Alvin and the Chipmunks: Encyclopedia - Alvin and the Chipmunks

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Alvin and the Chipmunks are a fictional musical group, created by Ross Bagdasarian. The group consists of three singing chipmunks—Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group, Simon, the tall bespectacled quiet one, and Theodore, the chubby, impressionable one—who are "managed" by their human "dad" and confidant, David "Dave" Seville. In reality, "David Seville" was Ross Bagdasarian's stage name.

After first being brought to life in Bagdasarian's 1950s novelty recordings under the name David Seville and the Chipmunks, the characters were an unprecedented success, and the singing Chipmunks and their manager were given life in several animated cartoon series and motion pictures. It is notable that the characters are now perceived as cartoon characters that also released some accompanying music, which is the inverse of their early existence.

The voices of the group were all performed by Bagdasarian, who sped up the playback to create the most-distinctive higher pitched squeaky voices. This process wasn't entirely new; Bagdasarian had also used it for a previous novelty song project "The Witch Doctor", but it was so unusual and well executed it earned the trio two Grammy Awards for engineering. Although the characters were fictional, they did release a long line of "real" albums and singles, with "The Chipmunk Song" becoming a #1 hit single in the United States. After his death in 1972, the voices of the Chipmunks were subsequently recorded by his son, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., and his wife, Janice Karman, in all future incarnations to date. The Chipmunks themselves are named after the executives of their original record label, Liberty Records: Alvin Bennett (the president), Simon Waronker (the founder and owner), and Theodore Keep (the chief engineer).

Alvin and the Chipmunks - History

Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Witch Doctor

In early 1958, Ross Bagdasarian released a novelty song, under his stage name David Seville, about being unlucky at love until he found a Witch Doctor who told him the "magic words" to woo his woman. The entire song was done by Bagdasarian in his normal voice, except for the "magic" words, done first in Bagdasarian's sped-up, pre-Chipmunk voice, then in a duet between his sped-up voice and his normal voice. The words, of course, are nonsense: "Oo-ee, oo-ah-ah, ting-tang, walla-walla, bing-bang".

The song was a major hit, sitting at Number 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks during the spring, and the Witch Doctor's "magic words" were being sung by kids everywhere. Although nothing in the song makes any reference to chipmunks, the song is now sometimes included on Chipmunk compilations, as if the Chipmunks themselves had provided the voice of the Witch Doctor... which, technically speaking, was true.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Chipmunk Song

Alvin and the Chipmunks first officially appeared on the scene in a novelty record released in late fall 1958 by Bagdasarian. The song, known at first as just "The Chipmunk Song" and later subtitled "Christmas Don't Be Late", featured the singing skills of the chipmunk trio. The novelty record was highly successful, selling more than 4 million copies in 7 weeks, and it launched the careers of its chipmunk stars. It spent four weeks at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart from December 27, 1958 to January 19, 1959. It also earned three Grammy Awards and a nomination for Record of the Year. At the height of its popularity, Bagdasarian and three chipmunk hand-puppets appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, lip-synching the song.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Imitations

While the series was being prepared for broadcast, an imitation, the Nutty Squirrels, beat them to the market, but was less successful, despite catchy scat singing.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Alvin Show

The first television series to feature the characters was The Alvin Show. The cartoon gave more distinctive looks and personalities to the three chipmunks than just their voices. The cartoon portrayal of David Seville was a reasonable caricature of Bagdasarian himself. The series ran from 1961 to 1962 and was one of a small number of animated series to be shown in prime time, on CBS. Unfortunately, it was not immediately successful and was cancelled after one season, only to find new life in syndication.

In addition to Alvin cartoons, the series also featured Clyde Crashcup and his sidekick Leonardo. Those characters did not feature prominently on any of the later series. Crashcup made a single cameo appearance in an episode of Alvin and the Chipmunks.

