Chipmunk Punk


Chipmunk Punk is an album by the Chipmunks, as well as being the first album released by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., after he took over the voices of the Chipmunks after the death of his father in 1972. Despite the title of the album, none of the songs listed are considered to be in the style of real punk rock music. It was released on June 15, 1980. The album peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard 200. It 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 was 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 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.
In addition to "Call Me," the album featured covers of songs by The Knack, The Cars, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Billy Joel, Queen, and Linda Ronstadt.
Chipmunk Punk marked the rebirth of the Chipmunk franchise. It was the first new Chipmunk release since 1969's The Chipmunks Go To The Movies. Previous Chipmunk activity ceased in 1972 with the untimely death of franchise creator/producer Ross Bagdasarian Sr. from a heart attack.
Though this release followed a long dormancy record-wise, the characters had returned to public view via Saturday morning repeats of the cartoon series The Alvin Show on NBC in 1979. The album sparked a second run of the characters and led to another Saturday morning cartoon series, Alvin and the Chipmunks, which began in 1983 and also aired on NBC.

Critical reception

The album met mixed critical reviews. Doug Stone of Allmusic called it "good clean fun" which "if nothing else...provides a portrait of a prime period in radio," but Rolling Stone panned it, describing the album as a symptom of corporate greed in the world of television animation.
Most reviews of Chipmunk Punk criticized the track listing as featuring comparatively little punk rock in favor of more commercial pop rock and new wave music of the era. In 1994, comedy punk band The Radioactive Chicken Heads recorded a cover of Suicidal Tendencies "Institutionalized" in the style of Alvin and the Chipmunks specifically due to lead singer Carrot Topp's dissatisfaction with the song choices on Chipmunk Punk.

Track listing

Vinyl/Cassette

Track listing per AllMusic.

Side one

  1. "Let's Go" – 3:35
  2. "Good Girls Don't" – 3:13
  3. "How Do I Make You" – 2:23
  4. "Refugee" – 3:07
  5. "Frustrated" – 2:54
  6. * contains an unlisted excerpt from " Satisfaction".

    Side two

  7. "Call Me" – 3:11
  8. "You May Be Right" – 4:03
  9. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" – 2:39
  10. "My Sharona" – 4:03

    CD

  11. "Call Me" – 3:11
  12. "Refugee" – 3:07
  13. "Frustrated" – 2:54
  14. "You May Be Right" – 4:03
  15. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" – 2:47
  16. "My Sharona" – 4:03
  17. "How Do I Make You...?" – 2:23
  18. "Good Girls Don't" – 3:13
  19. "Let's Go" – 3:35

    Personnel

Musicians