Christmas Extraordinaire

( 6 )

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble
The Mannheim Steamroller dynasty rolls on with a new album of Christmas favorites for the 2001 season. Having sold over 18 million Christmas albums, they certainly are the experts, but for this release, the Steamroller and captain Chip Davis asked for some outside help. The legendary Johnny Mathis chimes in on "O Tannenbaum," the first vocalist ever to grace a Mannheim Christmas release. The dozen carols that make up Extraordinaire are the result of requests made by fans to the Steamroller's web site -- which means that for some lucky souls, this is an extra-special assortment. But rest assured that the familiar Mannheim touch will leave all listeners in a very merry mood.

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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble
The Mannheim Steamroller dynasty rolls on with a new album of Christmas favorites for the 2001 season. Having sold over 18 million Christmas albums, they certainly are the experts, but for this release, the Steamroller and captain Chip Davis asked for some outside help. The legendary Johnny Mathis chimes in on "O Tannenbaum," the first vocalist ever to grace a Mannheim Christmas release. The dozen carols that make up Extraordinaire are the result of requests made by fans to the Steamroller's web site -- which means that for some lucky souls, this is an extra-special assortment. But rest assured that the familiar Mannheim touch will leave all listeners in a very merry mood.

Can't get enough Mannheim? Don't miss the Christmas box set, which features Extraordinaire plus the three original Christmas albums, all remastered in HDCD. The red-foil box makes this set ready for giving.

All Music Guide - Jason Birchmeier
Longtime holiday favorite Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas Extraordinaire is yet another holiday collection by the group. It's not much of departure from Mannheim's other holiday collections. If anything, it aims to resurrect the spirit of preceding holiday releases by Mannheim. There's a good chance if you enjoy other Mannheim holiday albums you'll enjoy this one. It's not one of the group's more noteworthy releases, but it should please Mannheim's devoted following. Some of the featured songs include "Hallelujah," "White Christmas," "Away in a Manger," and "Winter Wonderland," among others.
New York Times
With precision, taste and compositional derring-do, Chip Davis (the man driving the Steamroller) refines the blend of early classical and modern instrumental music that has characterized his best work (along with the occasional and welcome touch of humor).

With precision, taste and compositional derring-do, Chip Davis (the man driving the Steamroller) refines the blend of early classical and modern instrumental music that has characterized his best work (along with the occasional and welcome touch of humor).
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/30/2001
  • Label: American Gramaphone
  • UPC: 012805122528
  • Catalog Number: 1225
  • Sales rank: 173,616

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Mannheim Steamroller Primary Artist, Ensemble
Jackson Berky Harpsichord
Ron Cooley Bass, Guitar, Lute
Johnny Mathis Vocals
Chip Davis Conductor, Drums, Recorder
Almeda Berkey Conductor, Choir Director
Beth Asbjörnson Choir, Chorus
Lois Carlsen Choir, Chorus
Barbara Carlson Choir, Chorus
Dale Clevenger French Horn
Magareth Evans Choir, Chorus
Mark Fisher Trombone
Greg Flint French Horn
Barbara Haffner Cello
David Hildner Violin
Denise Johnson Choir, Chorus
Peter LaBella Violin
Roxanne Layton Recorder, Crumhorn
Clara Lindner Violin
Ann Miller Choir, Chorus
Bob Morgan Horn, Oboe
Phyllis Noble Choir, Chorus
Rebecca Noble Choir, Chorus
Arnie Roth Violin, Concert Master
Carrie Solomon-Schultz Choir, Chorus
Michael Shelton Violin
Barbara Thornburgh Choir, Chorus
Collins Trier Bass
Catherine Vouk Choir, Chorus
Everett Zlatoff-Mirsky Violin
John Bruce Yeh Clarinet
Bobby Jenkins Oboe
Blair Milton Violin
Alice Render French Horn
Gregory Sarchet Bass
Lawrie Bloom Clarinet
Joseph Guastafeste Bass
Janene Jensen Choir, Chorus
Marlou Johnston Violin
Ronald Satkiewicz Violin
James Smelser French Horn
Judy Stone Cello
Charles Vernon Bass Trombone
George Vosburgh Piccolo Trumpet
Karen Hughes Choir, Chorus
Pauli Ewing Violin
Marlise Klein Viola
Rika Sekko Violin
Karl Davis Viola
Florentina Ramniceanu Violin
Jamie Reamer Choir, Chorus
Kay Weber Choir, Chorus
Bobby Swan Viola
Jacques Johnson Choir, Chorus
Laura Miller Violin
Linda Oper Violin
Kathleen Brauer Violin
Elizabeth Holzman Viola
Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum Choir, Chorus
Jerry Blackstone Choir Director
Elliott Golub Violin
Technical Credits
Mannheim Steamroller Engineer
Chip Davis Arranger, Producer, Engineer, Liner Notes
John Archer Mastering
Felix Bernard Composer
David Cwirko Engineer, Production Director
Ray Evans Composer
Roxanne Layton Engineer
Jay Livingston Composer
Hank Neuberger Engineer
John Richards Engineer
Chris Sabold Engineer
Dick Smith Composer
Brian Ackley Engineer, Production Director, Engineering
Jennifer Hersch Art Direction
Louis Stout Liner Notes, Orchestral Assistant
Noel Regney Text
William Sandys Composer
Traditional Composer
Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum Contributor
James R. Murray Composer
Robert Burns Composer
Dan Charette Engineering
Richard B. Smith Text
Dave Cwirko Engineer
Alfred S. Burt Composer
James R. Murray Composer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 6 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(3)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

