Editing Alvin and the Chipmunks (section)

== History ==
=== "Witch Doctor" ===
{{Main|Witch Doctor (song)}}
In 1958, [[Ross Bagdasarian Sr.]] released a novelty song (as David Seville) about being unsuccessful at love until he found a witch doctor who told him how to woo his woman. Seville had bought a [[tape recorder]] and he experimented recording himself at different speeds to create a duet between him and the witch doctor. The voice of the witch doctor was in fact Seville's own voice, sung slowly but recorded at half speed on the tape recorder, then played back at normal speed, thereby speeding up the voice into a high-pitched squeaky one.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SyUJAQAAMAAJ |title= Liberty Records: A History of the Recording Company and Its Stars, 1955-1971 |first= Michael Bryan |last=Kelly |date=1993|page=44 |isbn=9780899507408 |publisher=McFarland }}</ref><ref name=bronson>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RVFLAAAAYAAJ |title= The Billboard Book of Number One Hits |first=Fred |last=Bronson |date= 1997|page=36 |isbn=9780823076413 |publisher=Billboard Books }}</ref><ref name=oxford>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C1wFCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA132 |title=The Oxford Handbook of Music and Virtuality|date=2016 |page=132 |isbn=9780199321285 |publisher=Oxford University Press }}</ref>

The song was a hit, holding number one for three weeks in the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5goEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA11 |title=Chipmunk: Lighting Can Strike Twice |magazine=Billboard |date=December 1, 1958 |page=11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=yvqzDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1891|title=The New Blue Music: Changes in Rhythm & Blues, 1950–1999|first= Richard J. |last=Ripani |date= 2009 |publisher= University Press of Mississippi|isbn=9781496801289 }}</ref> ranked by ''Billboard'' as the No. 4 song for 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bobborst.com/popculture/songoftheyear/|title=Number One Song of the Year: 1946–2014|work=Bob Borst's Home of Pop Culture|date=March 9, 2023 }}</ref> Bagdasarian re-recorded the song for the second Chipmunks album, ''[[Sing Again with the Chipmunks]]'', in 1960. 

Bagdasarian (again as Seville) recorded a follow-up song, "[[The Bird on My Head]]", singing a duet with his own sped-up voice as the bird. It also reached the Top 40, peaking at No. 34.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themadmusicarchive.com/song_details.aspx?SongID=2024 |title=The Bird on My Head by David Seville |publisher=Themadmusicarchive.com |access-date=December 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117221416/http://themadmusicarchive.com/song_details.aspx?SongID=2024 |archive-date=January 17, 2010 }}</ref> While driving in [[Sequoia National Park]], Bagdasarian saw a [[chipmunk]] dash in front of him. That moment inspired him to create his chipmunk characters.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Clarely|first1=Kathey|title=Dashing Park Rodent was the Inspiration for Chipmunks|work=[[The Fresno Bee]]|date=May 24, 1987|quote='He couldn't figure out whether to use worms or elephants or whatever,' said Ross Bagdasarian Jr., who took over the chipmunk business from his father. 'Suddenly, as he was driving through the sequoias [at Sequoia National Park], a chipmunk dashed out on the road and dared him to pass. Dad fell out of the car laughing and the Chipmunks were born.'}}</ref> He again used the same technique to pitch up the voice to create the chipmunks.

