Craft Recordings Announces 12 Exclusive Vinyl Releases for Record Store Day 2021
Vinyl reissues span a diverse selection of titles by John Martyn, Evanescence, Celia Cruz and Willie Colón, Jonathan Richman, O.A.R., Kenny Dorham, Lamb of God, the Vince Guaraldi Trio, and more
Albums include a deluxe reissue of the landmark 1966 blues trilogy Chicago/The Blues/Today!, a rarities collection from The Zombies, a new tribute to ’60s and ’70s lowrider culture, plus the latest addition to the highly coveted Jazz Dispensary series
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Los Angeles, CA (April 7, 2021)—Craft Recordings is thrilled to announce an extraordinary assortment of 12 exclusive titles for Record Store Day 2021, available at participating independent retailers across two drop dates: June 12th and July 17th. Spanning decades and generations, Craft’s selection this year offers something for every musical taste—from scorching blues, salsa and jazz classics, to rock and modern metal favorites.
Titles include the first vinyl reissue of John Martyn’s 1998 collection of blues covers, The Church With One Bell, as well as a deluxe edition of the highly influential 1966 blues trilogy Chicago/The Blues/Today!
The acclaimed Jazz Dispensary series returns with The Dank D-Funk Blend, Vol. 2—delivering a broad spectrum of grooves from the likes of Ray Barretto, Esther Marrow and Cal Tjader. Fans will also be excited to collect the first-ever 7-inch pressing of “Baseball Theme,” from the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown.
Other special releases include a 40th-anniversary reissue of Celia Cruz and Willie Colón’s Celia Y Willie; a 30th-anniversary edition of Jonathan Richman’s Having a Party With Jonathan Richman; a 15th-anniversary pressing of Evanescence’s The Open Door; and Oddities & Extras featuring rarities from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Zombies.
New compilation Dedicated to You: Lowrider Love offers an evocative blend of smooth R&B, doo-wop, and Latin beats. Additionally, Craft is releasing Lamb of God’s breakthrough 2003 LP As the Palaces Burn; a newly remastered, 180-gram all-analog mono pressing of Kenny Dorham’s mid-century classic Quiet Kenny; as well as O.A.R.’s 2005 fan-favorite Stories of a Stranger, which makes its vinyl debut.
For a full list of participating Record Store Day retailers, visit RecordStoreDay.com.
Titles available June 12th:
Celia Cruz & Willie Colón — Celia Y Willie (1-LP; 180-gram vinyl)
One of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century, Cuban-born singer Celia Cruz recorded nearly 40 studio albums over her long and illustrious career. In the ’70s, Cruz signed to the legendary salsa imprint Fania Records, where she would release some of her most successful titles and perform alongside many of her iconic labelmates. One such peer was horn player, singer, composer and producer Willie Colón: a hugely influential figure in Latin music and one of Fania’s most prolific talents—both in front of the microphone and behind the scenes.
1981’s Celia Y Willie marked the second of three albums by Cruz and Colón. The dynamic—and highly successful—partnership between the “Queen of Salsa” and “El Malo del Bronx” began with 1977’s Only They Could Have Made This Album, featuring Cruz on lead vocals, with Colón at the helm as producer, as well as on bass trumpet. The duo followed suit four years later with Celia Y Willie and, finally, with 1987’s Winners.
AllMusic writes that a Cruz/Colón collaboration “is to salseros what a Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell duet is to soul lovers or an Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong project is to jazz enthusiasts; in other words, you’re bringing together two of the best artists that the genre has to offer. When Cruz and Colón get together, the sparks usually fly—and Celia y Willie is no exception.”
Out of print on vinyl since its original release, this pressing celebrates the 40th anniversary of Celia Y Willie, which includes the hit “Dos Jueyes,” as well as favorites like the socially conscious “Latinos en Estados Unidos,” “Kirimbambara” and the irresistible “Come Down to Miami.” Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI, and limited to 3,250 copies worldwide, this reissue boasts all-analog mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Mi Caso
2. Cucurucucu Paloma
3. Ya Lo Puedes Decir
4. Latinos En Estados Unidos
5. Berimbau
Side B
1. Dos Jueyes
2. Kirimbambara
3. Come Down To Miami
4. Apaga La Luz
5. Hay Que Recordar
Kenny Dorham — Quiet Kenny (1-LP; 180-gram vinyl)
One of the most in-demand bebop trumpeters of the ’40s through the ’60s, Kenny Dorham was known as a distinctive stylist and a fine composer who had a musical message of his own. Dorham played in some of the most popular big bands of the day, led by the likes of Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie and Billy Eckstine, while in 1948, Dorham replaced Miles Davis in the Charlie Parker Quintet.
