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Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (soundtrack)
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording is a soundtrack album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi released on January 17, 2025, in the U.S. by Lee Mendelson Film Productions. It is the soundtrack to the St. Valentine-themed television special of the same name first broadcast on CBS on January 28, 1975.[1][5] BackgroundFollowing the passing of producer Lee Mendelson in December 2019, his children undertook an extensive search of archival materials in hopes of locating original music score recordings from the Peanuts television specials. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, they uncovered a collection of analog session tapes, recorded by Guaraldi for several of the specials. These recordings, long believed to be lost, comprised not only all of Guaraldi's music cues but also the arrangements by John Scott Trotter, including multiple alternate takes.[6] The session tapes preserve the complete, unedited recordings, which were originally captured and mixed in stereo. These analog recordings were carefully transferred to high-resolution digital format at 192 kHz/24-bit from the original 2-inch, 16-track stereo masters.[6] Recording The recording sessions for Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown were conducted at San Francisco’s Wally Heider Studios on December 9, 17, 18, 23, and 30, 1974, featuring Guaraldi (acoustic piano, electric keyboards, clavinet, ARP String Ensemble, harpsichord, guitars), Seward McCain (electric bass) and Vince Lateano (drums).[1] The sessions showcased Guaraldi’s ability to blend structured composition with jazz improvisation. As his third-to-last score for the Peanuts specials, the music reflects themes of unrequited love while maintaining the lighthearted and whimsical nature of the series.[7] By the mid-1970s, Guaraldi was well established as the Peanuts composer but remained primarily known in Northern California. While regularly performing at venues like San Francisco’s El Matador and Menlo Park’s Butterfield’s, he continued refining his jazz approach. This period of live performances influenced the relaxed yet intricate feel of the Be My Valentine soundtrack.[8] For this score, Guaraldi relied on the Fender Rhodes Stage electric piano, which required a lighter touch to avoid distortion. He also incorporated the ARP String Ensemble, a new synthesizer at the time, layering it to simulate a string section. This instrument is particularly prominent in “Valentine Interlude No. 1” and “Heartburn Waltz (5th Reprise).”[7][8] “Heartburn Waltz” appears throughout the special in multiple variations, serving as its main musical motif. This mid-tempo waltz, with its distinctive triplet introduction, captures Charlie Brown’s ongoing romantic struggles. A slower version, “Charlie Brown’s Wake-Up,” adds further depth to the theme. The fifth reprise of “Heartburn Waltz” includes an alternate drum track, with the original cleaner take preserved as a bonus track.[7][8] Guaraldi explored different time signatures and arrangements throughout the sessions. “There’s Been a Change” was recorded in both 6 A unique track in the score is “Freddie’s Mood,” an adaptation of Frédéric Chopin’s "Nocturne in E♭ major, Op. 9, No. 2", infused with jazz elements. Guaraldi intentionally aged the recording with crackles and warbles to mimic a vintage LP effect. Additionally, his voice can be faintly heard saying, “One more minute coming up!” during the closing credits, an unusual inclusion in the final mix.[7][8] Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown premiered on CBS on January 28, 1975, resonating with audiences due to its themes of unrequited love. The melancholic yet playful score complemented the storyline, leading to an influx of valentines sent to Charles Schulz’s studio on behalf of Charlie Brown. The special earned an Emmy nomination, though it did not win. Musically, the score stands out for its restrained, introspective quality and its innovative use of the ARP synthesizer.[6][7][8] ReleaseBe My Valentine, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording 50th Anniversary Extended Edition was released on January 17, 2025. The album is available in CD, vinyl, and digital download formats. Two exclusive vinyl editions were included in the release: a "Heartburn Red" 12” variant, designated as a Record Store Day Indie Exclusive, and a "Puppy Love Pink" 12” variant, available at Barnes & Noble. To minimize the carbon footprint, these records use BioVinyl, a material that replaces petroleum in S-PVC with recycled cooking oil or industrial waste, achieving a 100 percent reduction in CO2 emissions while preserving acoustic and visual quality.[1] Critical receptionBe My Valentine, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording was met with critical acclaim upon its release, with critics praising Guaraldi’s ability to blend jazz, classical elements, and contemporary sounds of the 1970s into a cohesive and emotionally resonant soundtrack. Joshua Weiner of All About Jazz highlights the album’s rich instrumental palette, noting that it "certainly sounds like [it was released in 1975], thanks to the expanded palette of instruments available to Guaraldi". Weiner emphasizes the standout track, "Charlie Brown’s Wake-Up", calling it "distinctive enough to earn its own name" and a highlight of the album. Weiner further praises Guaraldi’s ability to evoke emotion through melody, stating, "It is hard to imagine anyone’s heart not being pierced by Cupid’s arrow upon hearing this music".[2] Jazz Weekly’s George W. Harris underscores the evolution of Guaraldi’s style, pointing out that the pianist incorporated electric piano, clavinet, ARP Strings, electric harpsichord, and even guitar, a departure from his earlier, more traditional jazz trio work. Harris describes the album’s tone as shifting toward a more "synthy" aesthetic, particularly on tracks like "Valentine Interlude" and "Paw Pet Overture", and notes that pieces such as "Jennie L." and "Woodstock’s Mambo" adopt a “bar mitzvah mood,” reflecting a kitschier approach compared to Guaraldi’s more swinging early Peanuts scores.[3] Audiophile Audition’s Robbie Gerson commends Guaraldi for crafting another “memorable soundtrack” and identifies "Heartburn Waltz" as its emotional core. He highlights Guaraldi’s stylistic versatility, pointing out the "Latin-infused funkiness" of "Paw Pet Overture" and the "bluesy reverie" of "Never Again". Gerson also praises the debut recording of "Last Call For Love", calling it a "rolling bluesy trio number" that showcases the trio’s cohesion and improvisational chemistry.[4] Track listingAll tracks are written by Vince Guaraldi, except where noted
PersonnelOriginal 1975 personnel
2025 release personnel
ChartsWeekly charts
References
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