40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas
{{Infobox album
| name = 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas
| type = Compilation
| artist = David Benoit
| cover = 40yrsCBXmasCD.jpg
| alt =
| released = October 4, 2005
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = {{hlist|Castle Oaks, Calabasas, California|
Oceanway Recording Studios, Hollywood, California|
WonderWorld Studio, Los Angeles, California|
Paramount Encore Studios, Hollywood, California|
Surfboard Studios, Boca Raton, Florida|
Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia|
Backroom Studios, Glendale, California}}
| genre = {{hlist|Christmas music|Jazz|Soundtrack}}
| length = {{duration|m=43|s=45}}
| label =
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- David Benoit
- Rob Mathes
- Keri Lewis
- Brian McKnight
- Russ Freeman}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{AllMusic | class= album | id= mw0000167461 | title= 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas | first= Rob | last= Theakston | access-date= 9 April 2021}}
| rev2 = All About Jazz
| rev3 = Five Cents Please
40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas is a compilation album released in the U.S. by Peak Records in October 2005. The album is a tribute to the soundtrack album A Charlie Brown Christmas released by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (credited to the Vince Guaraldi Trio) in December 1965.{{Cite news |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=December 29, 2020 |title='Charlie Brown Christmas' Soundtrack Hits Billboard 200 Top 10 for the First Time |publisher=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9505388/charlie-brown-christmas-soundtrack-billboard-200-chart-top-10 |access-date=22 February 2021}}
Reception
Rob Theakston of AllMusic noted that the original soundtrack recording has become "a cornerstone for jazz orientation and an essential holiday remedy for the run-of-the-mill-predictable contemporary favorites," adding that the musicians assembled for this tribute album represent a "veritable who's who of adult contemporary and jazz performers." Theakston added that the resulting music is "very warm sounding, heavily polished" and "well-played".
Guaraldi historian Derrick Bang noted that the album is "quite nice", adding that David Benoit's rendition of "Christmas Is Coming" is a "punchy, swinging cover", while Dave Koz's version of "Linus and Lucy" is "equally lively".
All About Jazz critic Woodrow Wilkins called the album a "jazz lover's delight".
Track listing
{{track listing
| headline = Standard edition
| all_writing = Vince Guaraldi, except where noted
| total_length =
| extra_column = Performer
| title1 = Christmas Is Coming
| writer1 =
| length1 = 2:54
| extra1 = David Benoit
| title2 = Just Like Me
| writer2 = {{hlist|David Benoit|Lee Mendelson}}
| length2 = 4:12
| extra2 = Vanessa Williams
| title3 = Linus and Lucy
| writer3 =
| length3 = 4:02
| extra3 = Dave Koz
| title4 = It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
| writer4 = {{hlist|Edward Pola|George Wyle}}
| length4 = 4:17
| extra4 = Toni Braxton
| title5 = My Little Drum
| writer5 =
| length5 = 3:28
| extra5 = Rick Braun
| title6 = Skating
| writer6 =
| length6 = 4:01
| extra6 = Norman Brown
| title7 = Christmas Time Is Here
| note7 = vocal
| writer7 = {{hlist|Vince Guaraldi|Lee Mendelson}}
| length7 = 4:25
| extra7 = Brian McKnight
| title8 = O Tannenbaum
| writer8 = Ernst Anschütz
| length8 = 3:53
| extra8 = Gerald Albright
| title9 = Red Baron
| writer9 =
| length9 = 4:10
| extra9 = The Rippingtons
| title10 = The Christmas Song
| writer10 = {{hlist|Mel Tormé|Robert Wells}}
| length10 = 4:03
| extra10 = Chaka Khan
| title11 = Für Elise
| writer11 = Ludwig van Beethoven
| length11 = 1:07
| extra11 = David Benoit
| title12 = Christmas Time Is Here
| note12 = instrumental
| writer12 =
| length12 = 3:13
| extra12 = Eric Marienthal
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Target exclusive
| total_length =
| extra_column = Performer
| title13 = Charlie Brown Theme
| writer13 = {{hlist|Vince Guaraldi|Lee Mendelson}}
| length13 =
| extra13 = Wayman Tisdale
| title14 = Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
