Christmas Don't Be Late (Alvin and the Chipmunks)

FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/tonyrclef
BLOGSPOT http://tonyrclef.blogspot.com
EMAIL tonyrclef@gmail.com
Album "tony r clef - tuesday afternoon" on Itunes

Christmas Don't Be Late
Words and Music by Ross Bagdasarian

Arguably the Chipmunks biggest hit record. Popular at this time of year. Written and recorded for their album originally to be called "Pet Sounds" (literally the sounds of somebody's pets) until a lengthy, protracted legal battle with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys ended in defeat. Famously, you may remember, the trial got really nasty when Brian refused to hand over several pounds of Simon's acorns which had been agreed upon in the pretrial phase. A sad day in American jurisprudence.

This particular song, originally conceived by Theodore (always known to be the brains behind the music), almost never came to fruition. But it was Alvin who rescued the project in the 11th hour when he called up a number of LA session players, jazz cats he'd known from his beatnik days, who were more than thrilled at the prospect of working with one the top recording groups in the world.

So here you have my little arranjo of Ross Bagdasarian's charming Christmas waltz. Hope you like.

Have a merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, a festive Kwanzaa and whatever else you feel like celebrating. I hope you get that hoola hoop.

My arrangement. Learned by ear. I have nothing written down.
Taylor NS54-ce, hybrid classical
Standard tuning
D'addario Pro Arte normal tension nylon strings

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Alvin
• and
• the
• Chipmunks
• Theodore
• Simon
• Ross
• Bagdasarian
• David
• Seville
• Christmas
• don't
• be
• late
• tony
• clef
• troubleclef
• acoustic
• guitar
• instrumental
• fingerpicking
• fingerstyle
• classical
• waltz

[jonathanratcliffe]

been watching all your videos for a while now tony, would love to see some John Martyn songs up!

[troubleclef]

@jonathanratcliffe

thanks. I haven't listened much to him. Can you recommend a specific album or two?

[feracat07]

I had serious doubts about this when I first read Alvin and his mates. And Tony you pulled it off brilliantly. Excellent my friend truely wonderful. Merry Christmas Mate and All the best for 2011.

Lynn From Scotland

[troubleclef]

@feracat07

thanks, Lynn. You mean Alvin and the boys aren't as big a smash in the UK as they are stateside? I thought they were truly global by now!

Cheers.  Happy New Year.

[MeTaLcOrE1616]

what's the tuning of your guitar?

anyway great cover

[troubleclef]

@MeTaLcOrE1616

thanks. standard on this one.

[TURD1ism]

I LOVEEEE iTTTTTTTT

You play it clearer than any other videos i watched!!

[giggitygoo9812]

thanks again :)

[mariamyersxxx]

my little nephews love you. xD

[jumpmanflys]

AMAZING!!!!

[theivory1]

Great great great

[gloryofhawaii]

youre awesome

[Dfraz96]

Amazing!!

[pirrung123]

Just great man :o)

[kroyka]

thank you for making that wood sing.