Compiled by JAMES ZAHN, senior editor
MUSIC: SEASONAL SOUNDTRACKS IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN! (MUSIC FROM THE SOUNDTRACK) On Oct. 27, 1966, a perennial favorite made its debut on CBS. The third television special inspired by Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!, became an instant classic, due in large part to its soundtrack by Grammy-winning composer and performer Vince Guaraldi. The music was recorded on Oct. 4, 1966, at Desilu’s Gower Street Studio in Hollywood, California, under the direction of composer, arranger, and conductor John Scott Trotter. The score features Guaraldi tickling the keys of the piano, with bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Colin Bailey — collectively known as the Vince Guaraldi Trio — trumpet player Emanuel Klein, guitarist John Gray, and Ronald Lang handling the album’s woodwinds. Somewhat surprisingly, despite being launched in the era when vinyl was king, the music from the special was never released on the format until now. From Craft Recordings, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! (Music from the Soundtrack) is available on 12-inch vinyl for the first time, complete with the iconic Great Pumpkin appearing as an etching on side B. Additionally, a limited-edition pressing on glow-in-the-dark vinyl is available exclusively through the Craft Recordings Store. No more than 500 copies will be available worldwide. Available now
GHOSTBUSTERS (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE) 35THANNIVERSARY EDITION Since 1984, film fans and paranormal enthusiasts have enjoyed the comedic antics of Ivan Reitman’s Ghostbusters. While the soundtrack’s title theme by Ray Parker Jr. became an instantly iconic pop hit, the whimsically spooky score from composer Elmer Bernstein winds through moments of comedy, action, and drama. For the 35th anniversary of the film, Sony Masterworks reissued Bernstein’s score, completely remastered with four previously unreleased tracks. “As one of the original orchestrators on Ghostbusters, it has been very satisfying and also very moving to work on this soundtrack release 35 years down the road,” says Peter Bernstein, who worked on the original score alongside his late father. Available now
STRANGER THINGS 3 — ORIGINAL SCORE FROM THE NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein have been on board with Stranger Things since the beginning, providing the synth-driven, ‘80s-inspired score that’s practically become an additional character in the series. Half of the Austin band S U R V I V E, Dixon and Stein return for Stranger Things 3, appropriately amping up their score to reflect the growing evil that presents itself during the series’ 1985-set season. From Lakeshore Records, it’s a perfect new edition to any Halloween playlist — and one that feels authentically ‘80s. Available on multiple formats, including limited-edition splatter vinyl, the score makes a fine pairing with Sony Legacy’s companion soundtrack, which features hits from The Who, Howard Jones, Huey Lewis & the News, and more. Available now 102 THE TOY BOOK | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 | toybook.com