Chipmunk Punk
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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 in the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart at number 32. It subsequently went gold on October 14. In 2005 it was re-released on CD, although the CD is only available through the official Chipmunks website.
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 announed, 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.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.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!Band lineup
- Alvin Chipmunk: lead guitar and vocals
- Simon Chipmunk: bass and vocals
- Theodore Chipmunk: drums and vocals
Production
- Steve Vining: Producer
- Bob McNabb: Engineer
- Ross Bagdasarian: Production Consultant
- Doug Oudekerk: Cover Art
2005 CD Edition credits
- Janice Karman: Reissue producer
- Spencer Chrislu: Digital remastering
Track listing
Vinyl
Side one
- Let's Go (R. Ocasek) (3:35)
- Good Girls Don't (D. Feiger) (3:13)
- How Do I Make You...? (B. Steinberg) (2:23)
- Refugee (T. Petty/M. Campbell) (3:07)
- Frustrated (D. Fieger/B. Averre) (2:54)
- *contains an unlisted excerpt from "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (M. Jagger/K. Richards).
Side two
- Call Me (D. Harry/G. Moroder) (3:11)
- You May Be Right (W. M. Joel) (4:03)
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love (F. Mercury) (2:39)
- :*—this track was extended to (2:47) on the CD
- My Sharona (D. Fieger/B. Averre) (4:03)
CD
- Call Me (D. Harry/G. Moroder) (3:11)
- Refugee (T. Petty/M. Campbell) (3:07)
- Frustrated (D. Fieger/B. Averre) (2:54)
- You May Be Right (W. M. Joel) (4:03)
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love (F. Mercury) (2:47)
- My Sharona (D. Fieger/B. Averre) (4:03)
- How Do I Make You...? (B. Steinberg) (2:23)
- Good Girls Don't (D. Feiger) (3:13)
- Let's Go (R. Ocasek) (3:35)
References
- [One example of Chipmunk Punk's role in the soundtrack of a Gen X'ers life]
- [Chipmunk Punk and its influence on Nirvana (first-person account)]
- [Chipmunk Punk and its influence on Nirvana (third-person account)]
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