''Greatest Hits'' is the second

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

of songs by American jazz pianist/composer

Vince Guaraldi Vincent Anthony Guaraldi (; birth name, né Dellaglio, July 17, 1928 – February 6, 1976) was an American jazz pianist best known for composing music for animated television adaptations of the ''Peanuts'' comic strip. His compositions for this s ...

released in 1980 in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Background

Released four years after Guaraldi's untimely death from a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

, ''Greatest Hits'' was Fantasy Records' attempt to gather the pianist's best known songs, picking up from where the 1964 compilation album '' Jazz Impressions'' left off. As the album was issued by Fantasy, it excluded tracks from Guaraldi's three

Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, Inc. was a short-lived American entertainment company active from 1967 until 1969. History Seven Arts Productions acquired Jack L. Warner's controlling interest in Warner Bros. Pictures for $32 million in November 19 ...

releases (''

Oh Good Grief! ''Oh Good Grief!'' is the 10th studio album by Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. in May 1968. The album was the artist's first release with Warner Bros.-Seven Arts after leaving Fantasy Records in 1966. Background Vince Guaraldi's final three ...

'', ''

The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi ''The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi'' is the 11th and penultimate studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in March 1969. In a departure from his standard jazz output, Guaraldi experimented wit ...

'', ''

Alma-Ville ''Alma-Ville'' is the 12th and final studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in December 1969. Background Vince Guaraldi's final three albums released during his lifetime were recorde ...

'') as well as '' Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus'' (1967) released on Guaraldi's own D&D record label. ''Greatest Hits'' was repackaged and expanded for CD release on July 11, 1989, with a different cover and one additional track culled from the album '' From All Sides'' (1965).

Track listing

Original 1980 vinyl/cassette issue

For the vinyl/cassette release, 45 single edit versions of " Days of Wine and Roses", "Samba de Orpheus" and "Zelao" were utilized, while the shorter version of " Christmas Time Is Here" with vocals was included.

1989 CD release

For the CD release, " Days of Wine and Roses", "Samba de Orpheus" and "Zelao" were restored to their original album lengths, while the longer, instrumental version of " Christmas Time Is Here" was featured. "Ginza Samba" was also added as a bonus track. † = bonus track

Personnel

Credits adapted from 1989 CD liner notes. *

– piano *

Bola Sete Bola Sete (born Djalma de Andrade; July 16, 1923 – February 14, 1987) was a Brazilian guitarist who played jazz with Vince Guaraldi and Dizzy Gillespie. History Born Djama de Andrade in Rio de Janeiro, Sete was the only son of a family with ...

– guitar *

Eddie Duran Edward Lozano Duran (September 6, 1925 – November 22, 2019) was an American jazz guitarist from San Francisco. He recorded often with Vince Guaraldi and was a member of the Benny Goodman orchestra during the 1970s. Career Duran started on p ...

– guitar *

Monty Budwig Monte Rex Budwig (December 26, 1929 – March 9, 1992) was a West Coast jazz double bassist, professionally known as Monty Budwig. Early life Monte Rex Budwig was born in Pender, Nebraska, on December 26, 1929.His full birthname was Monte Rex Bu ...

–

double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or #Terminology, by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched Bow (music), bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox addit ...

* Fred Marshall – double bass * Colin Bailey – drums * Nick Martinez – drums *

Jerry Granelli Gerald John Granelli (December 30, 1940July 20, 2021) was an American-Canadian jazz drummer. He was best known for playing drums on the soundtrack '' A Charlie Brown Christmas'' with the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Early life Granelli was born to Jack ...

– drums * Lee Charlton – drums * Bill Fitch – congas * Benny Velarde – timbales ;

güiro The güiro () is a Puerto Rican percussion instrument consisting of an open-ended, hollow gourd with parallel notches cut in one side. It is played by rubbing a stick or tines (see photo) along the notches to produce a ratchet sound. The güiro ...

;Additional * Gene Santoro – liner notes

References

External links

* {{Vince Guaraldi 1980 compilation albums Fantasy Records compilation albums Albums produced by Vince Guaraldi Vince Guaraldi albums Vince Guaraldi compilation albums Albums arranged by Vince Guaraldi Cool jazz compilation albums Mainstream jazz compilation albums