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 scores 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.
(Click here to see an example of such a sheet.)
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, parts of which were 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, has it been released, and on which album? The list below serves two purposes: First, it charts every
theme and cue, by official title, that appears in each of the 15 TV shows, the documentary specials and the single film on which
Guaraldi worked; second, it indicates where a given tune can be found, if it has been recorded and released.
Bear in mind, of course, that a given song as heard in a particular animated special often won't be
the same version you may hear when re-recorded for an album. "Linus and Lucy" is used in most specials,
and Guaraldi contributed a different reading of the song each time -- sometimes only slightly different,
sometimes quite different -- but very few of these alternate arrangements have been released
commercially.
This also can be true within a single animated special. Remember, we're talking about jazz; the same tune could be played many different
ways in a single show, but only one might match the version released on a particular album. Consider the number of times "Moto-Cross" (also known as
"You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown") is used in the show You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown ... but only one version is identical to the
fourth track on Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Peanuts Television Specials.
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." The following lists therefore have been assembled
from a blend of use sheets and careful listening of the finished TV specials.
Early versions of this document cited only the titles of each distinct song, with no indication
of repeated use within a given show. Thanks to some better documentation, in early 2009 I was able to
answer reader requests and present more sequential lists, citing repeated songs where appropriate. In theory,
then, what follows for each show is a list of cues in the order ultimately recorded for the finished special -- bearing
in mind, as mentioned above, that not all the use sheets in my possession are necessarily final
versions. Additionally, some repeated titles (within a given program) are deceptive; a second (or third)
arrangement of "Linus and Lucy" may not be the entire song we know and love, but merely (for example) a short section of
the second bridge between the familiar refrain.
The ultimate goal was for these lists to accurately reflect all the music in each show, in sequence,
so that you could use this document as a road map while watching any given animated special. With assistance from
help from a variety of fellow fans over the years, I believe that we've achieved that goal.
Beginning in the summer of 2022, with the long-awaited release of a soundtrack album for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown -- and continuing with the similar debut of soundtrack albums for additional Peanuts TV specials -- many of the following entries have become even more precise. Fingers crossed, that before long we'll be able to say that about all entries!
Except where noted, all compositions are written by Guaraldi and performed by his various
combos (often a trio, but sometimes quartets and larger groups).
With respect to availability, these are the critical albums:
A. A Charlie Brown Christmas, original 1965 release, by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
B. A Charlie Brown Christmas, 2006 re-mastered CD
C. A Boy Named Charlie Brown, by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
D. Oh, Good Grief, by Vince Guaraldi
E. Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits, by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
F. A Boy Named Charlie Brown, film soundtrack
G. A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Rod McKuen (collection of McKuen's movie songs)
H. The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi
I. Almaville, by Vince Guaraldi
J. You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (original cast)
K. Oaxaca, by various Vince Guaraldi combos
L. North Beach, by various Vince Guaraldi combos
M. Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Peanuts Television Specials
N. Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Peanuts Television Specials, Volume 2
O. Live on the Air, the Vince Guaraldi Trio
P. Peanuts Portraits, by various Vince Guaraldi combos
Q. An Afternoon with the Vince Guaraldi Quartet
R. The Definitive Vince Guaraldi
S. Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus (digital release only)
T. The Charlie Brown Suite and Other Favorites
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
and Jazz for Peanuts albums.
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 production:
"A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (the unsold "pilot" documentary, which never aired)
1. "Oh, Good Grief" (piano solo, then two vocals)
2. "Oh, Good Grief" (trio instrumental)
3. "Blue Charlie Brown" (brief extract) R [but mistitled "Blues for Peanuts"]
4. "Oh, Good Grief" (trio instrumental)
5. "Oh, Good Grief" (trio instrumental) C
6. "Oh, Good Grief!" (trio instrumental)
7. "Linus and Lucy" A, C and many others
8. "Happiness Is" C
9. "Happiness Is" C
10. Unidentified jazz improv (possible an introductory fragment to "Pebble Beach")
11. "Schroeder" C
12. "Baseball Theme"
13. "Oh, Good Grief" (trio instrumental)
[Item of note: Lee Mendelson wasn't able to sell this documentary -- the first true Peanuts special --
to any of the television networks. He later used some of its sequences for his similar 1969
documentary, Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz, which can be found below.]
