Editing Linus and Lucy

{{about|the jazz standard|the Peanuts characters referenced by the title|Linus Van Pelt|and|Lucy Van Pelt}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Linus and Lucy
| cover      = Linuslucy64single.jpg
| alt        =
| caption    = US 7" single
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Vince Guaraldi]]
| album      = [[Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown]] ''and'' [[A Charlie Brown Christmas (soundtrack)|A Charlie Brown Christmas]]
| A-side     = Oh, Good Grief
| released   = {{Start date|1964|12|}} (U.S.)
| recorded   = {{Start date|1964|10|26}}<ref name=BangBook>{{cite book |last1=Bang |first1=Derrick |title=Vince Guaraldi at the Piano |date= 2012 |publisher= McFarland & Company, Inc. |page= 181|isbn=978-0786490745}}</ref>
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = {{hlist|[[Jazz]] · [[boogie-woogie]]}}
| length     = {{Duration|m=3|s=06}}
| label      = [[Fantasy Records|Fantasy]] 593X
| writer     = Vince Guaraldi
| producer   = Soul Weiss
| prev_title = [[The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi#Track listing|Treat Street]]
| prev_year  = 1964
| next_title = [[At Grace Cathedral#Track listing|Theme to Grace]]
| next_year  = 1965
}}
"'''Linus and Lucy'''" is a popular instrumental jazz standard written by American jazz pianist [[Vince Guaraldi]]. It serves as the main theme tune for the many [[Peanuts animated specials|''Peanuts'' animated specials]] and is named for the two fictional siblings, [[Linus Van Pelt|Linus]] and [[Lucy Van Pelt]]. The jazz standard was originally released on Guaraldi's album ''[[Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown]]'' in 1964, but it gained its greatest exposure as part of [[A Charlie Brown Christmas (soundtrack)|''A Charlie Brown Christmas'' soundtrack]] the following year.<ref name=AMSong>{{cite web |last1=Zollo |first1=Patul|title=How the Vince Guaraldi Trio Tune "Linus & Lucy" Became an American Standard |url=https://americansongwriter.com/how-vince-guaraldis-jazz-became-a-standard-because-of-charlie-brown/ |website=American Songwriter|date=21 December 2020 }}</ref> It is one of the most recognizable pieces by Guaraldi and has gained status as the signature melody of the ''[[Peanuts]]'' franchise.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robbins |first1=Patrick |title=Five Good Covers: Linus and Lucy (Vince Guaraldi) |url=http://www.covermesongs.com/2015/12/five-good-covers-linus-and-lucy-vince-guaraldi.html |website=Cover Me Songs|date=4 December 2015 }}</ref>  It has also become a popular song on radio stations playing [[Christmas music]] during the holidays.<REF>[https://p1mediagroup.com/christmas2024/ P1mediagroup.com "America's Top Testing Christmas Songs of 2024"]</REF>

== History ==
{{multiple image|total_width=350| direction = horizontal| footer= "Linus and Lucy" is named after fictional siblings Linus and Lucy van Pelt featured in the ''[[Peanuts]]'' comic strip| image1 =Linus van Pelt.gif | image2 =Lucy_van_Pelt.png }}
The genesis of "Linus and Lucy" began when ''[[Peanuts animated specials|Peanuts]]'' executive producer [[Lee Mendelson]] heard [[Vince Guaraldi]]'s hit, "[[Cast Your Fate to the Wind]]", on the radio while driving his car over the [[Golden Gate Bridge]] in [[San Francisco]]. Mendelson then contacted ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' jazz critic [[Ralph J. Gleason]], who put him in touch with Guaraldi. Mendelson believed Guaraldi would be a good fit for a documentary he was working on entitled ''[[A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1963 film)|A Boy Named Charlie Brown]]''. Guaraldi gladly accepted the offer to compose several jazz tunes for the documentary.<ref name=BangLiner>Bang, Derrick. [http://www.kritzerland.com/KR_Charlie_Brown_Notes.pdf Liner notes for ''A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'' (2017); Kritzerland, Inc.] Retrieved 7 May 2020</ref>

