After his death in 1972, his son, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., relit the franchise in 1980 with the album Chipmunk Punk. Seeing an opportunity to continue his father's legacy, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. and his wife, Janice Karman, launched the 80s Chipmunks with the TV series Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Chipmunks, and The Chipmunks Go to the Movies, lasting eight seasons total. They would also create The Chipettes in 1983 and release the first animated feature film, The Chipmunk Adventure, in 1987.
In 2007, the franchise entered into a second revival which began with the release of the group's third platinum album, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, and the start of the CG Chipmunks. The CGI/live-action films Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Squeakquel, and Chipwrecked together opened the door for the creation of a new TV series, ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks, and a fourth CGI/live-action film, The Road Chip, in 2015. Four years later, the Bagdasarian family accepted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, celebrating Alvin and the Chipmunks' 60th anniversary.
The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles Hits features The Chipmunks covering the early hits of The Beatles. The album was re-released in 1982 by Liberty Records, in 1987 by EMI-Manhattan Records on CD, in 1995 by Capitol Special Products on cassette and CD, and again in 2008 by Capitol Records on CD.
The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles Hits won a Grammy for Best Engineered Recording - Special Or Novel Effects in 1965.
The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles Hits won a Grammy for Best Engineered Recording - Special Or Novel Effects in 1965.
After The Beatles claimed the title of the "fastest selling song of all time" from "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)," Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. visited them in London and received their blessing to create this album.
A float celebrating the release of this album was featured in the 1965 Rose Bowl parade.
When it came time to sing The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles, Ross Bagdasarian (the voice behind the Chipmunks) actually brought in some other singers that were wonderful session singers but none of them were famous, they were just really talented.
The following is part of an interview with Ross Bagdasarian Jnr, where he explained how his father met the Beatles to ask their permission to record The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles:
You know what, it was such a great time because my dad was not only a songwriter but also loved music. He had such respect for what The Beatles were doing then. As you know, you can go sing anybody's song that you wanna do, you pay them a mechanical license and you'd be done. But my dad had such respect for them he said, "No, I wanna fly to London, I wanna meet with the guys, and I wanna make sure they're good with me doing this with The Chipmunks because if it doesn't get their seal of approval I'm not going to do it." He wound up having the greatest time with them because not only were they great musicians and great singers and great performers, but they were also real students of how you record and engineering and so forth. They were so impressed because my dad in '58 only had two tracks to record on so he had to record and bounce. Of course The Beatles, when they started at '63-'64, they had four tracks so they picked my dad's brain for "how could you get so many cool things with only two track recording." They had a wonderful thing in common in terms of how to record and so forth. [extracts from alvin.fandom.com]
You know what, it was such a great time because my dad was not only a songwriter but also loved music. He had such respect for what The Beatles were doing then. As you know, you can go sing anybody's song that you wanna do, you pay them a mechanical license and you'd be done. But my dad had such respect for them he said, "No, I wanna fly to London, I wanna meet with the guys, and I wanna make sure they're good with me doing this with The Chipmunks because if it doesn't get their seal of approval I'm not going to do it." He wound up having the greatest time with them because not only were they great musicians and great singers and great performers, but they were also real students of how you record and engineering and so forth. They were so impressed because my dad in '58 only had two tracks to record on so he had to record and bounce. Of course The Beatles, when they started at '63-'64, they had four tracks so they picked my dad's brain for "how could you get so many cool things with only two track recording." They had a wonderful thing in common in terms of how to record and so forth. [extracts from alvin.fandom.com]
Much as I hate this album, the high-key songs present the Chipmunks at their shrillest, particularly “She Loves You” and “I Saw Her Standing There.” When they do The Beatles’ “whoo,” it sounds like a whistling teakettle. They are best suited to the lower-key harmonies of songs like “From Me to You” and “P.S. I Love You.”
Korny (tick), Weird (tick), Crazy (tick) and judging by the insane prices it fetches on eBay it is must be Obscure (tick). If you really hate your neighbors, play this one REALLY loud at Midnight and watch the fun !
And if you're looking for another Beatles related send up, you might find the Beatle Barkers of interest as well.
Ripped from vinyl at MP3 (320kps) and includes full album artwork
Back in 64' this was the only Beatle album my dad would let me own, cause you know. Had I been buying their actual records I would have been contributing to the downfall of society.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the Xmas fun post. any chance of FLAC, for your consideration.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your posts. Merry Xmas. Ray
Hi Ray
DeleteSorry mate, but only have this in MP3 format I'm afraid. Not sure if FLAC would make it sound any better !
Merry Xmas to you you also - let's hope it is a COVID free one
Cheers, Merry Xmas.
DeleteThanks for this, been searching for the full LP for ages!
ReplyDeleteCram