[Review] Mannheim Steamroller: Christmas (1984)
The ghosts of Christmas past, present and future meet in these proggish rides and medieval romps.
Kronomyth 5.0: Mannheim goes on holiday.
I’ve always found the psychology of Christmas fascinating. For a long time, I thought my pleasant associations of Christmas were a mix of material reward and spiritual rewards to come which, truth be told, made me feel a bit shallow and selfish. Of course, it’s human nature to be superficial and selfish, which makes Christmas an interesting paradox as it offers a temporary reprieve from our baser instincts in exchange for (at least the promise of) a conversion to altruism (as illustrated in popular Christmas stories such as “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol”). In that sense, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas is a true Christmas album as it represents the better version of the band. Mannheim Steamroller’s proggish flights of fancy and medieval musical re-creations find their noblest expression on these songs. Unfortunately, the album’s success re-directed the band’s energies away from making progressive rock music to holiday muzak; at some point, I think they may have actually run out of Christmas songs to cover. At the time of its release, however, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas was magical. Chip Davis and company (which now included almost a full orchestra) re-imagine classics such as Deck the Halls, Good King Wenceslas and God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen as full-blown symphonic prog pieces. In between, the band re-creates a medieval Christmas both in terms of selection and execution. Despite the band’s later association with new age music, only one song on here (Stille Nachte) could be considered new age; the rest of the record sits firmly in their medieval/prog idiom. One of their best-selling records (and one of the best-selling Christmas albums of all time), Mannheim Steamroller Christmas is a perennial favorite that’s just as likely to bring joy to your world in July as during the holiday season.
Original elpee version
A1. Deck the Halls (3:29)
A2. We Three Kings (John Hopkins) (3:40)
A3. Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella (2:32)
A4. Coventry Carol (2:38)
A5. Good King Wenceslas (3:29)
B1. Wassail, Wassail (2:20)
B2. Carol of the Birds (2:03)
B3. I Saw Three Ships (1:28)
B4. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (1:37)
B5. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (4:19)
B6. Stille Nacht (Silent Night) (Franz Gruber) (5:26)
Traditional songs unless noted. Arranged by Chip Davis.
The Players
Jackson Berkey (Baldwin SD-10, Davis harpsichord, clavichord and toy piano, Prophet 5, Fender Rhodes, vocals, camel bells), Chip Davis (drums, percussion, recorder/solos and chorus, Black Oak hammered dulcimer, soprano Dulcian, Crumhorn, camel bells, vocals, pencil, dry ice), Eric Hansen (lute, bass) with Roxanne Adams (strings), Richard Altenbach (strings), Wayne Anderson (strings), Michelle Brill (strings), Greg Clinton (strings), Ron Cooley (classical guitar), Ron Dabbs (sand storm, camel bells), Louis Davis, Sr. (keyboard technician, puns), Deborah Fuller (strings), Grace Granata (strings), David (High D) Kappy (French horn), Richard Lohmann (strings), David Low (cello solos), Bill Ritchie (strings), Kim Rockshaw (strings), Willis Ann Ross (flute), Steve Shipps (violin solos), Scott Shoemaker (strings), Michael Strauss (strings), Mary Walter (harp). Produced by Chip Davis, production assistance by Jackson Berkey; engineered and mixed by John Boyd.
The Pictures
Nikon 35mm, Graphlex 4×5, jacket design/direction and special effects around the office by Carol Davis. Jacket production by Album Graphics Inc. Santa and the reindeer by Jerry Becker. Type by Typesetting Etc. Ltd.
The Plastic
Released on elpee and cassette on September 15, 1984 in the US (American Gramaphone, AG/AGC-1984). RIAA-certified 6x platinum reord.
- Re-packaged with A Fresh Aire Christmas as Christmas, Vols. 1 & 2 on 2-for-1 compact disc on October 31, 1991 in the US (American Gramaphone, 8488).
- Re-issued on compact disc on August 29, 1994 in the US (American Gramaphone, AGCD-1984).
