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Rating: STOP RIGHT THERE! This is NOT A CHRISTMAS COMPILATION!
It's A MAGNIFICENT MASTERPIECE that Vince Guaraldi, jazz pianist, in trio with Monty Budwig, bass, and Colin Bailey, drums, gifted to the world in 1965, as well as the soundtrack of the first Christmas episode of the fantastic and unbeatable Peanuts, born from the pen of the ingenious Charles Schulz, aptly titled "A Charlie Brown Christmas." An episode I doubt anyone hasn't seen yet, but in case you haven't, my advice is to catch up quickly; provided you enjoy the depressed Charlie, the insecure Linus, the exuberant Lucy, and of course him, Snoopy, the world's most "faico" beagle!
Vince Guaraldi, aka Dr. Funk, as he was nicknamed at the time, took care of the musical background of these magnificent cartoons until his premature death in the mid-'70s, at only 47 years old, and contributed significantly to their success with a truly diverse audience, and ultimately to my "young" interest in the world of jazz (mind you!).
With an extraordinary sensitivity of which he was evidently endowed, he managed with only apparent simplicity to perfectly translate into music the humorous, ironic, but also deeply intellectual and classically modern spirit of these stories. Indeed, the Peanuts' stories have multiple interpretations, and here, for example, the Christmas spirit itself is questioned, and the tracks, demonstrating their high value, not only capture the atmosphere in a refined way and adapt sublimely to the situations but have become true jazz standards like the enchanting "Christmas Time Is Here" offered in an instrumental version (chills included) and immediately after in a vocal version with a children's choir - enough to make even a squad of finance officers with canine units in tow emotional!
Fun fact: this same version also pops up in the recent (and very beautiful) soundtrack of the film "The Royal Tenenbaums" from 2001 curated by Mark Mothersbaugh of the legendary Devo. Between original pieces and rearranged Christmas classics, like "O Tannenbaum", "Greensleeves", and "What Child Is This?", stand out the original "Linus & Lucy" and the bossa nova of "Christmas Is Coming", but if you hate Christmas it doesn't matter, you'll love these 40 minutes of this disc all the same. Indeed, this album, which from the cover already tempts a lot, would be to your Christmas as a slice of panettone, a shame to miss out!
Christmas is coming, be nice!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 O Tannenbaum (05:08)
O Christmas Tree
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How are thy leaves so verdant!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!
Not only in the summertime,
But even in winter is thy prime.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!
For every year the Christmas tree,
Brings to us all both joy and glee.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
Each bough doth hold its tiny light,
That makes each toy to sparkle bright.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
12 Greensleeves (05:26)
Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.
Chorus:
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.
Your vows you've broken, like my heart,
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity.
Chorus
I have been ready at your hand,
To grant whatever you would crave,
I have both wagered life and land,
Your love and good-will for to have.
Chorus
If you intend thus to disdain,
It does the more enrapture me,
And even so, I still remain
A lover in captivity.
Chorus
My men were clothed all in green,
And they did ever wait on thee;
All this was gallant to be seen,
And yet thou wouldst not love me.
Chorus
Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,
but still thou hadst it readily.
Thy music still to play and sing;
And yet thou wouldst not love me.
Chorus
Well, I will pray to God on high,
that thou my constancy mayst see,
And that yet once before I die,
Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.
Chorus
Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,
To God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true,
Come once again and love me.
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