Looking for a fun, last-minute vinyl pick for the cartoon-loving jazz fan on your list? The new animated zoetrope picture disc edition of Vince Guaraldi’s iconic, best-selling soundtrack to the A Charlie Brown Christmas TV special might be exactly what you’re after. It’s available from retailers like Amazon—and if you move quickly, it should still land before the holiday glow fully fades. More on that in a moment…
Audiophile-leaning music fans of a certain vintage may instinctively turn up their noses at picture discs, but experience has been a persuasive teacher. Modern picture disc pressings sound dramatically better than the sonic travesties churned out in the 1970s—quieter surfaces, better consistency, and far fewer compromises than their reputation would suggest.
For those unfamiliar with the issue, picture discs—fun as they undeniably are—have long been dismissed as a gimmicky way to sell more records (which, to be fair, is what record labels exist to do). Historically, they sounded rough: noisy surfaces, compromised grooves, and limited durability that didn’t exactly reward repeated listening.
And yet, picture discs persist—because they’re fun. Today, there’s a surprisingly deep subculture built around them, especially the animated zoetrope variants, with some collectors going so far as to treat them as a legitimate art form in their own right.
That perception has shifted in recent years. Modern manufacturers—particularly in Europe—have clearly figured out how to make picture discs that sound genuinely respectable. I even reviewed an excellent picture disc edition of The Man Who Sold the World by David Bowie, issued for Record Store Day some years back, which fundamentally changed my perspective on what’s possible when these releases are handled with care. Crafted properly, they don’t just look good—they sound solid, too.
Most recently here on eCoustics I reviewed the zoetrope picture disc of You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (click here to read that review) which I liked very much.
And I feel the same way about this new zoetrope edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Before we go much further, lets recap some of the key details behind this disc, from official press materials:
“To mark the 60th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas, as well as the 75th anniversary of PEANUTS, Craft Recordings celebrates with a range of collectible vinyl reissues, beginning with an eye-catching zoetrope pressing, available September 12th. Centered by an image of Charlie Brown and the PEANUTS gang caroling in the snow, Side A features five snowy zoetrope scenes—each offering an animated moment from the holiday special as the record spins. Side B pays homage to the musical side of PEANUTS, with an image of Schroeder, Lucy, and Snoopy at the piano, plus five zoetrope scenes that bring the PEANUTS gang’s band to life—complete with dancing!”
This version of A Charlie Brown Christmas sounds remarkably good for a picture disc—certainly better than a so-called “snowflake” edition I picked up years ago that was, frankly, a surface-noise nightmare. On an average stereo or portable player, it sounds perfectly fine and wholly enjoyable. Step up to a more audiophile-leaning system and you’ll likely notice a faint, low-level whooshing in the background, mostly during the quiet moments between tracks.
Still, that minor trade-off is more than offset by the animated zoetrope visuals. Watching looping Peanuts imagery spin to life while listening to Vince Guaraldi’s timeless, gorgeous jazz score adds a layer of pure joy that’s hard to resist—and kind of the whole point.
Fun! Its what this season is all about, after all… right?
Originally selling for $35.00 from Craft Recordings (where it is sold out at this time, alas), you can order the zoetrope of A Charlie Brown Christmas online at retailers.
Happy Holidays!
Check availability at: Amazon | Craft Recordings | Target
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
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