The first television series was produced by Format Films for Bagdasarian Film Corporation. Although the series was broadcast in black and white, it was produced and later re-run in color. 26 episodes each were produced for the Alvin and the Chipmunks and Clyde Crashcup segments, along with 52 musical segments.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - A Chipmunk Christmas

After the death of Ross Bagdasarian in 1972, the Chipmunks' careers stalled until NBC showed interest in the original show and released a new album of contemporary songs performed by the Chipmunks. The new album featured the late Ross's son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., doing the voices of the characters. That album and the continued reruns of the series proved to be popular enough to warrant new television production, and in 1981, the Chipmunks and David Seville returned to television in the Christmas special A Chipmunk Christmas, produced by Chuck Jones, which was first broadcast on NBC on December 14 of that year.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Alvin and the Chipmunks

In 1983, the second cartoon series, produced by Ruby-Spears, was released. Titled simply Alvin and the Chipmunks, the outline of the show closely paralleled the original Alvin Show. The show lasted eight production seasons, until 1991. In the third season, the show introduced The Chipettes, three female versions of the Chipmunks—Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor—with their own human counterpart, the myopic Mrs. Miller. Many fans consider this the moment when the show jumped the shark. After 1987, the show was renamed just The Chipmunks to indicate that there were now two groups of them. The show reflected current trends and historical events in pop culture; the Chipmunks sang recent hits, and wore contemporary clothing. One "documentary" episode spoofed John Lennon's 1966 comment that the Beatles had become "more popular than Jesus", by recalling how the Chipmunks had fallen in popularity after Alvin boasted they were "bigger than Mickey Mouse!"

In 1987, during the fifth season of the show on television, the Chipmunks had their first (and thus far, only) animated feature film, The Chipmunk Adventure, directed by Janice Karman and released to theatres by The Samuel Goldwyn Company. The film featured the Chipmunks and the Chipettes in a contest traveling around the world. Other than improved production values, the movie was more of an extended and enhanced episode of the series.

For the eighth and final season, the show switched production companies (to DiC Entertainment) and switched titles again: Chipmunks Go to the Movies. Each episode in this season was a spoof of a Hollywood film, such as Back to the Future, King Kong, and others. In addition, several television specials featuring the characters were also released. At the conclusion of the eighth season, the show was cancelled again.

In 1990, a documentary was produced about the show entitled Alvin and the Chipmunks/Five Decades with the Chipmunks. In that year, the chipmunks also teamed up with other contemporary cartoons (such as Bugs Bunny, Garfield, etc.) for the drug abuse-prevention special Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Direct-to-video Alvin

In 1996, the rights to the characters were purchased by Universal Pictures. This resulted in The Chipmunks' 1999 reappearance in the form of the direct-to-video movie Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein. The movie was successful enough to spark interest in a sequel, and in 2000, Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman appeared. Both movies featured the "original" cast of the second series reprising their roles and the tone of the movies are very similar to the series. These film titles reflect earlier horror spoofs by Abbott and Costello.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Alvin's future

In 2000, Bagdasarian Productions sued Universal Pictures for breach of contract, in order to recoup monentary damages and to regain control of the Alvin and the Chipmunks characters. If that lawsuit is not successful, the contract will expire in 2006. Until that is resolved, there will likely be no major activity with the franchise and no further television movies produced.

A live-action feature-length movie is in development by 20th Century Fox, featuring computer-animated Chipmunks and a live-action David Seville. It is scheduled to be released in theatres around 2006.

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Recording technique

The Chipmunks' voices were recorded onto audiotape by voice talent talking or singing at half the normal speed. When the tape was played back at double speed, they would sound a full octave higher in pitch, at normal tempo. The technique was by no means new to the Chipmunks. For example, the high and low pitched characters in The Wizard of Oz were achieved by speeding up and slowing down vocal recordings. Nowadays the same effect can be created digitally and in real time. The term "chipmunk-voiced" has entered the American vernacular to describe any artificially high-pitched voice.

The technique was frequently imitated in comedy records, notably "The Ying Tong Song" by The Goons, "Transistor Radio" by Benny Hill, "Bridget the Midget" by Ray Stevens, "The Laughing Gnome" by David Bowie, and on several tracks the Joe Meek and the Blue Men album I Hear A New World. The technique also appears in the instumental break in Bobby Lewis' 1961 US #1 hit "Tossin' and Turnin'". It was also used extensively in the British puppet show Pinky and Perky.

Prince has also used the technique for his "Camille" alter ego.

Kanye West's technique of speeding up soul samples has led to his productions being compared to the Chipmunks.

However, the vocal technique is not always generated by a recording technique. Some fans of the band Gamma Ray (band) have described the singer Kai Hansen's falsetto as "chipmunk-like" on the album "No World Order".

