The California Raisins
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The California Raisins were a fictional rhythm and blues musical group composed of anthropomorphized raisins. Lead vocals were sung by musician Buddy Miles.[1]
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[edit] Origin
The concept was originally created for a 1986 commercial on behalf of the California Raisin Advisory Board when one of the writers (Seth Werner of the advertising firm Foote, Cone & Belding) came up with an idea for the new raisin commercial, saying "We have tried everything but dancing raisins singing 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine'" (the 1968 Marvin Gaye song). To their surprise, the commercial became wildly popular, spawning future commercials, two TV specials (Meet the Raisins in 1988 and Raisins: Sold Out! in 1990), four studio albums, and a Saturday morning cartoon series, The California Raisin Show. The Raisins also appeared in A Claymation Christmas Celebration in 1987, singing the classic Christmas carol, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." The Raisins ultimately gained individual names: A.C., Beebop (drums), Stretch (bass), and Red (piano).
The California Raisins are typically depicted in claymation designed by the Emmy-Award winning studio of Will Vinton, but their cartoon series was cel animated. The artist responsible for the original design was Michael Brunsfeld.
[edit] Merchandise
Merchandise sales included a wide variety, from toys to Raisins images on every conceivable medium: lunch boxes, notebooks, clothing, posters, etc. A California Raisins music album was also released, featuring classic Motown and rock 'n' roll standards. But perhaps one of the most memorable pieces of merchandise came in the form of small, non-poseable California Raisins figures. The Hardee's restaurant chain offered these as part of a promotion for their cinnamon raisin biscuits. Different collections were produced in 1987, 1988, 1991, and finally in 2001 for their new stylization. This latest incarnation can still be seen on the California Raisin Marketing Board website.[2]
In the early 1990s, Capcom produced a video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System titled California Raisins: The Grape Escape[3] , where the player controlled a California Raisin through five side-scrolling levels battling various evil fruit and vegetable characters that had stolen the Raisins' music. The game was finished, and several video game critics reviewed it, but The Grape Escape was never released on the open market.
[edit] Aftermath
The original claymation sculptures are currently in the possession of Webster Colcord, a former employee of Will Vinton Studios. The figures were kept in a box for several years and headed for the trash before being obtained by Colcord. Several photos have been taken, detailing the Raisins' poor condition and taking a close look at their internal armatures.[4]
[edit] Discography
- 1987: The California Raisins Sing the Hit Songs - Priority Records
- 1988: "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" (single, peaked at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100)
- 1988: Sweet, Delicious, & Marvelous - Priority Records
- 1988: Meet the Raisins! - Priority Records
- 1988: Christmas with The California Raisins - Priority Records
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ "Buddy Miles, Hendrix Drummer, Dies", by Jon Pareles, The New York Times, February 28, 2008
- ^ CalRaisins.org
- ^ Nintendo Power Staff (November/December 1989). "Pak Watch". Nintendo Power (Nintendo) (9): 95.
- ^ http://www.animateclay.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=23&page=1
[edit] References
- Official Will Vinton (LAIKA) Studios Site
- New Laika Studio Site (Will Vinton)
- All Music Entry
- California Raisins Marketing Board official website
- The Clay and Stop-Motion Animation How-To Page: "California Raisin Raisin Puppets: Late 80s - Early 90s"
