Oh “ALVIN!!!” This novelty Christmas song was written, performed, and produced by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., who was also known as David Seville. The credit goes to The Chipmunks, Alvin, Theodore, and Simon. (It was, of course, Bagdasarian singing. He sped up the playback to create the funny chipmunk sounds.)

“The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” has had phenomenal commercial success. In 1958 it went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 several more times — that is, in 1959, 1960, and 1962. The single sold 4.5 million copies in seven weeks (although it received the lowest-possible rating on  American Bandstand’s “Rate-A-Record” segment). “The Chipmunk Song” is the last Christmas/Holiday song to reach #1 on any U.S. singles record chart. Anyway, it won three Grammy Awards in 1958, which were for Best Comedy Performance, Best Children’s Recording, and Best Engineered Record (non-classical).

Bagdasarian was a pianist, composer, actor, author, and a prolific songwriter. Some of his songs include “Come On-a My House.” “Witch Doctor,” “Safari,” and “Armen’s Theme.” He took the name David Seville because during WWII he was stationed in Seville, Spain, and liked it there.

Here are the lyrics to: “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” by David Seville and The Chipmunks:

“Christmas, Christmas time is near
Time for toys and time for cheer
We’ve been good, but we can’t last
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast
Want a plane that loops the loop
(Me, I want a hula hoop)
I can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don’t be late
Want a plane that loops the loop
(I still want a hula hoop)
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don’t be late
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don’t be late”

Cover for the Single of “The Chipmunk Song”

For another song by this ensemble: “Witch Doctor.”

For More Golden Oldies Music                                

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that werewere hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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