Dorham’s ninth album as a leader, Quiet Kenny finds the horn player leading an all-star quartet in a top-notch, 1959 set. Helmed by the renowned engineer Rudy Van Gelder, Dorham, along with pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor, perform a selection of originals (including “Lotus Blossom” and “Blue Friday”) and standards (“Old Folks,” “Alone Together”).
Limited to 3,900 copies worldwide, this exclusive reissue boasts all-analog mastering from the original mono tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and was pressed on 180-gram vinyl at RTI. Quiet Kenny comes housed in a classic tip-on jacket, replicating the original packaging.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Lotus Blossom
2. My Ideal
3. Blue Friday
4. Alone Together
Side B
1. Blue Spring Shuffle
2. I Had The Craziest Dream
3. Old Folks
Jonathan Richman — Having a Party With Jonathan Richman (1-LP; Bermuda Seafoam vinyl)
Singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman first emerged in the 1970s as the quirky frontman of the Boston proto-punk group The Modern Lovers. By the ’80s, Richman had established a fervent fanbase as a solo artist—beloved for his lo-fi melodies, offbeat humor and candid observations on life.
Originally released in 1991, Having a Party With Jonathan Richman marks Richman’s third solo album, and offers a selection of intimate live and studio recordings—all of which showcase the artist’s storytelling and songwriting talents. Accompanied only by his guitar, Richman offers joyful musings on love (“When She Kisses Me”), marriage (“When I Say Wife,” “She Doesn’t Laugh at My Jokes”), self-conscious dancers at a club (“They're Not Tryin’ on the Dancefloor”) and the pleasures of a warm summer night (“At Night”). Other highlights include the spoken-word “1963” and Richman’s “Monologue About Bermuda.”
Limited to 4,300 units worldwide, this special, 30th-anniversary edition of Having a Party With Jonathan Richman comes pressed on Bermuda Seafoam vinyl and marks the first wide vinyl release of this cult classic.
Tracklist
Side A
1. The Girl Stands Up To Me Now
2. Cappuccino Bar
3. My Career As A Homewrecker
4. She Doesn't Laugh At My Jokes
5. When She Kisses Me
6. They’re Not Tryin’ On The Dance Floor
Side B
1. At Night
2. When I Say Wife
3. 1963
4. Monologue About Bermuda
5. Our Swingin’ Pad
6. Just For Fun
The Zombies — Oddities and Extras (1-LP; 180-gram vinyl)
While The Zombies only released two studio albums during their first incarnation in the ’60s, their influence spans decades, continents and genres—inspiring such acts as Tom Petty, Paul Weller and The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs, who inducted the band into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
While the British band is best known for singles like “She’s Not There” and “Tell Her No”—both from 1964—as well as the psychedelic “Time of the Season,” off their 1968 chamber-pop masterpiece Odessey and Oracle, their catalog of music goes much deeper. The compilation Oddities and Extras unearths many of the band’s lesser-known gems, including rarities, UK-only album tracks and outtakes. Far from being cast-offs, these 13 mono selections are every bit as essential as the songs included on the band’s primary releases.
Originally only available as a bonus disc from the highly acclaimed, 5-LP collection The Complete Studio Recordings (2019), Oddities and Extras includes such highlights as a cover of Little Anthony and The Imperials’ “Goin’ Out of My Head,” early B-side “I Can’t Make Up My Mind,” as well as three songs (“Remember You,” “Just Out of Reach” and “Nothing’s Changed”) from the soundtrack to Otto Preminger’s 1965 film Bunny Lake Is Missing, in which the band appeared.