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Discography

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Albums

• 1959: Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks
• 1960: Sing Again with the Chipmunks
• 1961: Around the World with the Chipmunks
• 1961: The Alvin Show
• 1962: Christmas With the Chipmunks, Vol. 1
• 1962: The Chipmunks Songbook
• 1963: Christmas With the Chipmunks, Vol. 2
• 1964: The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles Hits
• 1965: The Chipmunks a Go-Go
• 1965: The Chipmunks Sing with Children
• 1968: The Chipmunks See Doctor Dolittle
• 1969: The Chipmunks Go to the Movies
• 1980: Chipmunk Punk
• 1981: A Chipmunk Christmas
• 1981: Urban Chipmunk
• 1982: Chipmunk Rock
• 1984: Alvin and the Chipmunks
• 1987: The Chipmunk Adventure
• 1990: Rockin' Through the Decades
• 1992: In Low Places (Label: Sony Wonder, ASIN B0000028T3)
• 1992: Greatest Hits
• 1993: Alvin's Christmas Carol
• 1993: Sing-Alongs
• 1994: Here's Looking at Me!
• 1995: Alvin's Daydreams
• 1995: Chipmunk Celebration
• 1995: Easter Chipmunk
• 1995: When You Wish upon a Chipmunk
• 1995: A Very Merry Chipmunk
• 1995: Very Best of Chipmunks
• 1996: Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes
• 1998: The A-Files: Alien Songs
• 1999: Alvin & the Chipmunks Greatest Hits: Still Squeaky After All These Years
• 2003: Merry Christmas from the Chipmunks
• 2004: Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Singles

• 1958: "The Chipmunk Song" (US #1)
• 1959: "Alvin's Harmonica"
• 1960: "Ragtime Cowboy Joe"
• 1960: "Alvin's Orchestra"
• 1960: "Alvin for President"
• 1960: "America the Beautiful"
• 1960: "Rudolph, the Red-Reindeer"
• 1962: "The Alvin Twist"
• 1963: "Alvin's All Star Chipmunk Band"
• 1963: "Eefin' Alvin"
• 1963: "The Night Before Christmas"
• 1964: "All My Lovin'"
• 1965: "Do-re-mi"
• 1965: "I'm Henry VIII"
• 1968: If I Could Talk to the Animals"
• 1968: "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"
• 1980: "You May Be Right"
• 1980: "Call Me"
• 1981: "On The Road Again"
• 1981: "I Love A Rainy Night"
• 1982: "Heartbreaker"
• 1982: "E.T. And Me"
• 1983: "We're The Chipmunks/Beat It"
• 1985: "What Were You Doing At The Time?
• 1985: "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
• 1987: "The Girls of Rock & Roll""
• 1990: "Jingle Bells Finale"
• 1992: "Achy Breaky Heart"
• 1994: "I Don't Want To Be Alone For Christmas (Unless I'm Alone With You" (actually performed by James Ingram)
• 1996: "Macarena"
• 2002: "In Charge but Not Involved"
• 2003: "Remember A Day"
• 2003: "A Favour House Atlantic"

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Awards and nominations

• 1959, won three Grammy Awards for Best Album for Children, Best Comedy Performance, and Best Engineered Record - Non-Classical for the song "The Chipmunk Song." (Was also nominated for Record of the Year, but did not win.)
• 1960, won a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical for the song "Alvin's Harmonica."
• 1961, won a Grammy Award for Best Album for Children for the album Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks. (It was also nominated for Best Engineered Record - Non-Classical.) The song "Alvin for President" was also nominated for both Best Comedy Performance - Musical and Best Engineered Record - Novelty, making two nominations in the latter category.)
• 1962, was nominated again for a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Record - Novelty for the television tie-in album The Alvin Show.
• 1963, was nominated again for Grammy Awards for both Best Album for Children and Best Engineered Record - Novelty for the album The Chipmunk Songbook.
• 1966, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Album for Children for the album Supercalifragelisticexpialidocious.
• 1985, was nominated for a Emmy Award in the category "Outstanding Animated Program (Daytime)."
• 1987, the second television series was nominated for a Young Artist Award in the category "Exceptional Family Animation Series or Specials."
• 1987, was nominated for a Emmy Award in the category "Outstanding Animated Program (Daytime)."
• 1988, was nominated for a Emmy Award in the category "Outstanding Animated Program (Daytime)."
• 1988, was nominated for a Young Artist Award in the category "Best Motion Picture - Animation" for the movie The Chipmunk Adventure.
• 2000, won the Golden Reel Award in the category "Best Sound Editing - Direct to Video - Sound Editorial" for the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein.

In total: five Grammy Awards and a Golden Reel Award.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Alvin and the Chipmunks", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki