other words, these aren't all working drafts (although I
obviously wish they were!).
But the research continues. Updates will continue to appear here, and I'm indebted to some fellow tireless
researchers. Mark John Astolfi deserves credit for updating the information for "A Charlie Brown Christmas,"
along with a few other nuggets of information.
Many of the selections appeared more than once in a specific show --
"Christmas Time Is Here" and "Linus and Lucy," for example, are cited four times each in "A Charlie Brown
Christmas" -- but the lists below reflect only the distinct titles.
Except where noted, all compositions are written by Guaraldi and performed by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
or the Vince Guaraldi Sextet.
With respect to availability, these are the critical albums:
A. "A Charlie Brown Christmas," by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
B. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
C. "Oh, Good Grief," by Vince Guaraldi
D. "Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits," by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
E. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," film soundtrack (LP only, and out of print)
F. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown," Rod McKuen (collection of McKuen's movie songs, LP only)
G. "Almaville," by Vince Guaraldi
H. "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (original cast)
I. "Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown," by GRP performers
J. "Linus & Lucy: The Music of Vince Guaraldi," by George Winston
K. "Oaxaca," by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
L. "North Beach," by Vince Guaraldi and Friends
M. Not yet available on an album, but occasionally performed in concert by
George Winston (who has promised to eventually release a second all-Guaraldi CD)
Other versions of the more popular tunes have been covered by additional artists, notably David Benoit, who has
recorded a dozen Guaraldi songs at this point, notably on his "Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years" CD.
But he -- and the many dozens of folks who've delivered renditions of "Christmas Time Is Here" -- haven't released
anything that's not already available on one of Guaraldi's own albums, so we won't worry about those.
Taking the animated specials in order of appearance:
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" (12/9/65)
1. "Christmas Time Is Here" (vocal) A, D, I
2. "Christmas Time Is Here" (instrumental) A, D, I
3. "Skating" A, J
4. "Air Music" (retitled "Surfin' Snoopy" when released on D)
5. "Christmas Is Coming" A
6. "Charlie Brown Theme" B, D, I
7. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
8. "Freda [sic] (with the Naturally Curly Hair)" B
9. "Happiness Is" B
10. "Oh, Tannenbaum" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi) A
11. "Fur Elise" (Beethoven) A
12. "Jingle Bells" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
13. "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi) A
[Item of note: Although the album "A Charlie Brown Christmas" includes Guaraldi's smooth rendition of
"The Christmas Song," that holiday perennial isn't mentioned on the show's Music Use Sheet.]
"Charlie Brown's All-Stars" (6/8/66)
1. "Charlie's Run"
2. "Charlie Brown's All-Stars" J
3. "Baseball Theme" B
4. "Oh, Good Grief" B, C
5. "Air Music" (retitled "Surfin' Snoopy" when released on D)
6. "Pebble Beach" B
7. "Rain, Rain, Go Away" C, I
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (10/27/66)
1. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
2. "Graveyard Theme"
3. "Snoopy and the Leaf" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
4. "Linus and Sucker" (opens with 6 seconds from "Freda," then continues with original music)
5. "Great Pumpkin Waltz" C, D, I, J
6. "Charlie Brown Theme" B, D, I
7. "Graveyard Theme"
8. "The Red Baron" C, I, J
9. "Trick or Treat" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
10. "Fanfare"
11. "Breathless" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
12. "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" (traditional, arranged by guaraldi)
13. "There's a Long, Long Trail A'Winding" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
14. "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
15. "Roses of Picardy" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
"You're in Love, Charlie Brown" (6/12/67)
1. "It's Spring, Charlie Brown Theme"
2. "The Charlie Brown Theme" B, D, I
3. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown" C, J
4. "School Days"
5. "The Red Baron" C, I, J
6. "Trio Ad-Lib"
7. "Peppermint Patty" vamp C, J
8. "Love Will Come" M
9. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown" (minor key variation)
10. "Theme Parody"
11. "Pomp & Circumstance" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
12. "Psychiatric Vamp" (alternate arrangement of the "Peppermint Patty" vamp)
13. "Schroeder Practices"
14. "Charlie Brown's All-Stars" J
"He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown" (2/14/68)
1. "The Red Baron" C, I, J
2. "New Snoopy Theme" (retitled "It's Your Dog, Charlie Brown," when released on C)
3. "Peppermint Patty" C, J
4. "Bon Voyage" J
5. "Oh, Good Grief" B, C
6. "Happiness Is" B
7. "All Stars" ("Charlie Brown's All-Stars") J
8. "Schroeder's Wolfgang"
9. "Housewife Theme" (actually "Pebble Beach") B
10. "Beethoven Theme" (actually "Schroeder") B
11. "Blue Charlie Brown" B
12. "The Red Baron" (minor key variation)
13. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
"Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz" (5/24/69)
1. "Oh, Good Grief" B, C
2. "Snoopy and the Red Baron Theme"
3. "Sled Animation Theme"
4. "Baby Charlie Blues"
5. "Kite Animation Theme"
6. "Balloon Animation Theme"
7. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
8. "Snoopy Doghouse Animation Theme"
9. "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (written by Clark Gesner, from the play
of the same title, and performed by the cast) H
10. "Snoopy Vs. the Red Baron" (written and performed by the Royal Guardsmen)
11. "Champion Charlie Brown" (written and performed by Rod McKuen, from
the film "A Boy Named Charlie Brown) E
12. "Snoopy and the Bone Animation Theme"
13. "Psychiatric Stand Animation Theme"
14. "Guaraldi's Beethoven"
15. "Happiness Theme" B
16. "Tractor Animation Theme"
17. "Red Baron Theme" C, I, J
"It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown" (9/27/69)
1. "Charlie Brown"
2. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
3. "It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown"
4. "Oh, Good Grief" B, C
5. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown" C, J
6. "Schroeder" B, D
7. "Bus Blues" M (retitled "F to E Flat" by Winston)
8. "Big Bus" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
9. "Who Stepped on My Toe?" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
10. "Frieda (With the Naturally Curly Hair)" B
11. "Come and Get It" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
12. "Hash" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
13. "Bon Voyage" J
14. "Peppermint Patty" C, J
15. "Nova Bossa" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
16. "Love Will Come" M
17. "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
18. "There's a Long, Long Trail A'Winding" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
19. "A.M. Break" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
20. "He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown" C
21. "Pebble Beach" B
22. "Tah-Dah" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
23. "The Masked Marvel" G, J, L
24. "Air Music"
"A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (big-screen feature film, debuted 12/4/69)
(All compositions for this film by Guaraldi, unless otherwise specified)
Snatches of all the compositions below are included in the soundtrack LP,
which is structured as a radio-style condensation of the entire film. Bearing that in mind,
availability of the various tracks is cited for their presence elsewhere; an "E"
designation can be assumed for all of them.