=== "The Chipmunk Song" ===
{{Main|The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)}}
After the success of "Witch Doctor", [[Liberty Records]] asked Bagdasarian to create another successful novelty record. He then came up with three singing chipmunks who were named after executives at Liberty Records: Alvin (named after Al Bennett), Simon (named after [[Simon Waronker]]), and Theodore ([[Ted Keep]]).<ref>{{cite news|last=Pantera|first=Gabrielle|title=DVD: Alvin and the Chipmunks TV Shows|url=http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/2009/09/29/dvd-alvin-and-the-chipmunks-tv-shows/|accessdate=15 April 2011|newspaper=Hollywood Today|date=2009-09-29|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612051608/http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/2009/09/29/dvd-alvin-and-the-chipmunks-tv-shows/|archivedate=12 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="LAGOV"/><ref>{{Cite news|title=Animation Anecdotes #104|url=https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/animation-anecdotes-104/|last=Korkis|first=Jim|date=2013-04-05|access-date=2021-12-19|work=Cartoon Research}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://unrememberedhistory.com/2016/12/02/canned-heat-and-the-chipmunks-a-musical-christmas-story/|title=Canned Heat and The Chipmunks: A Musical Christmas Story|date=December 2, 2016 |access-date=20 November 2024|publisher=UNREMEMBERED}}</ref> The Chipmunks first officially appeared on the scene in a novelty record released in late fall 1958 by Bagdasarian. The song, originally listed on the record label (Liberty F-55168) as "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)", featured the singing skills of the chipmunk trio.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/chipmunk-song-turns-60-secrets-a-holiday-classic-1169762/|access-date=28 October 2024 |title="The Chipmunk Song" Turns 60: Secrets of a Holiday Novelty Smash |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=21 December 2018 }}</ref> The novelty record was highly successful, selling 4.5 million copies in seven weeks,<ref name="LAGOV">{{cite web|url=http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2019/19-0007-S5_misc_1_03-08-2019.pdf|title=ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS – A SIX DECADE SUCCESS STORY|access-date=20 November 2024|publisher=[[Los Angeles City Council]]}}</ref> eventually selling 12 million copies.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2dgJVseZAlsC&pg=PA100|title=Music of the postwar era|first=Don|last=Tyler|date=2008|pages=99–100|isbn=9780313341915|publisher=Greenwood Press}}</ref> The song launched the careers of its chipmunk stars.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2023/12/23/chipmunk-song-christmas-david-seville/|access-date=28 October 2024 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|title=How 'The Chipmunk Song' became an unlikely Christmas megahit}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1980078/the-number-ones-the-chipmunks-david-sevilles-the-chipmunk-song-christmas-dont-be-late/columns/the-number-ones/|access-date=28 October 2024 |title=The Number Ones: The Chipmunks & David Seville's "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't be Late)" |date=25 January 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wtae.com/article/holiday-flashback-the-chipmunk-song-christmas-don-t-be-late/7475643|access-date=28 October 2024 |title=HOLIDAY FLASHBACK: 'The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't be Late)' |date=December 2015 }}</ref> The song won three [[1st Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]] in 1958<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Neil|first=Tom|url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2009/05/today-in-1958-first-grammy-awards-handed-out-.html|title=Today in 1959: First Grammy Awards handed out|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=4 May 2009|access-date=29 Nov 2009}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/1st-annual-grammy-awards?cat=627|title=1958 Grammy Winners|publisher=[[Recording Academy]]|access-date=May 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Justice For "The Chipmunk Song": 10 Reasons It Will Always Be A Christmas Classic {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/the-chipmunk-song-christmas-dont-be-late-anniversary-legacy-facts |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=grammy.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/business/publishing/chipmunks-christmas-song-how-much-money-make-each-year-1235521178/|access-date=28 October 2024 |title=How Much Does the Chipmunks' Christmas Song Earn Every Year? |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/list/sinatra-chipmunks-7-things-know-about-1st-grammy-awards|access-date=20 November 2024|title=Sinatra To The Chipmunks: 7 Things To Know About The 1st GRAMMY Awards|publisher=Grammy Awards}}</ref> "The Chipmunk Song" appeared on the Chipmunks' debut album, ''Let's All Sing with the Chipmunks'', in 1959, and was repeated on ''Christmas with the Chipmunks'', released in 1962.<ref name="GWD">{{cite web|url=https://prod.origin.grammy.com/news/the-chipmunk-song-christmas-dont-be-late-anniversary-legacy-facts|access-date=20 November 2024|title=Justice For "The Chipmunk Song": 10 Reasons It Will Always Be A Christmas Classic|publisher=Grammy Awards}}</ref>

=== ''The Alvin Show'' (1961–1962) ===
{{Main|The Alvin Show}}
The first television series to feature the characters was ''The Alvin Show''. The series ran from 1961 to 1962<ref>{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |page=24}}</ref> and was one of a small number of [[Animated cartoon|animated series]] to be shown in prime time on [[CBS]]. It was not a prime-time ratings success and was subsequently canceled after one season. Ratings improved significantly in [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]]. The television series was produced by [[Format Films]] for Bagdasarian Film Corporation. Although the series was broadcast in black and white, it was produced and later re-run in color.<ref name=Woolery>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946–1981 |date=1983 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-1557-5  |url=https://archive.org/details/childrenstelevis0000wool/page/14/mode/2up |access-date=14 March 2020 |pages=14–15}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Paietta |first1=Ann |last2=Kauppila |first2=Jean |title=Animals on Screen and Radio: An Annotated Sourcebook |date=1994 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=9780810829398 |page=294}}</ref> This show also introduced David Seville as an animated caricature.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |pages=75–78}}</ref>

