40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas

40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas is a compilation album released in the U.S. by Peak Records in October 2005. The album is a tribute to the soundtrack album A Charlie Brown Christmas released by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (credited to the Vince Guaraldi Trio) in December 1965.

Reception
Rob Theakston of AllMusic noted that the original soundtrack recording has become "a cornerstone for jazz orientation and an essential holiday remedy for the run-of-the-mill-predictable contemporary favorites," adding that the musicians assembled for this tribute album represent a "veritable who's who of adult contemporary and jazz performers." Theakston added that the resulting music is "very warm sounding, heavily polished" and "well-played".

Guaraldi historian Derrick Bang noted that the album is "quite nice", adding that David Benoit's rendition of "Christmas Is Coming" is a "punchy, swinging cover", while Dave Koz's version of "Linus and Lucy" is "equally lively".

All About Jazz critic Woodrow Wilkins called the album a "jazz lover's delight".

Session information
Credits adapted from CD liner notes.

"Christmas Is Coming"
 * Written by Vince Guaraldi
 * Piano, arranger: David Benoit
 * Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
 * Cello: Dan Smith, Larry Corbett
 * Concert master: Joel Derouin
 * Contractor: Suzie Katayama
 * Copyist: Anna Stromberg, Eric Stonerook, Jenis Stonerook, William Stromberg
 * Percussion: Luis Conte
 * Trombone: Steven Holtman
 * Trumpet: Rick Baptist, Wayne Bergeron
 * Viola: Carole Mukogawa, Denyse Buffum
 * Violin: Haim Shtrum, John Wittenberg, Julian Hallmark, Laurence Greenfield, Ruth Bruegger

"Just Like Me"
 * Written by David Benoit, Lee Mendelson
 * Piano, bells, arranger: David Benoit
 * Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
 * Vocals: Vanessa Williams
 * Cello: Dan Smith, Larry Corbett, Rudolph Stein
 * Concert master: Joel Derouin
 * Contractor: Suzie Katayama
 * Copyist: Caryn Rasmussen, Scott McRae-Capehart, Suzie Katayama
 * Engineer (vocals): Jan Folkson
 * Producer (vocals): Rob Mathes
 * Viola: Carole Mukogawa, Denyse Buffum, Karen Van Sant
 * Violin: Robert Peterson, Haim Shtrum, John Wittenberg, Julian Hallmark, Laurence Greenfield, Norman Hughes, Ruth Bruegger

"Linus and Lucy"
 * Written by Vince Guaraldi
 * Piano, synthesizer: David Benoit
 * Guitar: Tony Maiden
 * Electric bass: Alex Al
 * Alto Saxophone: Dave Koz
 * Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
 * Percussion: Luis Conte

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
 * Written by Edward Pola, George Wyle
 * Vocals: Toni Braxton
 * Piano, electric piano, synthesizer, arranger: David Benoit
 * Guitar: Grant Geissman
 * Acoustic bass: Dave Carpenter
 * Drums: John Robinson
 * Engineer (assistant vocal engineer]: Mack Woodward
 * Producer (vocals): Keri Lewis

"My Little Drum"
 * Written by Vince Guaraldi
 * Electric piano: David Benoit
 * Guitar: Tony Maiden
 * Electric bass: Alex Al
 * Flugelhorn: Rick Braun
 * Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
 * Percussion: Luis Conte

"Skating"
 * Written by Vince Guaraldi
 * Electric piano, arranger: David Benoit
 * Guitar: Norman Brown
 * Acoustic bass: Alex Al
 * Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta

"Christmas Time Is Here"
 * Written by Vince Guaraldi, Lee Mendelson
 * Vocals, arranger, producer: Brian McKnight
 * Piano: David Benoit
 * Keyboards: David Nathan
 * Guitar: Tyrone Chase
 * Bass: Chris Loftlin
 * Acoustic bass: Dave Carpenter
 * Drums: Prescott Ellison, Peter Erskine
 * Engineer: Chris Wood

"O Tannenbaum"
 * Written by Ernst Anschütz
 * Electric piano, arranger: David Benoit
 * Guitar: Tony Maiden
 * Electric bass: Alex Al
 * Tenor saxophone: Gerald Albright
 * Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta
 * Percussion: Luis Conte

"Red Baron"
 * Written by Vince Guaraldi
 * Guitar, keyboards, arranger, producer: Russ Freeman
 * Keyboards: Bill Heller
 * Saxophone: Eric Marienthal
 * Drums: Peter Erskine
 * Engineer: Steve Sykes

"The Christmas Song"
 * Written by Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
 * Vocals: Chaka Khan
 * Piano, electric piano, synthesizer, arranger: David Benoit
 * Acoustic bass: Dave Carpenter
 * Drums: John Robinson
 * Percussion: Luis Conte

"Für Elise"
 * Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
 * Piano: David Benoit

"Christmas Time Is Here" (reprise)
 * Written by Vince Guaraldi
 * Piano: David Benoit
 * Acoustic bass: Dave Carpenter
 * Saxophone: Eric Marienthal
 * Drums: Peter Erskine

Additional personnel

 * Producer: David Benoit (Tracks 1–6, 8, 10–12)
 * A&R coordinator: Valerie Ince
 * Art direction: Abbey Anna
 * Production coordinator: Yvonne Wish
 * Design: Andrew Pham
 * Engineer (second): Brian Vibberts, George Gumbs, Jeff Wakolbinger, Josh Blanchard
 * Engineer (mix): Clark Germain (Tracks 1–8, 10–12)
 * Engineer (tracking): Clark Germain (Tracks 1–8, 10–12)
 * Executive producer: Andi Howard, Mark Wexler, Ron Moss
 * Mixing: WonderWorld Studio, Los Angeles, California
 * Mastering: Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, California