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" (12/9/65)
1. "Christmas Time Is Here" (vocal)
2. "Christmas Time Is Here" (instrumental)
3. "Skating" A
4. "Christmas Time Is Here" (instrumental)
5. "Air Music" E [where it is retitled "Surfin' Snoopy"]
6. "Christmas Time Is Here" (instrumental)
7. "Christmas Is Coming" B [alternate take 6]
8. "Charlie Brown Theme" C
9. "Linus and Lucy" A
10. "Charlie Brown Theme" C
11. "Charlie Brown Theme" C
12. "Linus and Lucy" B [but only in first-pressing releases of this 2006 re-master]
13. "Frieda (with the Naturally Curly Hair)" C
14. "Happiness Is" C
15. "Charlie Brown Theme" C
16. "Linus and Lucy" B [but only in first-pressing releases of this 2006 re-master]
17. "Linus and Lucy" B [but only in first-pressing releases of this 2006 re-master]
18. "Oh, Tannenbaum" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi) A
19. "Fur Elise" (Beethoven) A
20. "Linus and Lucy" B [but only in first-pressing releases of this 2006 re-master]
21. "Fur Elise" (Beethoven) A
22. "Jingle Bells" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi; three arrangements)
23. "Christmas Time Is Here" (instrumental)
24. "Oh, Tannenbaum" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
25. "Oh, Tannenbaum" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
26. "Oh, Tannenbaum" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi) A
27. "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" ("loo loo" vocal, traditional, arranged by Guaraldi) A
28. "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" (vocal, traditional, arranged by Guaraldi) A
[Item of note: Although the album A Charlie Brown Christmas includes Guaraldi's smooth renditions of
"The Christmas Song," "My Little Drum" (an arrangement of "The Little Drummer Boy") and "Greensleeves,"
those holiday perennials aren't mentioned on the show's Music Use Sheet, nor were they part of the show itself.]
"Charlie Brown's All-Stars" (6/8/66)
1. "Charlie's Run"
2. "Charlie Brown's All-Stars"
3. "Baseball Theme" B
4. "Baseball Theme" (brass version)
5. "Baseball Theme" (guitar version)
6. "All-Stars Theme"
7. "All-Stars Theme"
8. "Air Music" E [where it is retitled "Surfin' Snoopy"]
9. "Pebble Beach"
10. "All-Stars Theme"
11. "Baseball Theme" B
12. "Air Music" E [where it is retitled "Surfin' Snoopy"]
13. "Baseball Theme" (brass version)
14. Unknown track title (trumpet fanfare)
15. "All-Stars Theme"
16. "Air Music" E [where it is retitled "Surfin' Snoopy"]
17. "Baseball Theme" (brass version)
18. "Rain, Rain, Go Away"
19. "All-Stars Theme"
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" (10/27/66)
1. "Linus and Lucy" (flute-led alternate arrangement)
2. "Graveyard Theme"
3. "Snoopy and the Leaf" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
4. "Frieda" [very briefly] C
5. "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" E
6. "Linus and Lucy" (Reprise, flute-led alternate arrangement)
7. "Charlie Brown Theme"
8. "Charlie Brown Theme" (Minor Theme)
9. "Graveyard Theme" (Reprise)
10. "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" (Reprise) E
11. "The Red Baron"
12. "Military Drum March"
13. "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" (Second Reprise) E
14. "Great Pumpkin Waltz" (Third Reprise) E
15. "Graveyard Theme (Trick or Treat)" (Second Reprise)
16. "Fanfare"
17. "Breathless" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
18. "Graveyard Theme (Trick or Treat)" (Third Reprise)
19. "Charlie Brown Theme" (Reprise)
20. "Breathless" (Second Reprise) (composed by John Scott Trotter)
21. "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
22. "There's a Long, Long Trail A'Winding" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
23. "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
24. "Roses of Picardy" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
25. "Graveyard Theme (Trick or Treat)" (Fourth Reprise)
26. "Linus and Lucy" (Second Reprise, minor key alarm clock variation)
27. "Linus and Lucy" (Third Reprise)
28. "Charlie Brown Theme" (Second Reprise, trio and flute version)
[A full soundtrack album for this special was released on August 2, 2022.]
