Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Celebration

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Prog rock lives! This fusion of rock, jazz, and classical, driven by synthesizers, excess, and dry-ice fog, was once the domain of '70s groups like Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. But Mannheim Steamroller has kept prog rock's intoxicated spirit and bright spectacle alive, mainly through 20 years of Christmas albums and concerts, and Christmas Celebration won't disappoint their many worldwide fans. With its overblown arrangements of standards and readily accessible new pieces, it combines a variety of styles with a heavy mix of instruments and voices. Noteworthy are the choirs and soloists featured on various tracks, including the Cambridge Singers and Johnny Mathis on "O Tannenbaum" as well as lesser-knowns like Germany's Bielefelder Kinderchor and the University of Michigan Glee Club. All told, it's a full, pretty-paper assault, an aural smorgasbord laid out with bold strokes and many a glittering bauble. --Martin Keller

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Celebration,Mannheim Steamroller,American Gramaphone,Adult Alternative,Christmas,Christmas / Chanukkah,Holiday,Neo-Classical,Pop,Progressive Electronic,United States of America,Xmas Vocal

Tracks:

Celebration
Christmas Lullaby
Deck The Halls
Veni Veni
Away In A Manger
Hallelujah
O Tannenbaum
Wassail, Wassail
Carol Of The Birds
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Greensleeves
Traditions Of Christmas
Good King Wenceslas
Carol Of The Bells
Auld Lang Syne
Fum, Fum, Fum
Silent Night

Amazon.com

Prog rock lives! This fusion of rock, jazz, and classical, driven by synthesizers, excess, and dry-ice fog, was once the domain of '70s groups like Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. But Mannheim Steamroller has kept prog rock's intoxicated spirit and bright spectacle alive, mainly through 20 years of Christmas albums and concerts, and Christmas Celebration won't disappoint their many worldwide fans. With its overblown arrangements of standards and readily accessible new pieces, it combines a variety of styles with a heavy mix of instruments and voices. Noteworthy are the choirs and soloists featured on various tracks, including the Cambridge Singers and Johnny Mathis on "O Tannenbaum" as well as lesser-knowns like Germany's Bielefelder Kinderchor and the University of Michigan Glee Club. All told, it's a full, pretty-paper assault, an aural smorgasbord laid out with bold strokes and many a glittering bauble. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

All the great Christmas classics from Manheimer.......2007-03-30

These are on other albums, but this is all the best on one CD. Check your collection you may already own all of these on previous releases, but I like them all together on one.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Celebration.......2007-01-22

I was very pleased with the cd it was all I could have asked for in a Christmas cd the music was wonderful. I received it before Christmas and that was nice. I will use it many Christmas' to come. Thank you.

Awesome Music.......2007-01-20

I'm not a fan of any particular types of music, but this album is undoubtably one the most outstanding I have ever listened to. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes Christmas music.

Mannheim.......2007-01-18

This is one of my best instrumental xmas cd's. It is upbeat and makes me feel good. I didn't get it until about a week before xmas. It will be refreshing next year.

good but needs more older music of chrstmas.......2007-01-18

yes it was good but too it also need old fashion music not a lot but some and alos some instermental jingle

A Gift Of Christmas: A Superstar Celebration of Caring

Average customer rating:

Have yourself an eclectic Christmas!!!
One of My Favorites
Popular performers with their best Christmas recordings
Can't lose with this one....

A Gift Of Christmas: A Superstar Celebration of Caring
Various Artists , Nat King Cole , Paul McCartney & Wings , George Winston , The Chieftans , Judy Collins , Jim Brickman , and Mannheim Steamroller
Manufacturer: T.J. Martell
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Holiday Music | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
ASIN: B00002061S
Release Date: 1999-11-23

Tracks:

Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
Wonderful Christmas Time - Paul McCartney
Blue Christmas - The Jordanaires, Elvis Presley
Greensleeves - Kenny G
Carol of the Bells - George Winston
Ave Maria - Pldo Domingo, Vienna Boys' Choir, Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Merry Christmas, Baby - Etta James
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Mannheim Steamroller
It's Christmas - *NSYNC
Miracle of Love - Eurythmics
I Say Three Ships a Sailing - The Chieftains, Marianne Faithfull
Angels We Have Heard on High - Robert Shaw
Merry Christmas Wherever You Are - Judy Collins
Adeste Fideles - James Galway
Gift - Jim Brickman

Customer Reviews:

Have yourself an eclectic Christmas!!!.......2003-12-23

Inasmuch as the holiday season finds most households filled with family members with varying tastes, this is the holiday compilation that is sure to please all. With the exception of a country or hip-hop tune, almost every other genre is represented here.

Standards like Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song", Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas" and Etta James' "Merry Christmas, Baby" find themselves in welcome company with recordings from such diverse acts as Placido Domingo, N'Sync, Eurythmics, and Paul McCartney, The Robert Shaw Chorale and flautist James Galway.

Even the why-the-heck-are-they-popular Mannheim Steamroller adds festive flavor with "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing".

One standout among a winning combination of them is George Winston's "Carol of the Bells", a riveting arrangement of the perennial holiday favorite.

One of My Favorites.......2003-12-08

I got this CD and copied it to my computer along with every other Christmas CD I own. When I compare this CD to the other 15 or so loaded up, I kept reflecting that this one had some of the best Christmas songs -- or the best versions of those songs -- that I like. There are so many different styles on this disc -- Kenny G, George Winston, Elvis, Mannheim Steamroller and even Paul McCartney. I especially like "the Gift" which is a duet I haven't found elsewhere. "merry Christmas Wherever You Are" is also a great classic included on this disc. One thing to watch -- my disc jacket says track #9 is 'NSync "O Holy Night" but it is not. It actaully is "It's Christmas", and sounds OK. Sound quality is excellent. Combined this is a five star collection of Christmas Songs and a good buy for your collection.

Popular performers with their best Christmas recordings.......2001-12-01

To be honest, when I first came across this CD, my thought was "What a mish-mash!" Combining such diverse performers as George Winston, Nsync, Placido Damingo, Kenny G, Judy Collins, etc. didn't sound workable to me. But after playing the album a number of times, I consider it one of the best if not the best anthology type collections of Christmas music I have. I doubt that anyone will enjoy every cut here, because the styles are so diverse. And yet, even those performers that I don't care for seemed listenable. I think that what makes it work so well is a combination of factors. First, each performer has a tremendous following and has had impact on the total music scene, whatever you think of the individual or group. Secondly, each selection represents the best or one of the best Christmas recordings by that performer. And then the cuts are nicely placed so they somehow fit. For instance, before listening, the placing of Etta James "Merry Christmas Baby" didn't sound fitting after Placido Domingo's "Ave Maria". And yet it worked, for me anyway. So what we have here basically is a collection of some of the best known and the most popular music makers of the past 50 years, each one expressing Christmas through a song fitting the individual style. There are "chestnuts" here, but each is sung by the singer you associate the song with, or at least fits. For instance, I certainly am no fan of NSYNC, and yet it this setting, I found myself quite appreciating their "It's Christmas". This, for me, makes for a great party record, but is also good Christmas listening at any time. Again, don't expect to like every cut, but on the other hand, you might find yourself enjoying cuts you didn't think you liked at all. All I can say is give this CD a try. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it as I do. If not, well, you're bound to enjoy part of it anyway.

Can't lose with this one...........1999-12-07

This disc takes songs by some of history's greatest musicians and combines them with songs by the most talented artists of today. The combination is VERY enjoyable. I highly recommend this album.

Pop Music:

Pop Music

pop music

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