Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas

I'm going to do something a little different for this last Christmas music post...rather than separate posts about several songs, this one's going to feature several songs by one group...all of' em instrumentals, and all of 'em covers.

Figured out who the group is yet? Hint...think 'Road Construction Equipment '

And if you guessed anything other than Mannheim Steamroller..well you must not have listened to any Christmas music over the last several decades.

The group was founded in 1974 by record producer/composer Chip Davis and Jackson Berkey, and the name was originally an alias for Chip Davis, and was derived from a german musical composition technique from the 18th Century, called The Mannheim Roller, or, in German, Mannheimer Walze.

Though they're best known for their Christmas music, their original work covered all seasons. No record company would touch 'em...their classical. Jazz/pop instrumental mix did not fit in with the direction music had taken in the 70s, and with profits being the driving force in all things business and the companies not seeing Mannheim Steamroller's music as a money-maker, they rejected it...

...SO Chip Davis founded his own label, and preceded to release a string of albums featuring the instrumental style that the group's become famous for, with Jackson Burkey's stellar keyboard skills front and center. The albums were Fresh Aire 1 through 8, Save The Wildlife in 1986, and Classical Gas in 1987. 

They enjoyed a moderate amount of success, did several reportedly awesome live shows...and this music would pale, popularity-wise, to what had already started. See, in 1984, they released 'A Mannheim Steamroller Christmas', featuring modern instrumental interpretations of classic Christmas carols. Two more albums...A Fresh Aire Christmas and Christmas In The Aire...were released in 1987 and 1995 respectively,. Five more were released between 1997 and 2007...all eight of them landed at either the #2 spot, or the top spot on the Billboard Christmas Album chart for their year of release. And...their Christmas music became some of the most requested Christmas music ever.

They've also created a 12 hour radio show of Christmas music and stories (Hosted by Chip Davis), cut an album with Olivia Newton John ( The Christmas Angel, A Family Story, which was a spoken word story with The Steamroller's Christmas music throughout), made two separate line-ups of the band for touring purposes (One for East Coast tours, the other for The Midwest). An they're still going strong, performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year (2013) as well as back in in 2011, playing their version of Deck The Halls both times.

I know, this is a bare-bones history of the band whose Christmas music became classic almost as soon as it was released. But I have a sneakin' suspicion you guys don't want to read...ya want to listen to Christmas Music From a group that became a Christmas Classic from the second they went in the studio to record their first Christmas album. Mannheim Steamroller's music will be around a couple of centuries from now...it's just Classic Christmas Listenin' at it's best.

So, without further ado...let's listen to some Steamroller!

Deck The Halls

First up, probably the most heard, most played Mannheim Steamroller Christmas tune, from their first Christmas album (Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, in 1984), Deck The Halls, played over scenes of Christmas decorating, modern and classic! Enjoy!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Next, 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen', also from their first Christmas album, played over a pretty awesome laser light show

Silent Night

Next up, the official video for Mannheim Steamrollers hauntingly beautiful rendition of Silent Night, also from Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

Carol Of The Bells (Live Performance)

Next the first of two live performances I included...Mannheim Steamroller's beautiful cover of Carol Of The Bells, from their second Christmas album, A Fresh Aire Christmas, from 1988

Joy To The World (Live Performance)

And this post's second live performance...Joy To The World, from their third album, Christmas In The Aire, from 1995.

Do You Hear What I Hear

Next...an absolutely stunning video for Mannheim Steamroller's cover of the classic and beautiful 'Do You Hear What I Hear', from their sixth Christmas album, Christmas Extraodinaire, released in 2001

Hallelujah

And finally, I'm rounding my Christmas Music post up with a very lovely video for the equally lovely classic 'Hallelujah' I ended it with this one for a reason...there's a message about the meaning of Christmas here that I think all of us need to be reminded of once in a while.

Merry Christmas!