Customer Reviews

Christmas Live

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you do not already own a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CD, this is a fair compilation of music released on Mannheim's previous recordings of Christmas music. However, the tracks sound virtually the same as their earlier Christmas CD's, the only difference being the inclusion of audience applause. My recommendation is to purchase any of the previously released Christmas CD's by Mannheim Steamroller for a more satisfying listening experience.

This album contains live recordings of songs from all their Christmas albums so far. I picked this up a couple of days ago, and cannot get it out of my head (or my CD player) yet! As an added bonus, it has sounds that they use live for some of the tracks (explosions in Pat a Pan) which are not on the studio recordings. If you have no other Steamroller Christmas albums, get this one. If you have them all, get this one anyway- it makes a nice addition to the others.

This was my first experience with this group which I bought in a used bargin bin.

Frankly I was expecting some kind of cliched interpretation of xmas songs - the kind ussually advertised on TV during November to December and played in stores - meaning it would only be good to be played once a year at Christmas day.

What a surprise! On most of these songs; you can only barely tell that it is xmas songs being played with light touches of electronica with a strong emphasis of flutes, panpipes, recorders and other medieval instrumemtation thrown into the mix; thus sound very non seasonal therefore making it Christmas music you could play all year round

It could be said that this is the type of Christmas music a progressive rock band like Jethro Tull, Happy the Man, Camel etc would make.

Thus a more delightful suprise given that I thought it would sound something more ambientlike Yanni.

Given this, yours truly will checkout more of Steamroller's recordings and welcomes any suggestions of Steamroller recordings exhibiting their more progressive side.

For a Christmas recording that is non cliched and has the ability to be played all year round; it gets a 10/10

The Mannheim Steamrollers are a favorite of mine and other members of my family. The music fits all ages. I put the group's Christmas CDs in my player and listen to them non-stop during the Christmas season. If you like instrumental Christmas music, this is the CD for you!

I had heard of these folks, but had never paid much attention to them. I have now, though, and they have the most powerfull sound I have ever heard. I swell with the music until I feel my heart will fly away with it. Thank you, Steamroller...you have a new fan.

Product was as described and was shipped promptly. Would definitely order from this seller again and again!

I have to agree with a couple of other reviewers that these songs sound almost the same as the studio recordings, but with the added audience sounds. It does have different songs from The Christmas Angel. I bought this CD after that one. Carol of the Bells and Angels We Have Heard on High is on here, but so is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. I fell in love with this version of the song upon first hearing it. There's something for everyone on here. This is a good CD for those who want to get a sampling of Mannheim Steamroller's music.

This is the first time I've heard Mannheim Steamroller. I fell in love with the sound and will by more from this uplifting, wonderful group. It is the best Christmas music I have ever heard.

Not more than half, not nearly all, but all. These are decent renditions of material from The Roller's first two Christmas releases, they stand as proof that Chip & Co can do their stuff live, but the finale "Going To Another Place" isn't a holiday number, it's the finale from the "Fresh Aire II" release. Granted, it makes a good, bouncy sendoff from a live show after their pensive arrangement of "Silent Night", but its very existence proves that these guys could have come up with an upbeat prog lite instrumental that isn't a remake of a traditional Christmas song (e.g. "Deck the Halls"). If they were too late to get it on the third "Christmas In the Aire", they could have made it exclusive to this release.

It's a crying shame that Mannheim Steamroller's live Christmas album wasn't released in the early 1990s (i.e. between the 2nd and 3rd studio releases), instead of 1997. One only has to skim the track listing to see why. The album is loaded with relatively weak efforts from "Christmas in the Aire" ("Pat-a-Pan," "Rudolph," "Gagliarda," etc.) while Chip's masterpiece "Fresh Aire Christmas" is almost totally unrepresented. Someone was asleep at the switch on this one.