Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP) is thrilled to announce the release—for the first time ever—of the complete Vince Guaraldi soundtrack for You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown, the timeless eighth animated Peanuts® special from writer and creator Charles Schulz, director Bill Melendez, and producers Melendez and Lee Mendelson. Originally airing on October 29, 1972, on CBS-TV, the special is now available for streaming on Apple TV+.
All versions of the album include the original 16 recordings featured in the special—now with extended performances that were never available before—plus nine additional bonus or alternate tracks never previously heard.
Guaraldi brought Dixieland jazz, his classic favorites, and even his voice (for the first time in a Peanuts special) to the score for Linus’s campaign for student body president.
Highlights include: the complete, over-five-minute “Joe Cool,” where Guaraldi sings about one of Snoopy’s most famous alter egos; multiple versions of “Incumbent Waltz” written for the special; perhaps his saddest tune, “Deserted Charlie Brown”; an updated 1970s take on the classic “Linus and Lucy”; and several renditions of the titular “You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown” themes. There are bonus tracks for “Joe Cool,” alternate takes of “Blue Charlie Brown,” and a bonus of “African Sleigh Ride,” later re-recorded for another special.
When the session tapes were rediscovered, it became clear that many of the songs had been cut down, edited, or replaced for time and tone in the special’s final edit. This release restores many of these performances to their original full length, allowing them to be appreciated on their own, unobstructed by dialogue or effects.
The recording features Guaraldi (piano, electric piano, vocals, and guitar), Seward McCain (bass and flute), Tom Harrell (trumpet), Glenn Cronkhite (drums), Mel Martin (woodwinds), Pat O‘Hara (trombone), and John Scott Trotter as the music supervisor. The soundtrack was produced by Sean Mendelson and Jason Mendelson, remixed at Bones and Knives by Terry Carleton, and restored and remastered by Vinson Hudson.
The album includes an exclusive Woodstock Yellow LP via Record Store Day Indie Exclusive, available at participating stores for order here.
Also available are a 12” black LP, a CD containing all 25 tracks, and a complete digital release.
The records and CDs are eco-minded: The records are made with BioVinyl, a unique product that replaces petroleum in S-PVC by recycling used cooking oil or industrial waste. This process achieves a 100% CO2 savings compared to traditional PVC vinyl without sacrificing acoustic or optical quality. Each record comes in a reusable, compostable PLA bag made from 99% renewable material, and the jacket, label, and liner notes are made from sustainably forested trees to minimize ecological harm. The CDs are also made from recycled material, and their paper inserts are sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Physical copies include liner notes that provide a track-by-track analysis by Derrick Bang and additional notes from Sean Mendelson, son of Peanuts producer Lee Mendelson and co-producer of the record. The LP liner notes span four pages, while the CD liner notes are eight pages, and all formats feature images from the special. The LP release also includes rare photographs and images from the original tape boxes that led to this release.
Find participating stores and more information about orders here or order from MVDSHOP here.
Available in limited release on Black Vinyl (12” BioVinyl), CD, and digitally: order here
Also available on Woodstock Yellow Vinyl (12” BioVinyl) as a Record Story Day Indie Exclusive: order here
