Fresh Aire III [Original recording remastered]

Mannheim Steamroller | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 12, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1979
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: American Gramaphone
• ASIN: B00004WFMP
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,884 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great piece & this is where to start, March 20, 2001

By 

Dick K (Centreville, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fresh Aire III (Audio CD)

If you don't already know Mannheim Steamroller its rather hard to describe the music--new age, classical, upbeat, relaxing, light-hearted, rock beat--well all that's true but it will never really describe the treat your ears are in for!

So, you're interested in Mannheim Steamroller, but wondering where to start? Alternatively, maybe your introduction to Chip Davis and the Steamroller has been through the terrific set of Christmas music but now you're wondering what you might want to get that would explore beyond that. Either way, the Fresh Aire series is the place to go next because that's where it all began and because that's still the music that's most characteristic of the group. Within that series, the first four are the seasons cycle and all are worth getting but III is that top of my personal list of favorites. Its typical of both the Fresh Aire series and Mannheim Steamroller with the eclectic mix of instruments and both exciting and relaxing styles. Chip successfully mixes classical and rock styles, electonics and acoustic instruments (not to mention the toy piano and the cricket!).

If you've liked anything else by Mannheim Steamroller then you owe it to your ears to get this CD. If this is a new adventure, then this is a good place to start.

Niggle complaint: all the Fresh Air I-IV releases were formatted for LPs and are rather short, so don't be surprised when the fun doesn't last too long--you'll just have to get the rest of the series!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Through the woods we go..., July 30, 2002

By 

Ashurra (Kirkland, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fresh Aire III (Audio CD)

If the Fresh Aire series maintained its creative leaps on pace with I, II, and III for the whole series, Mannheim Steamroller would probably be remembered as one of the greatest bands of the 80's. Fresh Aire III is a terrific improvement on FAII's timeless formula, and does an even better job incorporating synthesizers with classic instruments than its predecessor. This album has some of my most favorite songs on it: Amber, Mere Image, Sky, and Midnight are all beautiful songs whose arrangements are surprising.

Unfortunately, The Cricket should've been rethought; it sounds out of place on the record. And again, the album is WAY too short. Still, this is one of their best releases, and I recommend it for even the most casual fan.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite albums of all time, September 19, 2001

By 

"fuzzy10337" (Perth, Western Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fresh Aire III (Audio CD)

I received my first introduction to Fresh Aire while I was in New Zealand as a Mormon Missionary - I was listening to some music by Sky and my companion commented that if I liked that I would probably like Fresh Aire. It wasn't until 6 months later that I was actually with someone who had tapes of Fresh Aire (like many people, I never heard of Mannheim Steamroller until some time later) At the time I didn't know just which album the tapes were of (indeed I later found that they were a mixture of the first three) but I became totally hooked the very first time I heard Toccata and the Cricket.

I later bought the boxed set of the first four albums, and they take pride of place in my collection. When I want to relax and tune out, it's on with the headphones and on with Fresh Aire III - as a bonus I bought the sheet music and like to read that while I listen to it. Chip Davis is an incredible musical talent.

It is hard for me to qualify exactly what it is I like so much about Fresh Aire. As a musician my response to music is as much an emotional as a technical thing. If I were to try and analyse what appeals to me about this music it would probably have a lot to do with the masterful blending of the sounds of nature, traditional instruments (recorders, harpsicords etc.) and electronic and more modern instrumentation. Combine all that with some great cutting-edge stereo effects in the studio (what I like to refer to as the "music moving through your head" feeling) and you have something that is quite unique.