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Some jazz records are for collectors. This one is for everyone. A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio is warm, playful and a little melancholy, and it works just as well in July as it does in December. It is also one of the best first jazz records you can buy. Here is why it matters, what is on it and which vinyl edition to pick.
Why it matters
The numbers are hard to argue with. Craft Recordings, the label that now looks after the album, says A Charlie Brown Christmas shares the title of best selling jazz album in history. Craft lists it as certified 5x Platinum and notes that the soundtrack reached number 6 on the Billboard charts in 2021, decades after it first came out.
The music comes from the PEANUTS holiday special. Craft says the album features all the beloved compositions from the special, with Guaraldi joined by Fred Marshall, Monty Budwig, Jerry Granelli and Colin Bailey. The label calls it a perennial classic that continues to introduce generations of children and adults to the joys of jazz.
The songs
Craft highlights a handful of holiday favorites from the record:
- Christmas Time Is Here, the gentle, wistful theme.
- Linus and Lucy, the piano tune Craft calls instantly recognizable.
- O Tannenbaum, a traditional carol given a relaxed jazz treatment.
- Skating, light and flowing.
Between those pieces, the trio stretches out on carols and originals with the easy swing of a small group playing in a room together. It is jazz that never shows off, which is exactly why it reaches so many people.
Why it is cool on vinyl
This is a record that rewards a sit down listen. The piano trio sound is intimate and uncluttered, and it fills a room the way a fire does. A physical copy that comes out of the sleeve each winter turns listening into a small seasonal ritual of your own.
It is also a perfect bridge into jazz. If you love it, the next steps are easy. Guaraldi's label home was Fantasy, and our Original Jazz Classics starter guide covers the label family's best records. From there, try the piano trio playing on Bill Evans Trio's Waltz for Debby or the small group swing of Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet.
Which edition to buy
Craft has issued the album in several forms. A few worth knowing:
- Standard LP: the simplest way to own the album, and a fine place to start.
- Gold Foil Edition: Craft describes a one time 2022 printing on black vinyl, with a gold foil jacket and embossed PEANUTS characters and tree.
- Deluxe Edition 2 LP: according to Craft, record one features a brand new stereo mix remastered from the original three track and two track sources, and record two holds thirteen unreleased outtakes from five recording sessions. It comes in a gatefold jacket with new liner notes from PEANUTS historian Derrick Bang.
- CD: Craft's remastered CD edition adds three bonus tracks that did not appear on the original 1965 LP.
For a first copy, the standard LP is all you need. For a serious fan, the deluxe set shows how the music took shape in the studio.
How to listen
Play it on a quiet evening with the lights low, and let a full side run without skipping. The record moves between bright, upbeat tunes and gentle, reflective ones, and hearing that shift in order is part of the charm.
Who should buy it
Anyone starting a jazz collection, families looking for a record everyone will enjoy and anyone who wants a holiday album that does not wear thin. It also makes an easy gift; see our list of gifts for vinyl collectors for ideas to pair with it. New to records? Start with our picks for the best turntables for beginners.
Where to buy
Craft Recordings sells the album in several editions through its official store, and record shops stock it widely.
For more records worth owning, browse our vinyl section.
