Rating:
Genre:
Children
Release Date: 04/29/2008
After a successful run of platters beginning with
Let's All Sing With the Chipmunks (1959),
Ross Bagdasarian scored a major coup for his multi-media franchise when he ventured to London seeking approval to release an entire LP of
Beatles' covers. As it turns out, they were familiar with and actually enthusiasts of
the Chipmunks and permission was granted. The
Chipmunks Sing the Beatles Hits (1964) became the sixth non-seasonal collection to feature the animated antics of
Alvin,
Simon,
Theodore, and
Dave Seville -- all of whom were voiced by the multi-talented
Bagdasarian. The dozen tunes chosen for the project reflect some of the best-known material from the Fab Four, and the songs were primarily derived from
Introducing...the Beatles (1963) and
Meet the Beatles (1964), although it also includes a cover of
"A Hard Day's Night." From a musical standpoint, there are a number of worthy observations. Most prominently is that the band rises to the opportunity of replicating these
pop masterpieces. Sonically, they recall the work of
Hal Blaine (drums) and the stable of Los Angeles-based musicians known as "the Wrecking Crew." This aggregate performed on a roster of late-'50s, '60s, and '70s
pop classics ranging from
the Beach Boys'
Pet Sounds to many of
the Carpenters' seminal sides. Key and otherwise signature licks from the originals have been incorporated -- especially
Ringo Starr's drum fills and pacing. With the vocals, either you love the
novelty or you don't. Obviously many did as the album became a Top 20 smash in the fall of 1964 -- even out charting the
Capitol Records' repackaging of some of the same tunes on
The Early Beatles (1965). There are a few characteristic moments during the instrumental breaks when
Alvin raises the good-natured ire of
Seville, such as the exchange during
"Twist and Shout." ~Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
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