===New albums and ''A Chipmunk Christmas'' (1969–1982)===
[[File:Ross Bagdasarian 1972.jpg|thumb|[[Ross Bagdasarian]] in 1972. He was the creator of the Chipmunks.]]
The final Chipmunks album in the project's original incarnation, ''[[The Chipmunks Go to the Movies (album)|The Chipmunks Go to the Movies]]'', was released in 1969. After Bagdasarian's death in 1972, the Chipmunks' careers stalled until 1979, when [[NBC]] began airing reruns of ''The Alvin Show'' as a mid-season replacement. The following year, [[Pickwick Records|Excelsior Records]] released a new album of contemporary songs performed by the Chipmunks. That album, ''[[Chipmunk Punk]]'', featured Bagdasarian's son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., doing the voices of the characters. That album and the continued reruns of the series proved to be popular enough to warrant further new records as well as new television productions, and on December 14, 1981, the Chipmunks and Seville returned to television in the NBC Christmas special ''[[A Chipmunk Christmas]]'', produced by the Bagdasarians with [[Chuck Jones]] as a creative consultant. It was accompanied by a soundtrack album. The following year, two more albums were released (''[[Chipmunk Rock]]'' and ''[[The Chipmunks Go Hollywood]]'').

===''Alvin and the Chipmunks'' (1983–1990)===
{{Main|Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983 TV series)}}
The group's name changed from "the Chipmunks" to "Alvin and the Chipmunks".<ref>{{cite news|title= Alvin and the Chipmunks Celebrate Holidays On Stage|url= http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-11-27/features/9203030106_1_ross-bagdasarian-chipmunk-punk-beach-boys|work = Sun Sentinel|access-date=October 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104205534/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-11-27/features/9203030106_1_ross-bagdasarian-chipmunk-punk-beach-boys|archive-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref> In 1983, a second animated television series for the group, titled ''Alvin and the Chipmunks'', was produced by [[Ruby-Spears Productions]] and released. The first season introduced [[The Chipettes]] (three female versions of the Chipmunks). The show's success led to the release of a soundtrack album in 1984, ''Songs from Our TV Shows''. After 1988, the show was renamed just ''the Chipmunks''. In 1985, the Chipmunks, along with the Chipettes, were featured in the live stage show, ''Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Amazing Computer''. In 1987, during the fifth season of the television show, the Chipmunks had their first animated feature film, ''[[The Chipmunk Adventure]]'', directed by [[Janice Karman]] and [[Ross Bagdasarian Jr.]] and released to theaters by [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]].

In the 1988–89 season, the show switched production companies to [[DIC Entertainment]] (1988–1990) and [[Murakami Wolf Swenson]] (1988). In 1990, the show switched titles again to ''[[The Chipmunks Go to the Movies]]''. In 1990, a documentary was produced about the show entitled ''Alvin and the Chipmunks/Five Decades with the Chipmunks''. In that year, the Chipmunks teamed up with other famous cartoon stars for the [[drug abuse]]-prevention special ''[[Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a44193/cartoon-all-stars-to-the-rescue-anti-drug-propaganda/ | title=Recover from Your 4/20 Hangover by Rewatching 'Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue' | date=21 April 2016 | access-date=15 April 2023 | archive-date=15 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415195819/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a44193/cartoon-all-stars-to-the-rescue-anti-drug-propaganda/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Music releases and Universal acquisition (1991–2002) ===
On January 18, 1991, [[NBC]] aired a television special starring the Chipmunks entitled ''[[Rockin' Through the Decades]]''. The same year, the band released the album ''[[The Chipmunks Rock the House]]''. In 1992, the group released the country album ''[[Chipmunks in Low Places]]''. Released on September 29, 1992, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA, becoming the group's first platinum record and making it the Chipmunks' best-selling album followed by a greatest hits release and a reissue of 1981's ''A Chipmunk Christmas''. By 1993, ''[[Urban Chipmunk]]'' was re-released as a compilation album [[Here's Looking at Me!|''The Chipmunks' 35th Birthday Party'']] with a double album, called ''The Chipmunks Sing-Alongs''. Their fourth Christmas album, ''[[A Very Merry Chipmunk]]'', saw a release in 1994, then ''[[When You Wish Upon a Chipmunk]]'' in 1995, and ''[[Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes]]'' in 1996 which peaked in the Top 10 on [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']]'s Top Kid Audio.