Limited to 3,300 copies in North America and pressed on 180-gram black vinyl, Oddities and Extras includes liner notes from the compilation’s co-producer, Andrew Sandoval.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Kind Of Girl
2. She’s Coming Home
3. I Must Move
4. I Want You Back Again
5. I Can’t Make Up My Mind
6. I Remember When I Loved Her
7. I’m Going Home
Side B
1. Remember You
2. Just Out Of Reach
3. Nothing’s Changed
4. Goin’ Out Of My Head
5. She Does Everything For Me
6. A Love That Never Was
Various Artists — Jazz Dispensary: The Dank D-Funk Blend, Vol. 2 (1-LP; Orange Fire vinyl)
Jazz Dispensary guest curator Doyle Davis (of Grimey’s Nashville) returns with a sequel to his bestselling Dank D-Funk Blend. While the first edition—produced for Record Store Day’s 2019 Black Friday event—focused on funkified rarities from the Prestige Records vaults, The Dank D-Funk Blend, Vol. 2 taps into a broader spectrum of vibrations.
Side A opens with the sizzling, Afro-Cuban beats of Ray Barretto’s “Together”—a 1969 call for peace and unity. Charles Earland continues the heat with the expansive “Letha,” a cut off his 1970 LP Black Drops. The set cools down with the soulful grooves of organist Leon Spencer, who covers Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me,” and singer Esther Marrow, with her supremely funky 1972 cut “Things Ain’t Right.”
Side B launches into the hard-driving instrumental title track of Pleasure’s 1977 LP Joyous, followed by vibraphonist Cal Tjader, who offers a mesmerizing cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.” Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers stimulate the senses with 1968’s “Heat!” before Johnny “Guitar” Watson closes out the compilation with a bluesy number from 1973, “You’ve Got a Hard Head.”
All selections on The Dank D-Funk Blend, Vol. 2 were mastered from their original analog tapes and pressed on orange fire-colored vinyl at Memphis Record Pressing, with vinyl mastering by Phillip S. Rodriguez at Elysian Masters. Limited to 3,800 units worldwide, the album is housed in a vibrant jacket, featuring embossed artwork by Argentinian artist Mariano Peccinetti, who designed the previous volume’s cover. The compilation will also be available on all digital platforms on June 18th, the Friday following the first RSD drop.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Ray Barretto – Together
2. Charles Earland – Letha
3. Leon Spencer – Mercy Mercy Me
4. Esther Marrow – Things Ain’t Right
Side B
1. Pleasure – Joyous
2. Cal Tjader – Gimme Shelter
3. Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers – Heat!
4. Johnny Guitar Watson – You’ve Got A Hard Head
Various Artists — Chicago/The Blues/Today! (3-LP; 180-gram vinyl)
In 1965, musician, author, historian and producer Samuel Charters enlisted nine of the Midwest’s best blues artists to record a short set each for a Vanguard Records sampler, showcasing the electric sound of Chicago Blues. The distinct style, known for its use of electric guitars, amplified harmonicas, a rhythm section and often a piano, was exemplified by artists like Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon, Jonny Young, Otis Spann and Big Walter Horton—all of whom appear in the three-volume set.
Released in 1966, the groundbreaking Chicago/The Blues/Today! trilogy introduced countless listeners to the blues—helping to popularize the genre in the US, the UK and beyond. These recordings also influenced a host of up-and-coming rock artists, including The Animals, Eric Clapton and The Yardbirds, The Rolling Stones and, later, The Allman Brothers Band. As AllMusic notes, “It’s fair to assume that most blues-influenced artists had all three volumes in their respective collections, and the songs on them ended up in the repertoires of everyone from Jimi Hendrix…to Led Zeppelin…to Steppenwolf.”
This deluxe, 3-LP reissue is limited to 3,000 units worldwide and features all-analog mastering from the original stereo tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio. Pressed on 180-gram black vinyl at MPO and housed in a triple gatefold jacket, Chicago/The Blues/Today! includes Charters’ original liner notes from 1966, as well as an essay which he wrote for a 1999 CD reissue. The triple gatefold jacket also includes a 1999 essay from acclaimed journalist, NPR “rock ’n’ roll historian” and SXSW Festival co-founder Ed Ward.
