Chipmunk Punk

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Chipmunk Punk
Chipmunk Punk cover
Studio album by The Chipmunks
Released August 23, 1980 (US)
Recorded September 1979-April 1980
Genre Children’s Music / New Wave / Progressive rock
Length 29:27
Label Mercury Records (UK) Excelsior Records (later Intersound International) (US)
Producer(s) Steve Vining
Professional reviews
The Chipmunks chronology
At The Movies
(1969)		 Chipmunk Punk
(1980)		 Urban Chipmunk
(1981)


Chipmunk Punk is a children's/new wave/progressive rock fusion album by The Chipmunks. It combines the sound of the early punk releases of the late 1970s/early 1980s with the structure of late 1960s/early 1970s progressive rock album releases. Although it was intended as a children's album, it has since taken a life of its own as an integral and important part of the soundtrack of many Gen Xers' lives, and continues to endure to this day. It was released on August 23, 1980 (see 1980 in music). The album peaked at #34 on the Billboard 200 (which was actually known as the Pop Albums Chart prior to the album's release). It eventually was certified Gold by the RIAA on October 14, 1980, becoming the Chipmunks first gold record. In 2005 it was re-released on CD, although the CD is only available through the official Chipmunks website.

Contents

[edit] History

The inspiration for the album came when KMET DJ Chuck Taylor played the 12" version of the Blondie song "Call Me" at double speed and announced, in jest, that it was the Chipmunks' latest single. So many requests came for this "new" Chipmunks release, that Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and his collaborator Steve Vining rushed to record this album.

[edit] Critical reception

Upon this release, the album met mixed critical reviews. The All Music Guide gave it a glowing review, saying that it "neatly and expertly summarized a prime period of FM radio", but Rolling Stone roundly panned it, describing the album as a symptom of corporate greed in the world of television animation.

[edit] Legacy

In the years since this album release, it has been cited as an influence on popular music and television comedy. In a 1991 interview, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana said that it was the structural blueprint for their debut album, Bleach. Also, in the Simpsons episode "Marge's Son Poisoning", the album's arrangement of the Knack's "My Sharona" was reenacted by the characters Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney, even making the cover pose at the end.

[edit] Band lineup

[edit] Production

[edit] 2005 CD Edition credits

  • Janice Karman: Reissue producer
  • Spencer Chrislu: Digital remastering

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Vinyl

[edit] Side one

  1. "Let's Go" (R. Ocasek) – 3:35
  2. "Good Girls Don't" (D. Feiger) – 3:13
  3. "How Do I Make You...?" (B. Steinberg) – 2:23
  4. "Refugee" (T. Petty/M. Campbell) – 3:07
  5. "Frustrated" (D. Fieger/B. Averre) – 2:54


[edit] Side two

  1. "Call Me" (D. Harry/G. Moroder) – 3:11
  2. "You May Be Right" (W. M. Joel) – 4:03
  3. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (F. Mercury) – 2:39
    • —this track was extended to – 2:47 on the CD
  4. "My Sharona" (D. Fieger/B. Averre) – 4:03

[edit] CD

  1. "Call Me" (D. Harry/G. Moroder) – 3:11
  2. "Refugee" (T. Petty/M. Campbell) – 3:07
  3. "Frustrated" (D. Fieger/B. Averre) – 2:54
  4. "You May Be Right" (W. M. Joel) – 4:03
  5. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (F. Mercury) – 2:47
  6. "My Sharona" (D. Fieger/B. Averre) – 4:03
  7. "How Do I Make You...?" (B. Steinberg) – 2:23
  8. "Good Girls Don't" (D. Feiger) – 3:13
  9. "Let's Go" (R. Ocasek) – 3:35

[edit] References

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