| | Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Extraordinaire CD Mannheim Steamroller Discography of CDs
 (4 Customer Reviews)
Also available in the CHRISTMAS COLLECTION box set with CHRISTMAS, A FRESH AIRE CHRISTMAS and CHRISTMAS IN THE AIRE.
Ron Cooley (guitar, lute, bass); Arnie Roth (violin); Roxanne Layton (recorder, horn); Bobby Jenkins (oboe); Jackson Berkey (harpsichord).
Additional personnel includes: Johnny Mathis (vocals); The University Of Michigan Men's Glee Club, The Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum Women's Choir (background vocals).
Principally recorded at O'Henry Sound, Burbank, California; University Of Michigan Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Chicago Recording Company,
Chip Davis has been yoking his electronic keyboard skills to Yuletide musical themes for enough years to have become a cottage industry, and his 2001 offering under the long-standing Mannheim Steamroller name, CHRISTMAS EXTRAORDINAIRE represents no dip in quality. Davis wisely plays to his huge, faithful audience's expectations by providing simple, straightforward instrumental versions of such well known Christmas classics as "Silver Bells," "Do You Hear What I Hear," and "White Christmas." The focus of the arrangements is, of course, Davis's own poignant, extremely melodic synthesizer work, neither as grand as the Yanni/Tesh school, nor as introspective as George Winston-style new-agers. While vocal tunes are in the minority in the Mannheim Steamroller catalog, pop icon Johnny Mathis does turn in a nice cameo on the old holiday chestnut "O Tannenbaum," adding an effective change of pace.
Chicago, Illinois. Includes liner notes by Louis Stout.
Digitally remastered using HDCD technology.
1st New Xmas Rel.In 6 Yrs; Johnny Mathis-O Tannenbaum"
Mannheim Steamroller: Chip Davis (arranger, conductor, recorder, drums);
Engineers include: John Richards, Hank Neuberger, Roger Arnett. Christmas Extraordinaire Music Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Extraordinaire Songs Christmas Extraordinaire Music Christmas Extraordinaire Music Review Average Rating: (4.3 out of 5 stars)   Fantastic!!!
Mannheim Steamrollers are the greatest!! They are my favorite for setting the mood for the holidays. I have all of their Christmas CDs.
Submitted by a reviewer (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
 Good, but not outstanding.
I have all of the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas cd's in my collection. While I enjoyed this one, it's just not quite as good as the prior releases. It seems to lack the lively sparkle that characterizes their other cd's. The music is still nice, and it's a good addition to my collection.
Submitted by a reviewer (Texas)
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 Joyful Christmas
Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas Extraordinaire is the perfect companion for egg nog, Christmas cookies, and the cozy warmth of a fireplace burning the Yule log.
As always, the Steamroller's use of various arrangements and instruments is the Christmas gala
on CD.
Submitted by a reviewer (Urbanna, VA)
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Album Extraordinaire
This is the LONG AWAITED release from Mannheim Steamroller. Let me just say, "It was worth the wait!!" I bought mine the day it was released, popped it into the cd player as quickly as I could get the plastic off, and was Instantly transported to the magical world only Chip Davis can create!! The tracks are unique in their placement, with gentle segues from variety to variety. What is appealing to me personally is the increased inclusion of full-choir passages which accent the nuance warmly.
My three personal favorites: 'White Christmas', 'Away in a Manger', and 'Some Children See Him' (of Burt fame).
My only complaint is the very first track - my least favorite: The Hallelujah Chorus. It may grow on me, but for now I'd say - Some songs are just not meant for the 'dance-house mix' interpretation. The 80's were my era. This song Definitely took me back!!! Aaaarrrrghhhhh!
Overall, I'm giving this album 5 stars. I guess that would be evidenced by the fact that once I started playing it, I haven't been able to stop!!!
Submitted by a reviewer (Joplin, MO)
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