Tracklist
Volume 1
Side A
1. A Tribute to Sonny Boy Williamson – The Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band
2. It Hurts Me Too – The Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band
3. Messin’ With The Kid – The Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band
4. Vietcong Blues – The Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band
5. All Night Long – The Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band
6. Going Ahead – J. B. Hutto And His Hawks
7. Please Help – J.B. Hutto And His Hawks
Side B
1. Too Much Alcohol – J. B. Hutto And His Hawks
2. Married Woman Blues – J. B. Hutto And His Hawks
3. That's The Truth – J. B. Hutto And His Hawks
4. Marie – Otis Spann’s South Side Piano
5. Burning Fire – Otis Spann’s South Side Piano
6. S. P. Blues – Otis Spann’s South Side Piano
7. Sometimes I Wonder – Otis Spann’s South Side Piano
8. Spann’s Stomp – Otis Spann’s South Side Piano
Volume 2
Side A
1. Cotton Crop Blues – The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet
2. The Blues Keep Falling – The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet
3. Love Me Or Leave Me – The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet
4. Rocket 88 – The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet
5. West Helena Blues – The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet
6. Everything’s Going To Turn Out Alright – The Otis Rush Blues Band
7. It’s A Mean Old World – The Otis Rush Blues Band
Side B
1. I Can’t Quit You Baby – The Otis Rush Blues Band
2. Rock – The Otis Rush Blues Band
3. It’s My Own Fault – The Otis Rush Blues Band
4. Dust My Broom – Homesick James And His Dusters
5. Somebody Been Talkin’ – Homesick James And His Dusters
6. Set A Date – Homesick James And His Dusters
7. So Mean To Me – Homesick James And His Dusters
Volume 3
Side A
1. One More Time – Johnny Young’s South Side Blues Band
2. Kid Man Blues – Johnny Young’s South Side Blues Band
3. My Black Mare – Johnny Young’s South Side Blues Band
4. Stealin’ Back – Johnny Young’s South Side Blues Band
5. I Got Mine In Time – Johnny Young’s South Side Blues Band
6. Tighten Up On It – Johnny Young’s South Side Blues Band
Side B
1. Dynaflow Blues – The Johnny Shines Blues Band
2. Black Spider Blues – The Johnny Shines Blues Band
3. Layin’ Down My Shoes And Clothes – The Johnny Shines Blues Band
4. If I Get Lucky – The Johnny Shines Blues Band
5. Rockin’ My Boogie – Big Walter Horton’s Blues Harp Band With Memphis Charlie
6. Mr. Boweevil – The Johnny Shines Blues Band
7. Hey, Hey – The Johnny Shines Blues Band
John Martyn — The Church With One Bell (1-LP; half-speed mastered; 180-gram vinyl)
Throughout his four-decade-long career, British singer-songwriter John Martyn (1948–2009) was hailed for his innovative musicianship, his emotive vocals and his genre-bending, progressive folk songs, which incorporated elements of rock, jazz and blues.
All of that can be heard in 1998’s The Church With One Bell, which found Martyn interpreting a diverse selection of blues tracks—from oft-covered standards like Elmore James’ “The Sky Is Crying” and Lightnin’ Hopkins’ “Feel So Bad,” to more recent cuts by Portishead (“Glory Box”) and Ben Harper (“Excuse Me Mister”). Martyn also delivers a reflective rendition of Randy Newman’s “God’s Song;” a refreshing take on Dead Can Dance’s “How Fortunate the Man With None;” a haunting performance of “Strange Fruit”—as made famous by Billie Holiday; plus two rousing Bobby Charles covers (“He’s Got All The Whiskey,” and “Small Town Talk”).
Captured at Glasgow’s CaVa Sound Studios, Martyn co-produced the album with GRAMMY®-winner Norman Dayron, a veteran of the Chicago blues scene, who collaborated with the likes of Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Howlin’ Wolf and Michael Bloomfield.
This special, 180-gram pressing marks the first vinyl reissue of The Church With One Bell—which has been out of print since its original release. Limited to 4,350 units worldwide, this sought-after title was remastered from its original analog tapes and cut at half-speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios and pressed at Quality Records Pressing (QRP).
Tracklist
Side A
1. He’s Got All The Whiskey
2. God’s Song
3. How Fortunate The Man With None
4. Small Town Talk
5. Excuse Me Mister
Side B
1. Strange Fruit
2. The Sky Is Crying
3. Glory Box
4. Feel So Bad
5. Death Don’t Have No Mercy
O.A.R. — Stories of a Stranger (2-LP; 45 RPM; Sky Blue vinyl)
Beginning in the mid-90s, O.A.R. steadily rose to fame—building a grassroots fanbase of millions through non-stop touring. While the Maryland band was selling out shows across the country by the time that they recorded their fifth studio album, Stories of a Stranger, the 2005 release took them to dizzying new heights.