In 1996, [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] purchased the rights to the characters. In 1998, [[Sony Wonder]] and [[Columbia Records]] released ''[[The A-Files: Alien Songs]]'' and ''[[Greatest Hits: Still Squeaky After All These Years]]'' on September 21, 1999. The purchase of the rights to the characters by Universal resulted in the Chipmunks' 1999 reappearance, in the form of the direct-to-video movie ''[[Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein]]'', released on September 28, 1999. Five new songs were composed for the film and were made available via a soundtrack released by [[MCA Records]]. Later that year, ''The Chipmunks' Greatest Christmas Hits'' was released. The movie was successful enough to spark interest in a sequel, and in 2000, ''[[Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman]]'' appeared. Three new songs were composed for the film, that were also made available on a soundtrack by MCA. Both movies featured the original cast of the second series reprising their roles as the tone was very similar to the series. Universal lost the rights to the characters in 2002 due to a breach of contract with Bagdasarian Productions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-06-19 |title=Santa Maria Times from Santa Maria, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/447049143/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2000-09-12 |title=Family of Chipmunks' Originator Files Suit Against Universal Studios |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-sep-12-fi-19557-story.html |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Return to independency, movies and merchandise (2003–present) ===
[[File:Arriva London Enviro 400 LJ60 AVZ T152, London Bridge 20.2.16 (25402826418).jpg|thumb|Bus promoting ''[[Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip]]'' in [[London]]]]
On September 17, 2004, [[Fox 2000 Pictures]], [[Regency Enterprises]], and [[Bagdasarian Productions]] announced a [[Live-action animation|live-action animated]] film starring Alvin and the Chipmunks.<ref>{{cite web|last=Brodesser|first=Claude|date=September 14, 2004|title='Alvin' to squeak again|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/alvin-to-squeak-again-1117910455/|access-date=December 21, 2019|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> [[Tim Hill (director)|Tim Hill]]<ref>{{cite web|last=LaPorte|first=Nicole|date=January 24, 2007|title=Hill to direct 'Chipmunks'|url=https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/hill-to-direct-chipmunks-1117958050/|access-date=December 21, 2019|work=Variety}}</ref> directed the 2007 adaption ''[[Alvin and the Chipmunks (film)|Alvin and the Chipmunks]]'', with voices by [[Justin Long]], [[Matthew Gray Gubler]], and [[Jesse McCartney]]. Further live-action installments were ''[[Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel|The Squeakquel]]'' (2009), ''[[Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked|Chipwrecked]]'' (2011), and ''[[Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip|The Road Chip]]'' (2015). The projects have achieved commercial success, grossing over a billion dollars collectively.<ref name="MON">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/business/publishing/chipmunks-christmas-song-how-much-money-make-each-year-1235521178/#|access-date=11 October 2024|publisher=Billboard|title=How Much Does the Chipmunks' Christmas Song Earn Every Year?}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Alvin-and-the-Chipmunks#tab=summary|access-date=11 October 2024|publisher=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|title=Alvin and the Chipmunks Franchise Box Office History}}</ref> Accolades received include five [[Grammy]] awards, an [[American Music Awards|American Music Award]], a [[Golden Reel Award (Motion Picture Sound Editors)|Golden Reel Award]], three [[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards|Kids' Choice Awards]], and [[Emmy]] nominations.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

A television series, ''[[Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks]]'' was created by [[Janice Karman]] and produced by [[Bagdasarian Productions]] and [[Technicolor Animation Productions]].<ref name=HollywoodReporter>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/alvin-chipmunks-pgs-entertainment-takes-643749/|title='Alvin and the Chipmunks': PGS Entertainment Takes Global Rights to New TV Series|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Guider|first=Elizabeth|date=October 5, 2013|access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/genao-to-revives-chipmunks-xiaolin-1118060346/|title=Genao to revives 'Chipmunks,' 'Xiaolin'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|last=Keslassy|first=Elsa|date=October 5, 2012|access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref>