Contents

Cast Your Fate to the Wind

1962 song by Vince Guaraldi and Carel Werber

"Cast Your Fate to the Wind"
US 7" single
SinglebyVince Guaraldi
from the album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus
A-side	"Samba de Orpheus"
Released	July 1962
Genre	Jazz
Length	2:58
Label	Fantasy 563X Vocalion EPV-F.1280
Songwriter(s)	Vince Guaraldi
Vince Guaraldi singles chronology
"Cast Your Fate to the Wind" (1962) "Zelao" (1963)
Alternate cover
UK 7" single cover art

"Cast Your Fate to the Wind" is an American jazz instrumental selection by Vince Guaraldi; later, a lyric was written by Carel Werber. It won a Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition in 1963.^[1]

It was included on the album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus (credited to the Vince Guaraldi Trio), released by Fantasy Records on April 18, 1962.^[2]

Fantasy actually released "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" as the B-side of the bossa nova-flavored "Samba de Orpheus" single. However, U.S. radio disc jockeys preferred the more accessible, catchy "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", propelling it to No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart^[3] and No. 9 on the Easy Listening chart.^[4] In an effort to exploit the unexpected popularity of the song, Fantasy retitled Jazz Impressions of Black OrpheusasCast Your Fate to the Wind for future album pressings.

Peanuts[edit]

Peanuts executive producer Lee Mendelson cited "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" as the tune he heard on the radio that prompted him to commission Guaraldi to compose music cues for the 1963 documentary A Boy Named Charlie Brown, which was ultimately not broadcast due to a lack of sponsorship. The resulting album, Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown, proved to be popular enough to retain Guaraldi's services for A Charlie Brown Christmas. The collaboration between Guaraldi and the entire Peanuts franchise lasted until Guaraldi's death in 1976.^[5] "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" has been covered by many artists in a wide range of genres, including both male and female solo vocalists, pop, folk, and rock groups, as well as many instrumental performers.

Cover versions[edit]

Instrumental versions[edit]

• In 1965, the British easy listening group Sounds Orchestral redirected the tune away from the jazz-influenced midsection to more of a nightclub sound and concluded the tune with a short piano section. That version attained No. 5 in the UK, No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, No. 1 on the US Easy Listening chart, and No. 5 on the Canadian AC charts.^[6][7]

Vocal versions[edit]

• InAustralia, a vocal version by Mel Tormé was a hit in 1963.^{[citation needed]}
• In 1966, North Hollywood singer Shelby Flint released a version of the song which peaked at No. 61 on the Hot 100, No. 11 on the Easy Listening chart, and No. 92 in Canada.^[8]

In film[edit]

• The song was featured Good Morning, Vietnam (1987).^{[citation needed]}
• The song was featured in The In Crowd (1988).
• Allen Toussaint's version is played during the credits for the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street.
• Allen Toussaint's version was also played during the credits for the 2023 black romcom film Hit Man.

Charts[edit]

Personnel[edit]

Vince Guaraldi Trio

• Vince Guaraldi – piano
• Colin Bailey – drums
• Monty Budwig – double bass

See also[edit]

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1965 (U.S.)
• List of jazz standards

References[edit]