Featuring such favorites as “Love and Memories,” “Lay Down” and “Heard the World,” Stories of a Stranger was an album of firsts. The album not only became O.A.R.’s first Top 40 hit on the Billboard 200, but single “Love and Memories”—co-written by frontman Marc Roberge and the GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter Glen Ballard—marked the band’s first charting single. The success of Stories of a Stranger culminated several months later with a sold-out show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, where the group played to more than 18,000 fans.
Sixteen years later, Stories of a Stranger is making its debut on vinyl. To mark the occasion—and deliver fans the highest-quality listening experience—lacquers were cut at 45 RPM by George Horn and Anne-Marie Suenram at Fantasy Studios. Limited to 2,850 units worldwide, the double album comes pressed on dazzling, sky blue vinyl.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Heard The World
2. Love And Memories
3. Wonderful Day
Side B
1. The Stranger
2. Lay Down
3. Program Director
Side C
1. Nasim Joon
2. Tragedy In Waiting
3. Daylight The Dog
4. One Shot
Side D
1. Dakota
2. 52-50
Lamb of God — As the Palaces Burn (1-LP; 180-gram Red Splatter vinyl)
A pioneer of the new wave of American heavy metal, Lamb of God has become one of the most popular bands in the genre—selling millions of records; earning multiple GRAMMY® nominations; playing the stages of Ozzfest, Download Festival and Soundwave; and touring with foundational acts like Slayer and Metallica.
The band’s second studio album, As the Palaces Burn, marked a turning point for the five-piece—both commercially and creatively. The 2003 release was produced by Canadian metal icon Devin Townsend, who inspired Lamb of God to expand their sonic boundaries. Speaking to Revolver, rhythm guitarist Willie Adler explained, “A lot of these songs really pushed the limits of what we were capable of…I think everybody was a little intimidated by the process. But at the same time it was pretty thrilling.”
Including fan favorites like “Ruin,” “11th Hour,” “As the Palaces Burn” and “Purified” (featuring contributions from former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland), As the Palaces Burn garnered them wide critical acclaim. Considered to be a modern metal masterpiece by many critics, As the Palaces Burn was ranked among Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time list, and was praised by the outlet as “a meticulously crafted metal assault.”
This reissue of As the Palaces Burn features audio from the 10th-anniversary edition of the album—remixed by producer and engineer Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, VII: Sturm Und Drang, Wrath and Resolution) and remastered by the GRAMMY®-winning engineer Brad Blackwood at Euphonic Masters. Limited to 5,500 units, this special pressing will be available on 180-gram vinyl featuring a red splatter design.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Ruin
2. As The Palaces Burn
3. Purified
4. 11th Hour
5. For Your Malice
Side B
1. Boot Scraper
2. A Devil In God’s Country
3. In Defense Of Our Good Name
4. Blood Junkie
5. Vigil
Various Artists — Dedicated to You: Lowrider Love (1-LP; Clear and Smokin' Black vinyl)
In 1960s Los Angeles, there was a unique scene brewing east of Laurel Canyon and the Sunset Strip. It blended the musical traditions of Black and Brown cultures and served as a backdrop to the lives of the city’s young Chicanos. On warm afternoons, a soundtrack of infectious doo-wop, smooth vocals, sweet harmonies and laid-back Latin beats (often served up by radio DJ Art Laboe) filled the neighborhoods—and provided entertainment while young men spent hours customizing their cars. At night, they picked up their girlfriends in their souped-up “lowriders” and headed to the clubs, for hours of music, dancing and romance.
Dedicated to You: Lowrider Love fondly channels this era with a blend of classic R&B and Latin soul love songs—all handpicked from the catalogs of Vee-Jay, Fania, Double Shot, We Produce, Riverside and Abner Records. The collection includes the soulful harmonies of The Temprees and The Dells, Latin hitmakers like Ralfi Pagan and Joe Bataan, and R&B favorites from Brenton Wood and Gene Chandler.
Mastered by George Horn and Anne-Marie Suenram at Fantasy Studios, Dedicated to You: Lowrider Love is limited to 3,100 units worldwide and pressed on clear and black-colored vinyl.
