You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" Book - Classic Peanuts Comic Collection for Kids & Adults - Perfect for Gifts, Reading, and Family Storytime

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN (1966) is an album I grew up with. The main branch of New Haven's Public Library had a mono copy in its A&L room that I borrowed so frequently, the owlish librarian examined this record with a jeweler's loupe each time it came back, looking for a reason to cut me off.Recently hearing the original stereo mix for the first time was nice but distracting, for it reveals board mixing trickery. The worst is on the touching finale, "Happiness," as voices bounce with every line from extreme left to right. It sounds like there's two of everybody. Same problem with other ensemble pieces like "Book Report" and "T-E-A-M." (BTW, if you ask nicely, I'll sing both from start to finish and do all the voices!)I've never seen the many TV and videotape versions of the play that grew out of this studio work, as I instinctively knew nothing would satisfy like hearing Gary Burghoff as Charlie, Reva Rose's prissy Lucy, Bob Balaban as a laid back Linus and Bill Hinnant's stylish rendering of Snoopy. On record, Skip Hinnant's Schroeder and Karen Johnson's Sally are less prominent."The Book Report" is my fave, for it reveals the character of each child. Charlie frets over having to write a report on Peter Rabbit and never begins, Lucy counts each word and throws in a bunch of verys to reach 100, Linus fantasizes he's Robin Hood running through the forest ("Just like Peter; Who runs a lot; As you can tell; From the story; Of Peter Rabbit; Which this report......Is about"). The coda has the other kids simultaneously singing what they've been writing about, while Charlie wails. It's a great cacophony!"Schroeder" has Lucy pitching woo to the disinterested pianist as he plays a melancholy "Moonlight Sonata." "The Doctor Is In" is Charlie lamenting to Lucy for her usual nickel fee. Linus oohs and ahhs on "My Blanket and Me." "Snoopy" has the beagle lying contentedly atop his doghouse after a rousing "Suppertime." "Queen Lucy" is Linus tolerating big sister's ego trip, and on "Little Known Facts" she teaches him that everything he knows is wrong. Examples: snow comes up from the ground, stars and planets "make the rain that falls in showers" and fir trees give us fur for coats (and wool in the wintertime!)"T-E-A-M" is another highlight. Charlie writes his pen pal about blowing that big chance to be a pitching hero. The opening number describes why young Brown is a good man ("You have humility, nobility and a sense of honor that are very rare indeed" Woof! BOOM!). "The Kite" has little chance of surviving with Charlie Brown at the other end of the string. "Happiness" is an evening sing-along, with Snoopy adding howls of contentment.If you are a fan of Charles Schultz's Peanuts comic strip, you'll recognize his well-defined characters in these delightful songs.I cannot recommend this album too highly!