Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP) is thrilled to announce the release – for the first time ever – the complete Vince Guaraldi soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, the timeless 10th animated Peanuts® special, from writer and creator Charles Schulz, director Bill Melendez and Phil Roman and producers Melendez and Lee Mendelson.

Originally airing on November 20, 1973 on CBS-TV, the special has been broadcast or streamed every year for the last 50 years, and is currently available for streaming on Apple TV+.

The album includes the original recordings that comprise the thirteen song cues of the Special, plus another nine bonus or alternative tracks that have never been released or heard before.

Guaraldi lovingly created the soundtrack for the eclectic, big meal and family gathering, while also bolstering the hijinks of Snoopy and his new friend Woodstock as they “helped” Charlie Brown get ready for the party. The album also includes one of the few songs where composer Guaraldi also sang the lyrics he wrote to Little Birdie.

This heartwarming original soundtrack recording opens on the evocative Charlie Brown Blues and then brings us the beloved Thanksgiving Theme, a Thanksgiving Theme (Reprise), and then we get brought the jolty Peppermint Patty, the joyful Little Birdie, a Thanksgiving Interlude, then comes the heartfelt Is It James or Charlie?, Linus and Lucy, the Fife & Drums Theme and a Charlie Brown Blues (Reprise).

Along next is a Thanksgiving trio in the form of a quick Interlude (Reprise), another Thanksgiving Theme (2nd Reprise) and, yes, another Thanksgiving Theme (3rd Reprise), before a slew of many previously unreleased recordings from the Vince Guaraldi Quintet are brought forth.

Opening with an alternative Thanksgiving Theme, a delightful Peppermint Patty (Bonus Mix), the brilliant Linus and Lucy (Bonus Mix), and then come a trio of Thanksgiving Interludes - the Alternate take 2, 4, and 6, the joyful Alternate take 10, and then Alternate take 14, the recording rounding out on the rhythmically enticing whistling that now encapsulates the brilliant Is It James or Charlie? (Bonus mix with Whistling), coming to a close on the embolden Clark and Guaraldi.

1. Charlie Brown Blues
2. Thanksgiving Theme
3. Thanksgiving Theme (Reprise)
4. Peppermint Patty
5. Little Birdie
6. Thanksgiving Interlude
7. Is It James or Charlie?
8. Linus and Lucy
9. Fife & Drums Theme
10. Charlie Brown Blues (Reprise)
11. Thanksgiving Interlude (Reprise)
12. Thanksgiving Theme (2nd Reprise)
13. Thanksgiving Theme (3rd Reprise)
Bonus/Alternate tracks:
14. Thanksgiving Theme (Alternate)
15. Peppermint Patty (Bonus Mix)
16. Linus and Lucy (Bonus Mix)
17. Thanksgiving Interlude (Alternate take 2, 4, and 6)
18. Thanksgiving Interlude (Alternate take 10)
19. Thanksgiving Interlude (Alternate take 14)
20. Is It James or Charlie? (Bonus mix with Whistling)
21. Clark and Guaraldi

The recording features Guaraldi (piano, keyboards, guitar, vocals), Seward McCain (electric bass), Mike Clark (drums), Tom Harrell (trumpet and brass arrangements), and Chuck Bennett (trombone). The soundtrack was produced by Sean and Jason Mendelson, re-mixed by Terry Carleton at Bones and Knives, and restored and mastered/re-mastered by Vinson Hudson.

The album will available on CD, vinyl and digital. The CD has a 6-page insert. Both the LP and CD will have liner notes that give a track-by-track analysis by Sean Mendelson, musician, record producer and son of Peanuts® producer Lee Mendelson. Both versions have stills from the special and some images of the original track assignments for each instrument.

Official Purchase Link

Is It James or Charlie? (Bonus Mix With Whistling) (Track 20) [Official Audio Track]