Within several weeks, Mendelson received a call from an excited Guaraldi who wanted to play a piece of music he had just written. Mendelson, not wanting his first exposure to the new music to be marred by the poor audio qualities of a telephone, suggested coming over to Guaraldi's studio. Guaraldi enthusiastically refused, saying "I've got to play this for someone right now or I'll explode!" He then began playing the then untitled "Linus and Lucy" for Mendelson, who agreed the song was perfect for Schulz's ''Peanuts'' characters.<ref name=BangLiner/>

== Musical structure ==
"Linus and Lucy" is composed in A♭ major and structured in a conventional AABA form, characteristic of many mid-20th-century jazz standards. The piece opens with a distinctive left-hand boogie-woogie ostinato that propels the rhythm, while the right hand carries a syncopated, infectious melody. This interlocking texture creates a contrapuntal momentum that is both playful and propulsive, mirroring the dynamic personalities of the ''Peanuts'' characters it came to represent. The work displays Guaraldi's ability for blending elements of cool jazz, West Coast jazz, and classical impressionism with accessible popular motifs.<ref name=BangBook/><ref name="Zollo2020">Zollo, Paul. "How the Vince Guaraldi Trio Tune 'Linus & Lucy' Became an American Standard." ''American Songwriter'', December 21, 2020. [https://americansongwriter.com/linus-and-lucy-vince-guaraldi-behind-the-song]</ref>

The song's simplicity in harmonic language belies its rhythmic sophistication. Guaraldi uses off-beat accents, phrase extensions, and subtle tempo shifts to maintain interest and convey a sense of whimsical spontaneity. The central theme recurs with slight variations, followed by brief solo excursions that reflect the improvisational nature of jazz, yet remain grounded in a strong melodic identity.<ref name="BangBook"/><ref name="Zollo2020"/>

==Cultural impact==
Since its introduction in ''Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown'' and widespread recognition in ''A Charlie Brown Christmas'' (1965), "Linus and Lucy" has become an emblematic cultural theme. Its cheerful, syncopated piano riffs became inseparable from the ''Peanuts'' franchise, appearing in nearly every subsequent special and often signaling scenes of ensemble interaction or mischief.<ref name="Bangbook"/>

Reflecting on the song in 2008, Mendelson said, "it just blew me away. It was so right, and so perfect, for Charlie Brown and the other characters. I have no idea why, but I knew that song would affect my entire life. There was a sense, even before it was put to animation, that there was something very, very special about that music."<ref name="Bangbook">{{Cite book |last=Bang |first=Derrick |title=Vince Guaraldi at the Piano |year=2012 |publisher=McFarland |location=[[Jefferson, North Carolina]] (U.S.) |isbn=978-0-7864-5902-5 |url=http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-5902-5 |access-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406085911/http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-5902-5 |archive-date=6 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Releases==
"Linus and Lucy" was originally featured on ''[[Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown]]'' (1964) and was also released as the B-side for the single "Oh, Good Grief". However, it gained its greatest exposure as part of the [[A Charlie Brown Christmas (album)|''Charlie Brown Christmas'' soundtrack]] the following year. Since then, it has been reissued multiple times. To date, it has been included on the following soundtracks and compilations:<ref name=Bang>{{cite web |url= http://www.fivecentsplease.org/dpb/vincecd.html |title= Vince Guaraldi on LP and CD|last= Bang |first=Derrick |website= fivecentsplease.org |publisher= Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire |access-date= January 31, 2020 }}</ref>

*''[[A Charlie Brown Christmas (soundtrack)]]'' (1965)
*''[[Greatest Hits (Vince Guaraldi album)|Greatest Hits]]'' (1980)
*''[[Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits]]'' (1998)
*''[[The Definitive Vince Guaraldi]]'' (2009)
*''[[Peanuts Portraits]]'' (2010)
*''[[The Very Best of Vince Guaraldi]]'' (2012)
*''[[Peanuts Greatest Hits]]'' (2015)

