Vince Guaraldi: You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown Soundtrack

Vince Guaraldi’s Complete Soundtrack for You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown Celebrates 50 Years with Extended Edition Release

Lee Mendelson Film Productions proudly announces the release of You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording – 50th Anniversary Extended Edition, a long-awaited and meticulously restored soundtrack from the iconic 1975 Peanuts television special. For the first time, fans can enjoy the complete musical score composed by the legendary Vince Guaraldi, an essential figure in jazz and animation history.

Making its long-awaited debut for the very first time, Vince Guaraldi’s timeless score is now available in a beautifully produced edition on Zoetrope Vinyl, CD, and digital formats. The beloved, Emmy Award-winning special—conceived and written by Charles Schulz, directed by Phil Roman, and produced by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson—has been brought back to life through an exceptional audio restoration. Meticulously remastered, this release offers a richly detailed listening experience designed for discerning listeners, jazz lovers, and devoted fans of the Peanuts legacy. Alongside Guaraldi’s signature piano work, the recording features Seward McCain on electric bass and Mark Rosengarden on drums, with music supervision by the legendary John Scott Trotter.

Over half a century in the making, this remarkable release brings together an award-winning team to honor Vince Guaraldi’s legacy. Emmy and Grammy winner Clark Germain handled the mix at WonderWorld Studio, while Vinson Hudson meticulously restored and mastered the recordings. The project was shepherded by producers Sean and Jason Mendelson.

This special anniversary edition includes Guaraldi’s full soundtrack for You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown, but also features four rare bonus tracks from the 1974 animated short Bicycles Are Beautiful, produced by Lee Mendelson Film Productions and featuring a young Bill Cosby. Thematically in line with the special’s focus on cycling and motocross, these bonus tracks enhance the athletic and high-energy spirit of the release, while thoughtfully avoiding direct emphasis on Cosby’s later controversies.

One of the album’s standout tracks is “Motocross,” a high-octane composition that fuses jazz, funk, and early electronic influences. The cue appears in several variations throughout the special, each reflecting Guaraldi’s adventurous approach to composition during the mid-1970s. His use of synthesizers like the Minimoog, Clavinet, ARP String Ensemble, and the Rhythm Ace Drum Machine signaled a bold new direction in his Peanuts work—one that aligned with the evolving music scene of the time.

Though some critics of the era claimed Guaraldi was creatively winding down, the You’re a Good Sport soundtrack proves quite the opposite. Rather than resting on the success of “Linus and Lucy,” Guaraldi was pushing forward, embracing new sounds and reshaping the musical identity of the Peanuts specials. The score includes refreshed versions of fan-favorite themes like “Peppermint Patty” and “Linus and Lucy,” as well as a never-before-released bonus track, You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (Unused Opening Cues), which now opens Side B on the vinyl edition.

This project marked Vince Guaraldi’s most ambitious foray into synthesized music, showcasing his willingness to push creative boundaries. Moving beyond the warm, acoustic jazz stylings that had become synonymous with the Peanuts franchise, Guaraldi embraced the possibilities offered by emerging electronic instruments to reimagine the sonic identity of the series. While the familiar musical motifs and playful rhythms that fans had come to love remained intact, he layered them with bold new textures and tonal variations that brought a renewed sense of energy and emotion to the compositions.

What makes this endeavor especially remarkable is Guaraldi’s ability to seamlessly fuse traditional and modern elements. Few musicians possess the creative intuition to reinvent their work so dramatically while still honoring its original spirit. In his hands, classic themes were not just updated—they were transformed. Synthesizers, electric keyboards, and experimental soundscapes didn’t overpower the music; they elevated it. His arrangements breathe new life into iconic cues, enriching the Peanuts universe with depth and nuance that feels both fresh and timeless.

The inspiration for the television special originated with Craig Schulz, the son of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz. A devoted motorcycle and motocross practitioner, Craig’s personal passion for the sport played a pivotal role in shaping the storyline. His enthusiasm infused the special with a fresh, high-octane energy that stood apart from earlier, more introspective Peanuts narratives.

Craig Schulz began racing motocross in 1971 and went on to compete in hundreds of events throughout the years. Although his father, Charles Schulz, attended only a handful of his races, Craig’s vivid accounts and love for the sport gave him a deeper understanding of its culture and spirit. Over time, Charles developed a genuine appreciation for motocross and what it meant to his son. As Craig recalls, “…being the genius he was, he captured the essence of the sport perfectly in just five daily strips—a week-long series that appeared in February of 1975.”

