Vince Guaraldi Trio A Charlie Brown Christmas Numbered Limited Edition UHQR 200g 45rpm 2LP

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Michael Fremer Rated 10/10 Music, 10/10 Sound!

Few albums have rooted themselves deeper into American culture than A Charlie Brown Christmas. Vince Guaraldi's charming, swinging score for the 1965 classic CBS TV animated special brought jazz into millions of homes, wrapped in tinsel, nostalgia, and a chorus of "Christmastime Is Here."

Guaraldi, with his melodic sense and West Coast cool, translated the Peanuts gang's whimsy and melancholy into pure musical gold. Whether it's the airy piano riff of "Skating" or the finger-snapping joy of "Linus and Lucy," this album did what few thought possible: it turned bebop into bedtime music and made jazz a holiday tradition.

And now, it's back—better than ever—as a UHQR (Ultra High Quality Record) reissue from Analogue Productions. Pressed at Quality Record Pressings and mastered with care by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab directly from the original analog tapes. These are experts who treat vinyl like sacred text, and this edition delivers Guaraldi's piano trio with breathtaking clarity and warmth. Lastly, reissues in this series are housed in archival quality Stoughton Printing tip-on gatefold jackets with a scuff-resistant finish, for a truly premium product.

It's not just a reissue; it's like hearing A Charlie Brown Christmas for the first time — only this time, it's in hi-fi heaven. Perfect for audiophiles, jazz fans, and anyone who tears up when Charlie Brown saves Christmas.

Wow, it's so much fuller, richer, and more natural sounding timbrally and texturally than either the 2022 remix (which don't get me wrong is quite good!) and the double 45rpm-single pocket edition Analogue Productions released in 2006. Guaraldi's piano, center stage has greater 'physicality' and a more 'woody' sound than on the other two versions, and when he pounds hard, as on the driving 'Linus and Lucy', you'll feel it... The finale, 'The Christmas Song', the one track remixed from the 3 track sounds 'in the pocket' correct in every way. It's the perfect closer to an album that in some ways is a trifle and in others has proven itself to be an enduring holiday classic that like the holiday itself will be celebrated for generations to come. If you buy this UHQR you'll surely be passing it down to future generations of vinyl fans.