Guaraldi included variations of his signature tune in most subsequent ''Peanuts'' television specials he worked on after ''A Charlie Brown Christmas'' through ''[[You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown]]'' in 1975. Some of these alternate renditions have been made available on the following releases:<ref name=Bang/>
*''[[Oh Good Grief!]]'' (1968) – harpsichord-driven version
*''[[A Boy Named Charlie Brown#A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Selections from the Film Soundtrack|A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Selections from the Film Soundtrack]]'' (1970) – minor key, flute-driven versions
*''[[The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites]]'' (2003) – live version recorded at Mr. D's in San Francisco, California on May 18, 1969<ref name="AllMusic">{{AllMusic | class= album | id= mw0000041900| title= ''The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites'' | first= Thom | last= Jurek | access-date= 10 March 2020}}</ref> 
* ''[[Live on the Air]]'' (2008) – live version recorded in 1974<ref>{{AllMusic | class= album | id= mw0002537570 | title= ''Live on the Air'' | access-date= February 4, 2020}}</ref>
*''[[An Afternoon with the Vince Guaraldi Quartet]]'' (2011) – live version recorded in 1967<ref name=Bang/>
*''[[A Boy Named Charlie Brown#A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]'' (2017) – minor key, flute-driven versions<ref name=kritz>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kritzerland.com/boy_charlie_brown.htm|title=A Boy Named Charlie Brown - Guaraldi - McKuen|website=www.kritzerland.com}}</ref>
*''[[It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (soundtrack)|It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording]]'' (2018) – flute-driven version
*''[[A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (soundtrack)|A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: Original Soundtrack Recording]]'' (2023) – band version with brass
*''[[It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (soundtrack)|It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording]]'' (2024) – flute-driven, vibes versions
*''[[You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (soundtrack)|You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording]]'' (2024) – chimes-driven version
*''[[Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (soundtrack)|Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording]]'' (2025) – bridge variations
*''[[It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (soundtrack)|It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording]]'' (2025) – full theme (melody and bridge variations)
*''[[You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (soundtrack)|You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording]]'' (2025) – bridge variations

== Legacy ==
"Linus and Lucy" receives considerable airplay on radio stations in the United States and Canada that flip to Christmas music for the holiday season due to its inclusion on the soundtrack album of ''A Charlie Brown Christmas''.<ref name=AMSong/>

The first 24 bars of the song's [[sheet music]] were adopted as startup sound while a subsequent 8 bars were adopted as shutdown sound in the [[Theme (computing)|desktop theme]] ''Peanuts'' from [[Microsoft Plus!#Microsoft Plus! 98|Microsoft Plus! 98]].

The song has been used as background music for [[The Weather Channel]]'s local forecasts during the holiday season since 1999.<ref>[http://www.weather.com/aboutus/television/music/holiday99.html The Weather Channel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405222316/http://www.weather.com/aboutus/television/music/holiday99.html |date=2008-04-05 }} Local Forecast Music Play List Holiday Season 1999</ref>

On May 10, 2019, the Recording Industry Association of America ([[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]) certified the single gold for sales.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum |url= https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=&ti=&lab=&genre=JAZZ&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section |website=RIAA |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>

===Charts===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Linus and Lucy"
! scope="col"| Chart (2021)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|117|artist=Vince Guaraldi Trio|rowheader=true|access-date=December 29, 2021}}
|-
! scope="row"| US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref>{{cite tweet|user=billboardcharts|number=1475933777893498881|title=The Vince Guaraldi Trio debuts two songs on this week's #Hot100...|date=December 28, 2021|access-date=December 29, 2021}}</ref>
| 37
|}
{{col-2}}

===Certifications===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Vince Guaraldi|title=Linus and Lucy|award=Gold|relyear=1964|certyear=2019|access-date=28 April 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
{{col-end}}

==See also==
*[[List of cover versions of Vince Guaraldi songs]]
*[[List of jazz standards (disambiguation)|List of jazz standards]]
*[[Christmas music]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Peanuts}}
{{Vince Guaraldi}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Peanuts music]]
[[Category:Jazz songs]]
[[Category:Compositions by Vince Guaraldi]]
[[Category:1960s jazz standards]]
[[Category:Animated series theme songs]]
[[Category:1960s instrumentals]]
[[Category:1964 songs]]
[[Category:American Christmas songs]]
[[Category:Jazz compositions in A-flat major]]
[[Category:Children's television theme songs]]
[[Category:Compositions for piano]]
[[Category:Fantasy Records singles]]
[[Category:Thanksgiving songs]]