DVD/DTS Poll Guaraldi, Vince - A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS [DTS 96-24/DD DVD]

[elmer]

The order of the Monster Music releases from the start until now are as follows;

1. Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company (2004)
2. 3 Doors Down - Live (2005)
3. Various Artists - 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas (2005)
4. Peter Cincotti - Live In NY (2006)
5. Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas (2007)
6. George Benson/Al Jarreau - Givin' It Up (2007)
7. George Benson - Songs And Stories (2009)
8. Anjulie (2010)
9. Lee Ritenour - 6 String Theory (2010/11)

I don't believe necessarily that the program is dead - this is a vanity/pet project for "Head Monster"/CEO Noel Lee. I'm guessing that the Monster Discs get made when the spirit moves him.

 

[dbmay75]

The "program" (which I assume you guys mean "format") is not dead. I am still able to order titles directly from Monster Music located 20 minutes away from me in Brisbane, CA. Distribution is in Las Vegas, NV. I am helping several international QQ members obtain these discs and as of my latest order placed yesterday, their new system is getting the orders to me via FedEx in two days. You only pay state tax on phone orders, so don't order via the site! I have even suggested to the Monster reps that they push these to other vendors in order to get these discs sold and exposed. Amazon, for one, is selling the Ray Charles Genius Loves Company SuperDisc for only $13.99 and between the packaging, presentation and the 2 bonus tracks (I use the vocals-only Take 6 track to demo surround sound for friends and family) it puts the SACD to shame IMO. They have "several" copies of Ritenour, Anjulie and several other titles in stock. Concord Music, on the other hand, is no longer carrying Anjulie so don't bother with them.

Mon-Fri 6AM-6PM PST
Local: (415) 840-2000
Toll Free: (877) 800-8989
Site: http://www.monstermusic.com/

As for the Charlie Brown, a great disc indeed. 10/10

 

[dmt]

The price of this at fry's is now down to 60 cents!

Get your copy if you haven't already!

 

[Chris Gerhard]

The price of this at fry's is now down to 60 cents!

Get your copy if you haven't already!

Good grief. If I get anywhere near a Fry's, I will definitely pick it up. Amazon and eBay prices appear to be $12 shipped or so.

 

[jefe1]

My last trip to Frys, I paid .10 for John Entwistles Mad Dog. Unfortunately I overpaid

 

[EMB]

What makes this disc essential is that it offers you mixing variances that make obvious just what the limitations of a 3-track source tape truly are. And given that this was a jazz trio and not a rock band, or a pop album with orchestra (or a classical 3-track, for that matter), each approach is interesting in its fashion, but not quite as limited as one might think. The style of the music, too, lends itself to wide separation or a more intimate 'club' setting in a way that probably wouldn't work with other styles and genres.

What is truly enjoyable is having those choices. After all, how many quad/5.1 (or stereo) mixes have left us dissatisfied, wondering how, in better hands (or ears), such a mix could have maximized separation and impact? It's too bad that financial conditions preclude offering (for example) an album with an original quad mix, but then offering an alternate mix or two that were made but not chosen for whatever reasons? Or an original mix with a new, modern one? Tantalizing as this notion is, it's unfortunate that there isn't either the audience (of sufficient numbers) or artists (of sufficient ambition and adventure) to make such compilations happen.

ED

 

[filper]

Geez, talk about a requiem...

I should have bought all the copies in the bins for $1.99 and sold them to you folks for $2.99... duh me.

Really, get a copy if you can.

 

[jsulzinger]

Unfortunately, the version of "Linus & Lucy" on this disc is not the performance from the original recording "A Boy Named Charlie Brown". The trio that performed the original beloved version that we all know from the 1960's TV shows consisted of Guaraldi (piano), Monty Budwig (bass) & Colin Bailey (drums). The trio on the Monster disc is a later version recorded by Guaraldi, Fred Marshall (bass) & Jerry Granelli (drums) and in my opinion is not even in the same league performance wise. To me the original version of "Linus & Lucy" is the centerpiece of Vince Guaraldi's recorded body of work (as well as one of my personal favorite recordings of all time) and it is shame that on this surround version that they used a later substandard version.

