When jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi released his soundtrack for A Charlie Brown Christmas back in 1965, he probably never thought that this holiday special would become one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time. Having been recently certified 5-times platinum by the RIAA. It was the first of 15 TV specials scored by the San Francisco-based pianist, best known for his Grammy-winning 1962 instrumental “Cast Your Fate to the Wind.”
That popularity, of course, brought along quite a few re-releases and special editions of the album, but the latest, surprise one, probably takes the cake.
As Variety reports, Craft Recordings is coming up with a Super Deluxe Edition, consisting of a new stereo mix of the 11-track album and a remastering of the original 1965 version; three full discs of the original recording sessions from September and October 1965, in which Guaraldi, his drummer and bassist developed the various themes; and a fifth, high-resolution Blu-Ray audio disc.
It’s already out in the digital form. The full physical package, including a 59-page hardcover book with extensive notes by Guaraldi biographer Derrick Bang, will be released on Dec. 2. The 2-LP, CD and digital Deluxe Edition, also out now, consists of the original 1965 album plus excerpts from the recording sessions. There is also a limited-edition Gold Foil version available on vinyl.
