Vince Guaraldi: ‘It Was A Short Summer, Charlie Brown’ New Soundtrack Release

Lee Mendelson Film Productions is excited to announce the historic release of the complete Vince Guaraldi soundtrack for “It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown.” This marks the first time these recordings, recently rediscovered, are being made available. “It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown,” the sixth animated Peanuts special created by Charles Schulz, directed by Bill Melendez, and produced by Melendez and Lee Mendelson, originally aired on CBS-TV on September 27, 1969.

This album is a treasure trove for Peanuts and Vince Guaraldi fans alike, featuring the original 26 tracks that set the tone for the special, along with six previously unheard alternative tracks. These recordings showcase Guaraldi’s masterful composition for the summer camp-themed adventure where Charlie Brown and his friends compete against Peppermint Patty’s team.

Highlights of the album include the finest rendition of Guaraldi’s classic “Love Will Come (Nova Bossa)” and the debut of Victor Feldman’s additional percussion work. The soundtrack features an impressive lineup of musicians: Vince Guaraldi on piano, Monty Budwig on double bass, Jack Sperling on drums, Conte and Pete Candoli on trumpet, Frank Rosolino on trombone, Victor Feldman on percussion, Herb Ellis on guitar, William Hood and Peter Christlieb on woodwind, and John Scott Trotter as the orchestra leader.

This release offers a rare and delightful glimpse into the musical genius of Vince Guaraldi and the rich, jazzy soundscape of a beloved Peanuts special.

Although this was the last Peanuts TV special released in the 1960s, the final Peanuts animation adaptation of that decade was the feature film “A Boy Named Charlie Brown,” which premiered in theaters three months after “It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown” aired on television. This special was also the last to feature Peter Robbins as the voice of Charlie Brown; his voice is notably deeper here, suggesting it was recorded after the feature film.

This special marked the debut of Hilary Momberger as the voice of Sally Brown, Pamelyn Ferdin as the voice of Lucy van Pelt, and Christopher DeFaria as the voice of Peppermint Patty. It was Peppermint Patty’s third appearance in Peanuts TV specials, following “You’re in Love, Charlie Brown” and “He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown,” and the first time she called Charlie Brown by his real name instead of “Chuck.”

This was also the first special to reuse a comic strip previously adapted; the opening scene where Charlie Brown tells Sally to go to school had been adapted in “A Boy Named Charlie Brown,” with Lucy and Linus in the respective roles. An original television promo for the special featured a scene where Sally launches 10 feet in the air at the mention of “kindergarten,” which had a rocket sound, unlike the dash sound in the final special.