The Peanuts Collection, Vol. 1


The Peanuts Collection, Vol. 1 is a six-CD box set by American jazz pianist and composer Vince Guaraldi, released on October 17, 2025, by Lee Mendelson Film Productions in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Peanuts franchise. The limited-edition release compiles six previously issued soundtracks to Peanuts animated television specials, each originally restored and released on CD between 2023 and 2025. Limited to 500 copies, the set was made available exclusively through independent retailers affiliated with Record Store Day.

Background

Guaraldi began composing music for the Peanuts animated specials in 1964 with Jazz Impressions [of A Boy Named Charlie Brown], establishing a distinctive jazz-based musical language for the franchise. His work continued through 1976, shaping the musical identity of the early specials until his death in February of that year.
Following the death of longtime producer Lee Mendelson in December 2019, his sons Jason and Sean Mendelson launched an archival effort to locate and preserve original session tapes from the Guaraldi era. The first result was a 2022 reissue of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, correcting a 2018 release that had used audio sourced directly from the television broadcast, including intrusive sound effects. The 2022 version replaced those elements with restored material from newly recovered session tapes.
Between 2023 and 2025, Lee Mendelson Film Productions issued six additional soundtracks through its own label. Many of these scores were released in full for the first time, having previously circulated only in excerpted or unofficial form. These included:It Was a [Short Summer, Charlie Brown (soundtrack)|It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown] You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown A [Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (soundtrack)|A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving] It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown You're a [Good Sport, Charlie Brown (soundtrack)|You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown]
Each soundtrack was remastered from original analog session reels recorded between 1969 and 1975, many rediscovered during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The recordings were transferred to high-resolution digital formats to preserve Guaraldi's mono and stereo mixes and improvisational arrangements in their original fidelity.

Content

The Peanuts Collection, Vol. 1 includes all six of the aforementioned CD releases, compiled into a single box set. While the audio content is identical to the individual issues released between 2023 and 2025, each disc features exclusive new cover artwork created specifically for this set. The images themselves are sourced directly from the original animated television specials, offering a visual presentation that reflects the era, tone, and animation style of each special. The outer packaging features a light blue background with an illustration of Snoopy dancing among musical notes, adapted from the opening sequence of It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown.

Release

The box set was released on October 17, 2025, in a limited run of 500 copies, and distributed exclusively through independent record stores participating in the Peanuts 75th anniversary campaign. It was not made available through major online retailers or streaming platforms.

Reception

While formal critical reviews were pending at the time of release, the set was positively received by fans and collectors. Publications such as The Second Disc praised the collection for its historical value, noting that it marked "the first time these six restored scores have been presented together in a single release." The combination of archival fidelity and collectible packaging was highlighted as a standout feature of the release.

Track listing

All tracks written by Vince Guaraldi, except where noted.

''Disc Six – You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording'' (1975)

The album includes 14 tracks from the original 1975 television special plus four additional selections from Bicycles Are Beautiful.