The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)

"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)"
Picture sleeve of 1959 reissue single by Liberty Records (F-55250)
Single by Alvin and the Chipmunks and David Seville
from the album Let's All Sing with The Chipmunks
B-side
ReleasedNovember 17, 1958 source (Billboard 100 Edition Nov 17th 1958. Earliest Mention)
RecordedOctober 31, 1958
Genre
Length2:21
  • 2:15 (rock version)
LabelLiberty F-55168
Liberty F-55250
Songwriter(s)Ross Bagdasarian
Producer(s)Ross Bagdasarian
Alvin and the Chipmunks and David Seville singles chronology
"The Bird on My Head"
(1958) 		"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)"
(1958) 		"Alvin's Harmonica"
(1959)
Alternate cover
1961 reissue, utilizing animated makeovers for The Alvin Show

"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" is a novelty Christmas song written and recorded by Ross Bagdasarian (under the stage name of David Seville) in 1958. Bagdasarian sang the song, varying the tape speeds to produce high-pitched "chipmunk" voices, with the vocals credited to Alvin and the Chipmunks, Seville's cartoon virtual band[1] and later media franchise.[2] The song won three Grammy Awards in 1958, for Best Comedy Performance, Best Children's Recording, and Best Engineered Record (non-classical);[3] it was also nominated for Record of the Year.[4][5][6][7]

After the success of "Witch Doctor" in early 1958, Liberty Records asked Bagdasarian to create another successful novelty record. He then came up with three singing chipmunks who were named, as an inside joke, after executives at Liberty Records. The chipmunks were Alvin (named after Al Bennett), Simon (named after Simon Waronker), and Theodore (Ted Keep).[8][9][10][11] The song was their first official on-scene appearance. It saved Liberty Records from near-bankruptcy.[2]

  1. ^ ""The Chipmunk Song" Turns 60: Secrets of a Holiday Novelty Smash". The Hollywood Reporter. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Justice For "The Chipmunk Song": 10 Reasons It Will Always Be A Christmas Classic". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  3. ^ O'Neil, Tom (4 May 2009). "Today in 1959: First Grammy Awards handed out". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 Nov 2009.
  4. ^ "1958 Grammy Winners". Recording Academy. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  5. ^ https://www.grammy.com/news/the-chipmunk-song-christmas-dont-be-late-anniversary-legacy-facts
  6. ^ "How Much Does the Chipmunks' Christmas Song Earn Every Year?". Billboard. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Sinatra To The Chipmunks: 7 Things To Know About The 1st GRAMMY Awards". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  8. ^ Pantera, Gabrielle (2009-09-29). "DVD: Alvin and the Chipmunks TV Shows". Hollywood Today. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference LAGOV was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Korkis, Jim (2013-04-05). "Animation Anecdotes #104". Cartoon Research. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  11. ^ "Canned Heat and The Chipmunks: A Musical Christmas Story". UNREMEMBERED. Retrieved 20 November 2024.