Rockin' Through the Decades

Rockin' Through the Decades is a live-action/animated TV special based on characters from Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was directed by Steve Karman, produced by Bagdasarian Productions, and premiered on NBC on January 18, 1991.[1]

Rockin' Through the Decades
Created byRoss Bagdasarian, Sr. (characters)
Written byRoss Bagdasarian Jr.
Janice Karman
Directed bySteve Karman
StarringWill Smith (host)
Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.
Janice Karman
Ben Vereen
Richard Moll
Kenny Loggins
Raven-Symoné
Shelley Duvall
Markie Post
Little Richard
Anneliese van der Pol
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersSteve Karman
Walt Kubiak
Elana Lesser
Cliff Ruby
Running time19 minutes
Production companiesBagdasarian Productions
Murakami-Wolf-Swenson
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseJanuary 18, 1991 (as Rockin' Through the Decades)
1992 (as Rockin' with the Chipmunks)

The special was released on VHS by Buena Vista Home Video in 1992 as Rockin' with the Chipmunks. Most recently, the special has been re-released on September 8, 2009 by Paramount Home Entertainment on the DVD The Very First Alvin Show alongside A Chipmunk Reunion. In 1992, it aired on The Disney Channel.

Cast

Rockin' with the Chipmunks

Rockin' with the Chipmunks made significant changes to the featured songs.

  1. "Witch Doctor"
    1. Intro medley, done by Alvin in different styles
      1. Little Richard (style of "Tutti Frutti")
      2. Elvis Presley (style of "Blue Suede Shoes")
      3. Jimi Hendrix (style of "Foxy Lady")
      4. Bob Dylan (style of "Like a Rolling Stone")
      5. Michael Jackson (style of "Billie Jean")
      6. Bruce Springsteen (style of "Born in the U.S.A.")
  2. "Tutti Frutti"/"Heartbreak Hotel" (medley, 1950s)
  3. "Surfin' Safari"/"She Loves You"/"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (medley, 1960s)
  4. "Crocodile Rock" (1970s)
  5. "Smooth Criminal"/"Beat It"[2] (medley, Alvin added to the original music videos, 1980s)
  6. "Sleigh Ride" (original Christmas-themed hip hop song, 1990s)

Segments from two episodes of The Alvin Show, A Chipmunk Christmas and an episode of The Ed Sullivan Show are also featured. "Alvin's Harmonica" can be heard in the background while Fresh Prince is on the 1950s set. Fresh Prince also does a rap introduction to the "Sleigh Ride" segment, giving his perspective on what to expect of the 1990s.

Soundtrack album release
Rockin' Through the Decades
Soundtrack album by
The Chipmunks
ReleasedJanuary 25, 1991
RecordedNovember 1988 (track 1),
July–September 1989 (tracks 2-11),
December 1990 (track 12)
GenreChildren's music
LabelEMI America (US), Virgin (International)
ProducerTom Chase,
Steve Rucker (track 1),
Ross Bagdasarian,
Janice Karman (tracks 2-11),
Jimmy Jam,
Terry Lewis (track 12)
The Chipmunks chronology
Born To Rock
(1989)		 Rockin' Through the Decades
(1991)		 The Chipmunks Rock the House
(1991)

Rockin' Through the Decades is also the title of a soundtrack music album by Alvin and the Chipmunks, released by Chipmunk Records in 1991, and contained all of the songs from the TV special, alongside three added tracks.[3]

  1. "Witch Doctor (Decades Mix)"
  2. "Tutti Frutti"
  3. "She Loves You ('90s Reprise)"
  4. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
  5. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" - The Chipettes
  6. "Beat It ('90s Remix)"
  7. "Heartbreak Hotel"
  8. "Crocodile Rock"
  9. "Surfin' Safari"
  10. "Oh, Pretty Woman"
  11. "Johnny B. Goode"
  12. "Sleigh Ride"

References
  1. Lenburg, Jeff (2009). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons (3rd ed.). New York: Checkmark Books. p. 278. ISBN 978-0-8160-6600-1.
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdkRwJAVudU
  3. Rockin' Through the Decades
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