Tracklist
Side A
1. The Sheppards – Tragic
2. Ralfi Pagan – Negrona
3. The Dells – Oh What A Night
4. Gene Chandler – Man’s Temptation
5. Brenton Wood – Me And You
6. Ralph Robles – Maybe
Side B
1. The Temprees – Dedicated To The One I Love
2. Joe Bataan – I’ll Be Sweeter Tomorrow
3. The Impressions – That You Love Me
4. The Harvey Averne Dozen - Accept Me
5. The Dontells – Nothing But Nothing
6. The Serenaders – Two Lovers Make One Fool
Titles available July 17th:
Evanescence — The Open Door (2-LP; 180-gram Gray-Marbled vinyl)
Since their very first single in 2003, Evanescence have carved out a musical path all their own with their unique blend of heavy riffs, atmospheric textures, electro grooves and symphonic underpinnings, all supporting the majestic vocals of Amy Lee. And while the band is still as powerful and successful as ever— as evidenced by their just-released album, The Bitter Truth topping the sales charts in 22 countries—the band first caught the attention of a global fanbase with their 2003 debut, Fallen. Three years, two GRAMMYS®, and multiple platinum certifications later, the band returned with their follow-up, The Open Door.
The highly anticipated release found the band broadening their sound with soaring vocal choirs and expansive string sections—all accompanying the dynamic vocals of frontwoman and keyboardist Amy Lee. Produced by Dave Fortman, who also helmed Fallen, The Open Door featured such fan favorites as “Lithium,” the top-ten hit “Call Me When You’re Sober” and “Sweet Sacrifice,” which earned the band a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.
The Open Door was both a critical and commercial success, debuting at No.1 on the Billboard 200 and landing in the Top 5 in the UK, Japan, Australia, Canada and across Europe. Entertainment Weekly praised that the album was “more personal and, by accessing a deeper emotional palette, maybe even more universal than its beloved predecessor.” Blender hailed the album as “gloriously epic,” while IGN declared it to be “everything that you could ever want in a follow-up album—and more.”
Marking the 15th anniversary of this multi-platinum-selling title, this special pressing of The Open Door will be available on 180-gram, gray-marbled vinyl and limited to 5,000 copies worldwide.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Sweet Sacrifice
2. Call Me When You’re Sober
3. Weight Of The World
4. Lithium
Side B
1. Cloud Nine
2. Snow White Queen
3. Lacrymosa
Side C
1. Like You
2. Lose Control
3. The Only One
Side D
1. Your Star
2. All That I’m Living For
3. Good Enough
Vince Guaraldi Trio — Baseball Theme (7-inch single; White vinyl)
In 1964, Bay Area jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi was tapped to score a 60-minute TV documentary about PEANUTS creator Charles M. Schulz. Although the film never aired, Guaraldi’s evocative soundtrack was released by Fantasy Records as Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown, while several of the artist’s cues (including the instantly recognizable “Linus and Lucy”) appeared a year later in the enduring TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas.
One particularly memorable selection is “Baseball Theme,” a cue that was intended for a sequence devoted to Charlie Brown’s ill-fated efforts on the ball field. Guaraldi deftly leads his trio through the up-tempo instrumental track, accompanied by bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Colin Bailey.
Now, for the first time ever, “Baseball Theme” is available as a 7-inch single, pressed on white vinyl. Limited to 4,600 units worldwide, this collectible release includes the original 1964 soundtrack version of the song, plus an alternative studio take that is previously unavailable on vinyl. The jacket, meanwhile, features whimsical, baseball-themed images of Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Baseball Theme
Side B
2. Baseball Theme (Alternate Take)
Also available from Varèse Sarabande:
Craft Recordings’ sister label Varèse Sarabande will also have a robust offering of film music, including Record Store Day 2021 exclusive vinyl pressings of Don Davis’ complete score for The Matrix, Dave Grusin’s score for The Goonies, James Horner’s score for Aliens, Michael Kamen’s score for The Iron Giant, Shrek by Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell, and a double dose of horror-master John Carpenter with his score for Ghosts of Mars and his collaboration with Dave Davis for Village Of The Damned. For more information on these titles, visit Varèse Sarabande’s online media kit here.
About Craft Recordings:
Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most prestigious collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its rich and storied repertoire includes legendary artists such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, Nine Inch Nails, Thelonious Monk, Otis Redding, R.E.M. and Traveling Wilburys, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Concord, Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Milestone, Musart, Nitro, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Sugar Hill, Vanguard, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord Recorded Music. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.
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