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1 Star

(1)

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Sort by: Showing all of 6 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Love, Love Love

    I have almost all of Chip's CD's but believe this is my favorite. I purchased it for a Christmas gift but could not give it away. It is the most relaxing, soothing of all his music. <BR/>Start the fireplace, get a nice drink and enjoy.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Christmas Extraordinaire

    I just received a prerelease copy of this CD, and all I can say is WOW. This is Mannheim's fourth Christmas album (not counting the live album and the story album), and they haven't yet lost their touch. If anything, this album could well be the freshest since the original. Track by track, here's the rundown-- ''Hallelujah''-- The classic upbeat opener for the album. Typical Mannheim, nothing particularly new, but fun. May have benefitted from the use of a choir though. ''White Christmas''-- Jazzy chords, and a female choir make this an interesting arrangement, and it builds nicely from its keyboard intro to the fully orchestrated ending. ''Away In A Manger''-- soft, touching. A really simple arrangement of flute and guitar, accompanied by oboe and harpsichord. Works wonderfully. ''Faeries''-- It's Mannheim's take on ''Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairies.'' They don't do much with this one, but it still works well. One of the more synthetic-sounding tracks on the album. ''Do You Hear What I Hear''-- an odd, Copeland-esque arrangement. The traditional melody seems to get lost along the way, but it sounds great anyway. ''The First Noel''-- an attempt to redo ''Stille Nacht'' from the first album. Quite good, though not as good as that older song. ''Silver Bells''-- A fun piece, with the stress on the upbeat, giving it a somewhat reggae feel. ''Fum Fum Fum''-- The renaissance piece of the album. Really cool, and it builds to a lively dance. One of the album's best. ''Some Children See Him''-- A slow, nostalgic piece, played mainly on wind instruments. Nice. ''Winter Wonderland''-- The toe-tapper of the album. Nothing brilliant, but quite listenable. ''O Tannenbaum''-- Johnny Mathis? Yep, he's doing the vocals, along with the Michigan Men's Glee Club. ''Auld Lang Syne''-- If you own the ''Impressions'' album, you've heard this before, except the instrumentation is slightly different, and a choir provides the last verse. This is a great Christmas album for anyone who's enjoyed Mannheim Steamroller's previous albums. It's better than their last one, and almost as good as the first two. Recommended.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Christmas Extraordinaire

    I just got a prerelease copy of this CD, and I'm happy to say, Mannheim Steamroller still knows how to make great Christmas music. It's not their best effort (that honor still belongs to ''Fresh Aire Christmas'') but it's right up there. Chip Davis has done some of his most original workings of the carols since his first effort back in 1984. In some places, the originality goes a little too far, making the tune all but unrecognizable. But in most cases, it keeps things interesting and works very well. I'm sure my favorites will change over time, but for now, ''Hallelujah,'' ''Fum Fum Fum'' and ''Away In A Manger'' are the winners. If you own their previous album, ''Impressions,'' the rendition of ''Auld Lang Syne'' will sound familiar here, as only the instrumentation and the addition of a choir is different-- but it's still a great arrangement. Overall, I feel this is superior to there previous effort, ''Christmas in The Aire,'' though not quite up to the level of the first two. On a side note-- the production quality of this album is SUPERB. The clarity and dynamics are among the best of any CD in my collection. So why only four stars? The beginning half of the album may be a little slow for some, and with the exception of ''Hallelujah'' and ''Fum Fum Fum,'' there aren't any of those rock tracks we'd expect from a Steamroller Christmas album. Actually, I'd give it 4.5 if I could. Definitely recommended.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER'S BEST

    THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE BEST CHRISTMAS MUSIC PRODUCED BY ANYONE. IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN CHIP'S OTHER CDS. IF YOU LIKE CHRISTMAS MUSIC YOU MUST HAVE THIS ONE!!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    Mannheim Steamroller Again

    This is an addition to the Fans of Mannheim Steamroller. Enjoyable to listen to or give as a gift.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    GARBAGE

    Do not waste your money here. Invest in a shrink if you are seriously considering purchasing this collection of foppery.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Sort by: Showing all of 6 Customer Reviews