Christmas with the Chipmunks, Vol. 1 [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Alvin & the Chipmunks | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 1, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Special Products
• ASIN: B000002TBE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,858 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #50 in Music > Miscellaneous > Comedy > Comedic Music > General
  • #74 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Pop Vocal
  • #90 in Music > Miscellaneous > Comedy > Comedic Music > Novelty Music

Track Listings

1. The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)

2. (All I Want for Christmas Is) My Two Front Teeth

3. Jingle Bells

4. Frosty the Snowman

5. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

6. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

7. The Night Before Christmas

8. Silver Bells

9. White Christmas

10. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, the singing rodents, are that rare sort of novelty that has outlived its novelty aspect to become an American institution. The Chipmunks are here to stay, whether it's from children of years past remembering them fondly now as adults, or just an inherent power in the simplicity of the idea--the sheer ingenuity of speeding up human voices to the point of hilarity. This classic 1962 album features the 'Munks in all their holiday glee. They're as fresh and guileless as the Beach Boys, and their harmonies are crisp and tight, while the material is exactly the type of spirited fun kids of all ages can relate to. Be forewarned that though the album has 12 tracks, the duration is only 24 minutes. --Rob O'Connor

Product Description

Christmas with the Chipmunks; Vol. 1

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My #1 Christmas album!, March 5, 2002

By 

Henry R. Kujawa ("The Forbidden Zone" (Camden, NJ)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christmas With the Chipmunks, Vol.1 (Audio CD)

I can't help it-- I've been listening to The Chipmunks for as long as I remember, my parents bought me this WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT (in 1962), and I've never gotten bored with it during the holidays. There are several Chipmunks Christmas albums these days (some 2nd-rate "repackages"-- beware!) but only the 2 from the 60's are really worth owning to my tastes.

EVERY song here is a classic, including "Here Comes Santa Claus", "Up On The House Top" and "Jingle Bells" (each of these is a close tie with Gene Autry's versions-- although "Jingle Bells" is the ONLY version I've heard that has ALL the lyrics, plus it slowly speeds up until by the end it's turned rock & roll!). "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" originally appeared on AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE CHIPMUNKS (1960), while "The Chipmunk Song"-- the very first "Chipmunks" song-- dates back to the 1958 single, and the 1959 album LET'S ALL SING WITH THE CHIPMUNKS. It's nice to have them both here, though, as this package would seem incomplete without them. While child (of any age) cannot relate to such heart-wrenching lyrics ("we can hardly stand the wait, please Christmas don't be late")?

A year later came the follow-up, CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHIPMUNKS VOL.2-- also essential. (Just be careful which one you get-- it's the one that starts with "Jingle Bell Rock" and should have a pic of Santa on a rooftop while Alvin, Simon & Theodore are raiding his parked sleigh!)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Get 2007 version, December 25, 2007

By 

Nicholas J. Leipzig (Mt Prospect, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christmas with the Chipmunks, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

Please note to get instead the new great sounding Capitol 2007 release which has ALL 24 songs (includes both Volumes 1 & 2) plus one bonus and is very reasonably priced. This is the disappointing 10 song abbreviated version. The 2006 version has a recording flaw. This is a classic Christmas album that should be FULLY enjoyed and the 2007 is the best version out there!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better Volumes Available Now, September 16, 2007

By 

AvidOldiesCollector (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas With the Chipmunks, Vol.1 (Audio CD)

This CD version of an original 1963 vinyl LP (the original cover is shown on the reverse) came out at the dawn of the CD age and, at the time, was eagerly grabbed up by fans of David Seville (born Ross Bagdasarian on January 27, 1919 in Fresno, California).

He had been cutting records since the mid-1950s, scoring in early 1956 with The Trouble With Harry (# 44 Billboard Pop Top 100) under the billing Alfi And Harry, and inspired by the Hitchcock film of the same name. Then, from late 1956 to 1959 he registered six more hits under the billing The Music Of David Seville, the most successful of which was early 1958's The Witch Doctor which hit # 1 on both the Pop and R&B charts.

But later that year, and in time for Christmas, his voice over-dubbing technique hit upon the idea of three cute Chipmunks named Alvin, Simon and Theodore after Liberty Records execs Alvin Bennett, Simon Waronker and Teodore Keep. And with the debut The Chipmunk Song, a whole new industry was born as it soared to # 1 Pop Hot 100, where it remained for 4 weeks, as well as # 5 R&B on Liberty 55168 b/w the Seville solo, Almost Good.

Numerous hits would follow, a few more related to Christmas and usually with a Seville solo as the3 flip, and so when that first LP was released it was gobbled up by fans.

But this CD has long since been surpassed by releases with many more tracks and far better sound quality (on this, the voice of David on Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, is barely legible). Also, there are no liner notes at all.