 

[edisonbaggins]

I voted 8. At its best it's great. Feels a bit uneven to me, near the end. My Little Drum and Fur Elise fall a little flat for me, arrangement or mix-wise.
I think Jazz Club mix sounds best, except for the vocal version of Christmas Time is Here, where I liked hearing the voices bouncing around a concert hall.

**had to turn my sub down quite a bit**

 

[key_wiz]

Unfortunately, the version of "Linus & Lucy" on this disc is not the performance from the original recording "A Boy Named Charlie Brown". The trio that performed the original beloved version that we all know from the 1960's TV shows consisted of Guaraldi (piano), Monty Budwig (bass) & Colin Bailey (drums). The trio on the Monster disc is a later version recorded by Guaraldi, Fred Marshall (bass) & Jerry Granelli (drums) and in my opinion is not even in the same league performance wise. To me the original version of "Linus & Lucy" is the centerpiece of Vince Guaraldi's recorded body of work (as well as one of my personal favorite recordings of all time) and it is shame that on this surround version that they used a later substandard version.

Well, I think all they did here was issue a surround version of the original Fantasy records album that sold so well. If those weren’t all the exact recordings used on the TV special? Well, that happens sometimes. But I think it would have been more strange had they used something other than the original album.

In any case, I like this disc and what they did with what they had to work with.

I give it an “8”

 

[GOS]

Unfortunately, the version of "Linus & Lucy" on this disc is not the performance from the original recording "A Boy Named Charlie Brown". The trio that performed the original beloved version that we all know from the 1960's TV shows consisted of Guaraldi (piano), Monty Budwig (bass) & Colin Bailey (drums). The trio on the Monster disc is a later version recorded by Guaraldi, Fred Marshall (bass) & Jerry Granelli (drums) and in my opinion is not even in the same league performance wise. To me the original version of "Linus & Lucy" is the centerpiece of Vince Guaraldi's recorded body of work (as well as one of my personal favorite recordings of all time) and it is shame that on this surround version that they used a later substandard version.

I'm with you on Linus & Lucy. It would have been fun had they added the one we like as a bonus cut and leave the original on to complete the album.

 

[humprof]

I'm agnostic on the comparative merits of the two performances of "Linus and Lucy." It's the Marshall & Granelli version from A Charlie Brown Christmas that I knew--and loved--first, even if the Budwig & Bailey version from A Boy Named Charlie Brown was laid down a year earlier. I like how Monster built on the 3-track; the "Jazz Club" mix, especially, really pops.

The Bad Plus aren't everyone's cup of tea, but their (soon-to-be-former) pianist Ethan Iverson has very big ears, and he's a good writer, interviewer, and musicologist, to boot. A couple of weeks ago, he did a piece for The New Yorker titled "Deck the Halls with Vince Guaraldi."

 

[jsulzinger]

Well, I think all they did here was issue a surround version of the original Fantasy records album that sold so well. If those weren’t all the exact recordings used on the TV special? Well, that happens sometimes. But I think it would have been more strange had they used something other than the original album.

In any case, I like this disc and what they did with what they had to work with.

I give it an “8”

I think I may have created some confusion with my unclear post. There is only one original version of Linus and Lucy. The version from the Fantasy album "Jazz Impressions Of A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (the original Guaraldi,Budwig,Bailey version) is the same version used for the classic TV shows and the subsequent release of the "A Charlie Brown Christmas" album. It is the only "famous" version of the song and all other versions are substandard IMHO.

 

[humprof]

Neither Discogs nor Wikipedia makes it sound so clear-cut, jsulzinger--though I'm prepared to hear they're not the final authority on the matter. Either way, you've persuaded me to dig out my old copy of Jazz Impressions and compare the two versions. And in any event, I still like the Monster surround disc, which I don't think anyone should hesitate to buy if they can find it at a reasonable price. (Don't let commercialism spoil your Christmas!)

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown--and QQ'ers!

I think I may have created some confusion with my unclear post. There is only one original version of Linus and Lucy. The version from the Fantasy album "Jazz Impressions Of A Boy Named Charlie Brown" (the original Guaraldi,Budwig,Bailey version) is the same version used for the classic TV shows and the subsequent release of the "A Charlie Brown Christmas" album. It is the only "famous" version of the song and all other versions are substandard IMHO.

