It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown soundtrack gets a limited vinyl re-release to celebrate the 60th anniversary

Image courtesy of Craft Recordings

The beloved PEANUTS special "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," aired on televisions across America 60 years ago this October. The third installment of the PEANUTS franchise featured another jazz score by Vince Guaraldi, including the tracks "The Great Pumpkin Waltz," "Graveyard Theme," and "Linus and Lucy."

The soundtrack had its first official release in 2018, and then a rerelease upon the discovery of the original master tapes in 2022. Now, the soundtrack returns to vinyl, alongside a selection of outtakes. The anniversary reissue is now available for preorder and will be released on August 7. The reissue comes pressed on an eye-catching 45 RPM Zoetrope LP and features memorable scenes from the special on each side of the record. It also includes a new essay by Sean Mendelson.

Additionally, various limited-edition treats are available at exclusive retail partners. This includes an orange 4-inch Tiny Vinyl at Target, available beginning July 17, featuring "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" on Side A and "Graveyard Theme" on Side B. Further, pumpkin-shaped pressings will be available in exclusive colors beginning August 21, including Electric Pumpkin Patch (Barnes & Noble), Pumpkin Spice (Walmart), Ghost White (Target), and Candy Corn (Craft Recordings). The popular Orange Pumpkin pressings will also return at all major retailers.

According to a press release, in linear notes of a previous edition of the soundtrack, historian Derrick Bang wrote, “By this point, Guaraldi had a strong sense of how music could—and should—be employed to maximize the viewing audience’s emotional response.” He continued, “Guaraldi emphatically established the PEANUTS® ‘musical personality’ with this third outing, and all subsequent prime-time specials owed much to the groovin’ atmosphere that is so prevalent in Great Pumpkin.” Lee Mendelson also contributes an introductory note written before his passing in 2019.

Here is the track list for the record:

Side A:

1. Linus and Lucy

2. Graveyard Theme

3. Snoopy and the Leaf/Frieda (With the Naturally Curly Hair)

4. The Great Pumpkin Waltz

5. Linus and Lucy (Reprise)

6. Charlie Brown Theme/Charlie Brown Theme (Minor Theme)/Graveyard Theme (Reprise)

7. The Great Pumpkin Waltz (Reprise)

8. The Red Baron/Military Drum March

9. The Great Pumpkin Waltz (2nd Reprise)/The Great Pumpkin Waltz (3rd Reprise)

10. Graveyard Theme (Trick or Treat) (2nd Reprise)

11. Fanfare/Breathless/Graveyard Theme (Trick or Treat) (3rd Reprise)

12. Charlie Brown Theme (Reprise)

Side B:

1. Breathless (2nd Reprise)

2. It's a Long Way to Tipperary/There's a Long, Long Trail A-Winding/Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag/Roses of Picardy

3. Graveyard Theme (Trick or Treat) (4th Reprise)

4. Linus and Lucy (2nd Reprise)/Linus and Lucy (3rd Reprise)

5. Charlie Brown Theme (2nd Reprise)

6. Linus and Lucy (Alternate Take 1)

7. Graveyard Theme (Alternate Take 1)

8. Charlie Brown Theme (Alternate Reprise Take 1)

9. Linus and Lucy (Alternate Take 2)

10. The Great Pumpkin Waltz (Alternate Take 2)

11. Linus and Lucy (Alternate Reprise Take 1)

12. Charlie Brown Theme (Alternate Reprise Take 2)

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