Additional "Mystery" Details

Lee Mendelson Film Productions just issued its official press release concerning the debut release of Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack for the 11th animated Peanuts TV special, It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown.

It can be viewed here.

It includes quite a few more details than I had in my initial post, back on May 19, and in the June 11 follow-up. Most importantly, some of the release dates have changed, so take note.

To recap and update:

• The Record Store Day Indie Exclusive Magnifying Glass Clear Vinyl, available September 11, can be pre-ordered at this Record Store Day page, but bear in mind that not all stores get listed; if you don't see your local favorite, give 'em a call.

• The Mystifying Teal Vinyl, exclusive to Barnes & Noble, also will be available September 11. It can be pre-ordered here.

• The Mysterious Magenta Vinyl, exclusive to Urban Outfitters, also will be available September 11. It can be pre-ordered here.

• Finally, standard black vinyl, CDs and digital downloads will be available September 18, and can be pre-ordered here.

The biggest surprise?

This unique release invites customers to solve several mysteries! Can you find all the tiny Peppermint Patty robbers, with the aid of the included Snoopy Holmes magnifying glass sheet? (All vinyl and CD releases include this special treat.) The packaging includes several other secrets, where the listener/reader is challenged to search for clues, and solve puzzles, that will lead to even more surprises!

(Having just received an advance copy — one of the privileges of writing liner notes — I can attest to the originality and deviousness that went into this release. You thought the Zoetrope and Easter Eggs were ground-breaking? Wait until you get your hands on this one!)

It's variant season!

Summer is almost here, which means — among other things — that it's vinyl variant season.

Craft Recordings will celebrate the upcoming 60th anniversary of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown with an impressive variety of new releases. The centerpiece is an eye-catching 45 RPM zoetrope LP, arriving August 7, which will feature memorable scenes from the special on each side, along with a new essay from Sean Mendelson.

Additional pumpkin-shaped color options will be available on August 21 from Barnes & Noble ("electric pumpkin patch"), Walmart ("pumpkin spice"), Target ("ghost white"), Craft Recordings ("candy corn") and Target (a 4-inch tiny vinyl, available July 17, and previously mentioned in an earlier post). Additionally, the conventional "orange pumpkin" pressing once again will be available at all major retailers. All of these options can be pre-ordered here.

Recorded on October 4, 1966, at Desilu's Gower Street Studio in Hollywood, just weeks ahead of its October 27 television debut, the Halloween special marked a new era in Peanuts scores, with the participation of seasoned composer, arranger and conductor John Scott Trotter. While music for the first two specials was managed entirely by Guaraldi, Trotter — best known for his three-decade run as Bing Crosby’s music director — brought a sense of order to the sessions, helping the jazz musician better tailor his music into short, TV-friendly cues. Joining Guaraldi were his trio members (bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Colin Bailey), plus Emmanuel “Mannie” Klein (trumpet), John Gray (guitar), and Ronald Lang (woodwinds), who added warm textures to the autumnal score.

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But wait ... that's not all!

It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown also is getting two more vinyl variants:

• A "mysterious magenta" from Urban Outfitters, available August 21, which can be pre-ordered here; and

• A "mystifying teal" from Barnes & Noble, available August 20, which can be pre-ordered here.

Later in the year, new vinyl variants for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas are anticipated, but details haven't yet been announced ... so watch this spot!

Grab your deerstalkers!

The 75th anniversary celebration of Guaraldi's professional career continues with the debut soundtrack release of It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown: the 11th Peanuts TV special, which debuted February 1, 1974.

The show was written by Charles Schulz, produced by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson, and directed by Phil Roman. 

Guaraldi is joined by Tom Harrell, trumpet; Seward McCain, bass; and Mike Clark and Eliot Zigmund, drums. The combo took its time laying down this score, with six sessions at San Francisco's Wally Heider Studios: December 14 and 16-19, 1973; and January 23, 1974.

The 15 soundtrack cues are accompanied by four bonus tracks from the Mystery recording session, along with two jazz standards recorded around the same time, featuring Ron McClure on bass.

The album was mixed by Terry Carleton at Bones, and Knives Studio, and restored and mastered by Vinson Hudson. Sean and Jason Mendelson produced the album, which includes a four-page insert with art from the special, extensive liner notes by Sean and Jason Mendelson, and an historical essay by my own self.

The special "clear magnifying glass" biovinyl Record Store Day LP will debut on September 18, at your local brick-and-mortar music shop. It will be packaged with a magnifying glass, designed to help solve some of this release's "Easter egg" mysteries. 

CD, digital and additional vinyl information will be released at a later date.

The album can be pre-ordered at this Record Store Day page. (Bear in mind that not all stores get listed; if you don't see your local favorite, give 'em a call.)

TRACK LIST

1. Little Birdie

2. Mystery Theme/Mystery Theme [Reprise]

3. It's A Mystery, Charlie Brown

4. Sassy Sally/It's A Mystery, Charlie Brown [Reprise]

5. Mystery Theme [2nd Reprise]

6. Cops And Robbers

7. It's A Mystery, Charlie Brown [2nd Reprise]

8. Mystery Theme [3rd Reprise]

9. It's A Mystery, Charlie Brown [3rd Reprise]

10. Sally's Blues

11. Mystery Interlude #1

12. Joe Cool

13. It's A Mystery, Charlie Brown [4th Reprise]

14. Mystery Theme [4th Reprise]

15. Mystery Theme [5th Reprise]

BONUS TRACKS

16. It's A Mystery, Charlie Brown [2nd Reprise - Alternative Take]

17. Snoopy Holmes

18. Mystery Theme [Viberslap Mix/Studio Banter]

19. Little Birdie [Alternate Vince Whistle]

20. Cops And Robbers [Rhythm Section Mix]

21. Joe Cool [Just Vince Mix]

22. Autumn Leaves [Take 1]

23. Billie's Bounce [Take 2]

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But wait, there's more!

Target has just announced an exclusive, "tiny vinyl" edition of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, which will debut July 17.

Side A features "The Great Pumpkin Waltz," and "Graveyard Theme" is on side B.

Time to once again break out your tiny record players!