 

[GOS]

And, on another note I just purchased the HD version of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" from Amazon Prime/Video. Now, I can watch one of my favorite classics anytime of the night. $6.99

Not a bad price honestly...

 

[jsulzinger]

Neither Discogs nor Wikipedia makes it sound so clear-cut, jsulzinger--though I'm prepared to hear they're not the final authority on the matter. Either way, you've persuaded me to dig out my old copy of Jazz Impressions and compare the two versions. And in any event, I still like the Monster surround disc, which I don't think anyone should hesitate to buy if they can find it at a reasonable price. (Don't let commercialism spoil your Christmas!)

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown--and QQ'ers!

I know the versions sound similar so the best way to tell the original version is that at 00:50 seconds Vince hits a bum note on the piano

 

[ngv99]

I dug this one out early this year. . I can never get enough of this album or the accompanying TV special. The multiple mixes don't widely to my ears but I tend to lean towards the on stage jazz club mix...the shakers and bass coming from the rears are a nice touch. Fidelity is very good but a bit behind the stereo SACD to my ears. The album (and the memories it brings me) is a 10, the mix is a solid 7 or 7.5, so I'm giving an 8 overall. If you can find it, it's worth having.

 

[GerryO]

Thank you for the reminder about this one. Owned it for years, without a proper way to listen to it and it is sounding especially good right now, from the Front Row.

 

[artwwweb]

This is not very good, but then they obviously had very little to play with. I have compared the three mixes on my main system and also opened up in Audacity and solo'd tracks to compare. It's confused me for years, but last night I listened to it kind of blind (by which I mean I flicked through the audio button on my remote from DTS stream to DTS stream, trying to notice differences, without reminding myself of the options - I last played it 2 years ago).

Mix one has the piano front centre, bass rear left, drums rear right.

Mix two is very, very similar but possibly has a little more reverb.

Mix three has piano FL, bass and drums FR, with reverb in the rears - so a typical 'live' or 'classical' mix.

This fits the descriptions - jazz stage, concert hall, front row. (Though arguably you'd get more reverb in a small jazz club than in a large concert hall.) The mix stays like this until near the end when more instruments/ voices are added but it still doesn't sound too discrete. Anyway, like others, I prefer the jazz mix. It's the most discrete. But it's v difficult to tell from the concert. Overall even the best mix I find rather disappointing. I wonder what is actually on the original 3 track tape. I'm guessing it's not a dry, discrete recording of each of the three main instruments. If that was the case, it would have been easy to create a very simple but very discrete mix. Instead, I assume it's a basically live recording, with each instrument majoring on one of the tracks, but picking up the other two instruments to some extent. If that is the case, I wish they had created a 5.1 which just reformed the actual studio layout, as per the recording. It might have been a strange layout, but surely it would have sounded more realistic. But I'm just guessing.

I also find the sound quality pretty disappointing. It's all a bit fuzzy and mid-range - I want to boost the lows and the highs (though I am not experienced in this area - I do not have an equaliser).

Musically, it's not that Christmassy, so even that disappoints somewhat.

Anyway, I'm still happy to have this disc. The mix is not really very good but they had little to work work. I just think that after all the work that apparently went into it, I was expecting more.

I feel like I'm the Grinch, complaining about this disc, the music is clearly adored by many! I did not grow up watching the TV special every year as seems to be the case with most QQers, so I do not have nostalgia on my side. So I almost didn't bother to write a review. However, I know that with underwhelming mixes like this it is easy to miss subtleties so I feel it's worth mentioning my disappointment in case others can point out things I've missed.

 

[RustyStatic]

'Tis the season so I finally put this one in (already have listened to the stereo version of the original album several times); and to +1 what @edisonbaggins said, I had to turn my sub off completely to enjoy this... just like with the Nat King Cole SACDs, there's a lot o' funky goings-on below the 45Hz mark! Even my 11yo daughter was looking at me and saying "what the heck is wrong with the sound?"

I concur on the content not stacking up to the well-worn classic stereo set, but we enjoyed it all the same once we got it dialed in.