| writer14 = {{hlist|Felix Mendelssohn|Charles Wesley}}
| length14 =
| extra14 = LaToya London}}
Session information
Credits adapted from CD liner notes.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
"Christmas Is Coming"
- Written by Vince Guaraldi
- Piano, arranger: David Benoit
- Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
- Cello: Dan Smith, Larry Corbett
- Concert master: Joel Derouin
- Contractor: Suzie Katayama
- Copyist: Anna Stromberg, Eric Stonerook, Jenis Stonerook, William Stromberg
- Percussion: Luis Conte
- Trombone: Steven Holtman
- Trumpet: Rick Baptist, Wayne Bergeron
- Viola: Carole Mukogawa, Denyse Buffum
- Violin: Haim Shtrum, John Wittenberg, Julian Hallmark, Laurence Greenfield, Ruth Bruegger
"Just Like Me"
- Written by David Benoit, Lee Mendelson
- Piano, bells, arranger: David Benoit
- Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
- Vocals: Vanessa Williams
- Cello: Dan Smith, Larry Corbett, Rudolph Stein
- Concert master: Joel Derouin
- Contractor: Suzie Katayama
- Copyist: Caryn Rasmussen, Scott McRae-Capehart, Suzie Katayama
- Engineer (vocals): Jan Folkson
- Producer (vocals): Rob Mathes
- Viola: Carole Mukogawa, Denyse Buffum, Karen Van Sant
- Violin: Robert Peterson, Haim Shtrum, John Wittenberg, Julian Hallmark, Laurence Greenfield, Norman Hughes, Ruth Bruegger
- Written by Vince Guaraldi
- Piano, synthesizer: David Benoit
- Guitar: Tony Maiden
- Electric bass: Alex Al
- Alto Saxophone: Dave Koz
- Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
- Percussion: Luis Conte
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
- Written by Edward Pola, George Wyle
- Vocals: Toni Braxton
- Piano, electric piano, synthesizer, arranger: David Benoit
- Guitar: Grant Geissman
- Acoustic bass: Dave Carpenter
- Drums: John Robinson
- Engineer (assistant vocal engineer]: Mack Woodward
- Producer (vocals): Keri Lewis
- Written by Vince Guaraldi
- Electric piano: David Benoit
- Guitar: Tony Maiden
- Electric bass: Alex Al
- Flugelhorn: Rick Braun
- Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
- Percussion: Luis Conte
"Skating"
- Written by Vince Guaraldi
- Electric piano, arranger: David Benoit
- Guitar: Norman Brown
- Acoustic bass: Alex Al
- Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
- Written by Vince Guaraldi, Lee Mendelson
- Vocals, arranger, producer: Brian McKnight
- Piano: David Benoit
- Keyboards: David Nathan
- Guitar: Tyrone Chase
- Bass: Chris Loftlin
- Acoustic bass: Dave Carpenter
- Drums: Prescott Ellison, Peter Erskine
- Engineer: Chris Wood
- Written by Ernst Anschütz
- Electric piano, arranger: David Benoit
- Guitar: Tony Maiden
- Electric bass: Alex Al
- Tenor saxophone: Gerald Albright
- Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
- Percussion: Luis Conte
"Red Baron"
- Written by Vince Guaraldi
- Guitar, keyboards, arranger, producer: Russ Freeman
- Keyboards: Bill Heller
- Saxophone: Eric Marienthal
- Drums: Peter Erskine
- Engineer: Steve Sykes
- Written by Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
- Vocals: Chaka Khan
- Piano, electric piano, synthesizer, arranger: David Benoit
- Acoustic bass: Dave Carpenter
- Drums: John Robinson
- Percussion: Luis Conte
- Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
- Piano: David Benoit
"Christmas Time Is Here" (reprise)
- Written by Vince Guaraldi
- Piano: David Benoit
- Acoustic bass: Dave Carpenter
- Saxophone: Eric Marienthal
- Drums: Peter Erskine
{{col-end}}
Additional personnel
- Producer: David Benoit (Tracks 1–6, 8, 10–12)
- A&R coordinator: Valerie Ince
- Art direction: Abbey Anna
- Production coordinator: Yvonne Wish
- Design: Andrew Pham
- Engineer (second): Brian Vibberts, George Gumbs, Jeff Wakolbinger, Josh Blanchard
- Engineer (mix): Clark Germain (Tracks 1–8, 10–12)
- Engineer (tracking): Clark Germain (Tracks 1–8, 10–12)
- Executive producer: Andi Howard, Mark Wexler, Ron Moss
- Mixing: WonderWorld Studio, Los Angeles, California
- Mastering: Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, California
References
{{reflist}}
{{Peanuts}}
{{David Benoit}}
{{Vince Guaraldi}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:David Benoit (musician) albums
Category:Christmas albums by American artists
Category:Jazz Christmas albums