"You're in Love, Charlie Brown" (6/12/67)
1. "It's Spring, Charlie Brown Theme"
2. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown"
3. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown"
4. "School Days"
5. "The Red Baron"
6. "Trio Ad-Lib"
7. "Peppermint Patty" vamp
8. "Love Will Come"
9. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown" (minor key variation)
10. "Theme Parody" (vocal arrangement of title theme, sung by the cast)
11. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown"
12. "Pomp & Circumstance" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
13. "Psychiatric Vamp" (alternate arrangement of the "Peppermint Patty" vamp)
14. "Schroeder Practices"
15. "Schroeder Plays"
16. "Psychiatric Vamp" (alternate arrangement of the "Peppermint Patty" vamp)
17. "Peppermint Patty" S
18. "Montuna" [discarded and unused, and therefore unknown]
19. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown"
20. "Charlie Brown's All-Stars"
21. "The Charlie Brown Theme"
22. "School Days"
23. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown"
24. "Fanfare Finish"
"He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown" (2/14/68)
1. "The Red Baron"
2. "The Red Baron"
3. "New Snoopy Theme" (subsequently retitled "It's Your Dog, Charlie Brown," when re-recorded for D)
4. "New Snoopy Theme" (subsequently retitled "It's Your Dog, Charlie Brown," when re-recorded for D)
5. "Peppermint Patty" (re-scored brass version)
6. "New Snoopy Theme" (subsequently retitled "It's Your Dog, Charlie Brown," when re-recorded for D)
7. "Bon Voyage" (a modified version of the Guaraldi tune "Monterey," which appears on S)
8. "Peppermint Patty" (re-scored brass version)
9. "Oh, Good Grief"
10. "Happiness Is"
11. "Charlie Brown's All-Stars"
12. "The Red Baron"
13. "Schroeder's Wolfgang" (a fresh arrangement of the tune "Choro," from the Guaraldi/Bola Sete album From All Sides)
14. "The Red Baron"
15. "Housewife Theme" (actually a flute variation of "Pebble Beach")
16. "Beethoven Theme" (actually a version of "Schroeder")
17. "Housewife Theme" (actually a flute variation of "Pebble Beach")
18. "Blue Charlie Brown" (slow variation)
19. "The Red Baron" (minor key variation)
20. "New Snoopy Theme" (subsequently retitled "It's Your Dog, Charlie Brown," when re-recorded for D)
21. "Linus and Lucy"
22. "New Snoopy Theme" (subsequently retitled "It's Your Dog, Charlie Brown," when re-recorded for D)
"Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz" (5/24/69)
1. "Oh, Good Grief"
2. "Snoopy and the Red Baron Theme"
3. "Sled Animation Theme"
4. "Oh, Good Grief" B, C, N
5. "Baby Charlie Blues"
6. "Kite Animation Theme"
7. "Balloon Animation Theme"
8. "Linus and Lucy"
9. "Snoopy Doghouse Animation Theme"
10. "Oh, Good Grief"
10. "Oh, Good Grief"
12. "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (written by Clark Gesner, from the play of the same title, and performed by the cast)
13. "Linus and Lucy"
14. "Snoopy Vs. the Red Baron" (written and performed by the Royal Guardsmen)
15. "Champion Charlie Brown" (written and performed by Rod McKuen, from the film A Boy Named Charlie Brown) G
16. "Linus and Lucy"
17. "Snoopy and the Bone Animation Theme"
18. "Psychiatric Stand Animation Theme"
19. "Guaraldi's Beethoven"
20. "Oh, Good Grief"
21. "Happiness Theme"
22. "Linus and Lucy"
23. "Tractor Animation Theme"
24. "Linus and Lucy"
25. "Red Baron Theme"
"It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown" (9/27/69)
1. "Charlie Brown Theme" (horn section version)
2. "Linus and Lucy" (flute and trio version)
3. "It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown" (two versions)
4. "Oh, Good Grief"
5. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown"
6. "Schroeder" C, P
7. "Bus Blues" (composed by John Scott Trotter; retitled "F to E Flat," when played in concert by Winston)
8. "Bus Blues" (Reprise) (composed by John Scott Trotter; retitled "F to E Flat," when played in concert by Winston)
9. "It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown" (Reprise)
10. "Frieda (With the Naturally Curly Hair)" (big band version)
11. "Oh, Good Grief" (Reprise)
12. "Come and Get It" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
13. "Hash" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
14. "Hash with Horn" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
15. "AM Break" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
16. "Tah Dah" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
17. "Bon Voyage"
18. "Peppermint Patty"
19. "Love Will Come (Nova Bossa)" (Guaraldi and John Scott Trotter)
20. "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
21. "There's a Long, Long Trail A'Winding" (traditional, arranged by Guaraldi)
22. "AM Break" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
23. "He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown"
24. "Pebble Beach"
25. "You're in Love, Charlie Brown" (Reprise)
26. "He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown" (Reprise)
27. "Tah-Dah" (composed by John Scott Trotter)
28. "Masked Marvel" (subsequently re-recorded for I)