The broader cultural context of the time also likely contributed to the special’s direction. The early 1970s saw a surge of interest in motorsports, fueled in part by Bruce Brown’s acclaimed 1971 documentary On Any Sunday. The film, which captured the thrill and artistry of motorcycle racing, helped bring the sport into the mainstream consciousness. Though not a direct influence, its popularity and stylistic approach may have subtly informed the special’s tone, imbuing it with a sense of movement, excitement, and a more contemporary edge. Together, Craig Schulz’s firsthand passion and the era’s fascination with motorcycling combined to give the special a distinctive personality that reflected both personal and cultural influences.

Charles M. Schulz’s Emmy-winning You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown remains a timeless tribute to determination, resilience, and good sportsmanship. While some elements—like Charlie Brown wearing a pumpkin for a helmet—might raise eyebrows among today’s safety-conscious parents, the heart of the story continues to shine with audiences of all ages. Without revealing too many spoilers, our lovable underdog Charlie Brown surprises everyone by holding his own against fierce competition, including Peppermint Patty and the enigmatic “Masked Marvel.” Still, in true Charlie Brown fashion, victory remains just out of reach, reminding us why his enduring charm lies in the effort, not just the outcome.

The Zoetrope picture disc animates scenes from the special as it spins—blending art, music, and nostalgia into a collector’s dream. The vinyl edition features a stunning Zoetrope design by Drew Tetz—when spun on a turntable, it reveals animated scenes from the original Peanuts special on both sides. Physical versions of the album come with exclusive liner notes, including a track-by-track breakdown by producer Sean Mendelson, additional commentary by Jason Mendelson, a historical essay by Guaraldi scholar Derrick Bang, and reflections by Craig Schulz on the origins of the special. Rare production photos and behind-the-scenes materials round out this deluxe presentation.

This release also reignites interest in Vince Guaraldi’s lesser-known work beyond the Peanuts universe. During the 1960s, Guaraldi composed music for a variety of short-form projects—documentaries, commercials, and industrial films—most of which have never been released to the public. With renewed interest around archival preservation, fans and collectors are hopeful that these forgotten gems will be restored and released in high-quality formats in the years to come.

1975 was a pivotal year in the world of soundtrack composition. While John Williams redefined cinematic scoring with his Jaws soundtrack—instantly recognizable by its suspenseful duh-dun… duh-dun motif—Guaraldi was making equally meaningful contributions on the small screen. Just as Williams’ music became the heartbeat of Jaws, Guaraldi’s jazz themes, particularly the universally beloved “Linus and Lucy,” became synonymous with the Peanuts gang. It’s hard to imagine either property reaching iconic status without its respective musical identity.

Though their musical approaches differed—Williams rooted in symphonic tradition, Guaraldi grounded in cool West Coast jazz—both composers proved that music could be more than background accompaniment. It could be a vital character in storytelling. In their ways, each changed the way we hear and feel visual narratives.

You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown – 50th Anniversary Extended Edition is a triumph not just for Peanuts fans, but for lovers of jazz, animation, and vintage television. Beautifully produced and richly curated, the album is a long-overdue celebration of Guaraldi’s enduring genius. The vinyl editions, especially the Zoetrope releases, are as much works of art as they are collectibles—blending sight and sound into an immersive tribute to one of America’s most beloved composers.

With this release, Lee Mendelson Film Productions and the Mendelson family have not only honored Guaraldi’s musical legacy but also sparked hope for future archival releases. For longtime fans and new listeners alike, hearing unreleased Vince Guaraldi music—thought lost to time—is a gift. It’s a reminder of the timeless magic he brought to the Peanuts world and the boundless creative spirit that still resonates 50 years later.

Here’s the track list of the album:

1. Motocross (3:49)
2. Peppermint Patty  (1:01)
3. You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (Centercourt) (3:55)
4. Fanfare / Fanfare (Alternate Take) / Hospital Scene / Hospital Scene (Bonus)  (0:37)
5. Bass Blues 0:22)
6. Linus and Lucy (2:56)
7. Motocross (Reprise) (1:32)
8. You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (Unused Opening Cues) (1:07)
9. The Great Pumpkin Waltz (0:25)
10. Motocross (2nd Reprise) (0:41)
11. Motocross (3rd Reprise) (0:32)
12. Motocross (4th Reprise) (1:38)
13. Motocross (5th Reprise Extended with Additional Piano) (1:45)
14. Lunch Theme / Motocross (6th Reprise) (1:41)
15. You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (Reprise) (0:58)
16. Bicycles Are Beautiful (Reprise) (1:52)
17. Bicycle Ballad (Medley) (1:44)
18. Bicycle Bounce (and Reprise) (1:14)
19. Bicycle Wizard (and Reprise) (0:35)