1. "Champion Charlie Brown" (Rod McKuen) F
2. "Cloud Dreams" (John Scott Trotter)
3. "Champion Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
4. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (McKuen, vocal) F
5. "Kite Music" (aka "Lucifer's Lady") L
6. "Charlie Brown's All-Stars" J
7. "Star-Spangled Banner" (arranged by Trotter)
8. "Baseball Theme" (three variations) B
9. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
10. "Air Music" D
11. "The Red Baron Strikes Again" (Trotter)
12. "Air Music" D
13. "Blue Charlie Brown" B
14. "Champion Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
15. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
16. "Champion Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
17. "Failure Face" (McKuen, vocal) F
18. "Catatonic Blues" (Trotter)
19. "I Before E" (Trotter, vocal)
20. "Champion Charlie Brown" (McKuen, vocal) F
21. "Oh, Good Grief" B, C
22. "Champion Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
23. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
24. "Sonata in C minor, Op. 13, third movement" (Beethoven)
25. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
26. "Buswheel Blues" (Trotter)
27. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
28. "Champion Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
29. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
30. "Skating" A, J
31. "Blue Puck" (Trotter)
32. "Skating" A, J
33. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
34. "Champion Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
35. "Blue Charlie Brown" B
36. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
37. "Buswheel Blues" (Trotter)
38. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
39. "Charlie Brown's All-Stars" I
40. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (McKuen) F
41. "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (McKuen, vocal) F
"Play It Again, Charlie Brown" (3/28/71)
1. Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Opus 2, No. 3, Allegro Con Brio (Beethoven)
2. "Stupid Beagle" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
3. Sonata Opus 2, No. 3; first movement (Beethoven)
4. Fifth Symphony (Beethoven)
5. Sonata Opus 7, Allegro (Beethoven)
6. "Play It Again, Charlie Brown"
7. Sonata Opus 14, No. 2 (Beethoven)
8. "Oh, Good Grief" B, C
9. Sonata Opus 27, Nos. 2-3, movement Presto Allegro (Beethoven)
10. "Lucifer's Lady" L
11. Sonata Opus 53 (Beethoven)
12. "Peppermint Patty" C, J
13. Sonata Opus 49, No. 2 (Beethoven)
14. Sonata Opus 79 (Beethoven)
15. "Happy, Happy"
16. "Charlie's Rock" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
17. Tune Up
18. Sonata Opus 106 (Beethoven)
"You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown" (10/29/72)
1. "Incumbent Waltz" M
2. "You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown"
3. "Oh, Good Grief" B, C
4. "Fast Piano Jazz"
5. "Blue Charlie Brown" B
6. "Trombone"
7. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
8. "Poor Charlie Brown"
9. "Joe Cool" D, I
10. "Dilemma"
11. "Woodstock's Wake-Up"
12. "Deserted Charlie Brown"
"There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown" (3/11/73)
1. "Early Wake-Up"
2. "There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown"
3. "Pitkin County Blues"
4. "Play It Again, Charlie Brown"
5. "African Sleigh Ride"
6. "Joe Cool" D, I
7. "Peppermint Patty" C, J
8. "Apple Jack"
9. "Bus Me"
10. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
11. "Incumbent Waltz" M
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" (11/20/73)
1. "Charlie Brown Blues"
2. "Thanksgiving Theme" D, J
3. "Peppermint Patty" C, J
4. "Little Birdie" I
5. "Thanksgiving Interlude"
6. "Is It James or Charlie?"
7. "Fife & Drums Theme"
8. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
9. "Blue Charlie Brown" B
"It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown" (2/1/74)
1. "Little Birdie" I
2. "Mystery Theme"
3. "It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown"
4. "Sassy Sally"
5. "Cops & Robbers"
6. "Sally's Blues"
7. "Mystery Interlude #1"
8. "Joe Cool" D, I
"It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" (4/9/74)
1. "Peppermint Patty" C, J
2. "Easter Theme"
3. "Snoopy & Woodstock"
4. "Linus and Lucy" A, B, C, D, I, J, L
5. "Woodstock's Dream"
6. "Background #1"
7. "Beethoven"
8. "Woodstock & Snoopy"
9. "Background #2"
10. "Kitchen Music"
11. "Woodstock's Pad"
12. "Bach"
13. "Background #3"
14. "Background #4"
15. "Theme"
"Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown" (1/28/75)
1. "Heartburn Waltz" D, J (retitled "Theme to 'Be My Valentine'" by Winston)
