THE CHRISTMAS SONG - The Bunny Hoppers

YEAR: c. 1975

LABEL: Rocking Horse Records

TRACK LISTING: The Chipmunk Song, Santa Claus Rudolph & Us, The Childrens' Party, Trains & Boats & Candy & Drums, The Candy Kids Christmas Caper, Sing A Song of Christmas, The Reindeer Rocks, Sitting On Top of Christmas, That's How It All Began, A Christmas Package Wrapped In Love

IMPRESSIONS: This is one of those children's Christmas records you picked up at the supermarket in the 70s. And that's what I did. Staying at my grandparents' house in Pennsauken, I went to the Holiday supermarket with my grandmother and picked up this Chipmunks "homage". Although obviously one of the countless Chipmunks ripoffs out there, this one actually was pretty good and got frequent play from this 10 year old. The usual "sped up" Chipmunks voices served for the three "Bunny Hoppers" while a deep-voiced baritone voiced Santa. This was not the first nor last Christmas record I would pick up at the Holiday supermarket in my 70s youth. So watch out!

MY FAVOURITE TRACKS: Is there any way not to choose ALL of them? Oh well then . . . . Santa Claus Rudolph and Us, The Childrens' Party, Trains and Boats and Candy and Drums, The Candy Kids Christmas Caper, Sitting On Top of Christmas, That's How It All Began, A Christmas Package Wrapped In Love

FACT SHEET: Are you kidding? Well actually, this album is one of the rarest "unknown band" recordings done in the 70s. The Chipmunk-like sped-up vocals actually belong to John Lennon, Elton John and Neil Sedaka! As something of a lark, these three (owing to Elton's friendship with Lennon as well as his championing of Sedaka's 70's comeback through his own Rocket Records) decided to record a children's Christmas album in such a way that their voices would not be recognized. Enter: chipmunk voices. This bit of trivia is not generally known other than a small mention in Philip Norman's biography of Elton John under a monumental listing of Elton John's complete recordings. It has also been rumoured that the album features drumming by Ringo Starr.