Mannheim Steamroller Meets The Mouse: Unique Musical Creations Based On Disney Songs

Chip Davis, Mannheim Steamroller | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 16, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Walt Disney Records
• ASIN: B00000HYX2
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,537 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #100 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

From the heartland of Nebraska, under the creative guidance of Chip Davis, the enormously popular Mannheim Steamroller has made some of the country's bestselling faux-classical synth-pop New Age music, as witnessed by the Fresh Aire and Christmas serials. Beginning in 1974, Mannheim Steamroller cleverly and skillfully created a niche--and more lucratively, a market--for their outfit and for a genre that has grown to encompass the likes of Yanni and Zamfir. On Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse, Davis and his cast of accomplices tackle Disney stalwarts such as "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" (from Song of the South) and "Chim Chim Cheree" (from Mary Poppins), as well as relative newcomers to the Mouse catalog, including "Go the Distance" (from Hercules) and "You've Got a Friend in Me" (from Toy Story). Sadly, despite sweet moments in their rendition of Mulan's "Reflection" or the beloved Pinocchio tune "When You Wish Upon a Star," on which there is a lovely hand-bell choir sound, at best the Mannheim Steamroller registers a tepid nice. --Paige La Grone

Product Description

From the heartland of Nebraska, under the creative guidance of Chip Davis, the enormously popular Mannheim Steamroller has made some of the country's bestselling faux-classical synth-pop New Age music, as witnessed by the Fresh Aire and Christmas serials. Beginning in 1974, Mannheim Steamroller cleverly and skillfully created a niche--and more lucratively, a market--for their outfit and for a genre that has grown to encompass the likes of Yanni and Zamfir. On Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse, Davis and his cast of accomplices tackle Disney stalwarts such as "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" (from Song of the South) and "Chim Chim Cheree" (from Mary Poppins), as well as relative newcomers to the Mouse catalog, including "Go the Distance" (from Hercules) and "You've Got a Friend in Me" (from Toy Story).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Disney meets Chip Davis", November 21, 2000

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mannheim Steamroller Meets The Mouse: Unique Musical Creations Based On Disney Songs (Audio CD)

This 1964 Academy Award winner for Best Song "CHIM CHIM CHER-EE", performed by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in the Disney's multi-hit "Mary Poppins", is nothing less than spectacular by Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller gang.

Each selection seems to have that original sound, works so well with the tunes we grew up with and still enjoy to this day, thanks to the clever arrangements of Chip Davis. A wonderful compilation of songs from today and the past, given the "steamroller" treatment, fresh and upbeat.

Chip never ceases to amaze his fans, with "HAKUNA MATATA", "GO THE DISTANCE", "YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME" simply outstanding...but the highlight is "WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR" the 1940 Academy Award winner for Best Song, beginning with "twinkle, twinkle little star", blending and interwoven beautifully by Davis and the Mannheim gang. Chip sets his standards to the highest level with every album, and his impeccable rhythm and incredible control of dynamics is the mainstay to all of his fans...Mr. Davis, you're ONE OF A KIND!

Total Time: 41:53 on 12 Tracks...Disney/American Gramaphone 12835...(1998)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "Steamroller for Dummies", July 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mannheim Steamroller Meets The Mouse: Unique Musical Creations Based On Disney Songs (Audio CD)

In all fairness, I must say I was pleasantly surprised with this CD. After the brilliance of "Fresh Aire 7," Chip Davis seemed to have lost something. His tracks on the Day Parts series never came close to his earlier works, and although "Impressions" was good, it lacked the dramatic punch of Fresh Aire 7. With "Meets The Mouse," he has redeemed himself at least partially, even if much of the album is made up of Mannheim cliches.

Almost every track on this album has an equivalent on an earlier album. "Mickey Mouse March" gets almost the exact same treatment as "Jingle Bells" did on "Christmas In The Aire." "Davey Crocket" uses the 12/8 beat found on "Escape From The Atmosphere" and "Deck The Halls." "Go The Distance" has subtle traces of "Sunday Morning Coffee," and it ends with the theme from "Going To Another Place," which Chip seems to have included at least once on every album since "Fresh Aire 2." Does any of this matter? Not really, other than that it makes the album sound more like a "How To Sound Like Steamroller" instructional tape than an album in and of itself. In other words, if you have their other albums, don't expect to hear much new here.

Still, it's a pleasant enough experience, and Chip did do some interesting arrangements. He has a genuine knack for making music that invokes fond memories with a touch of sadness. He did it most brilliantly on "A Fresh Aire Christmas," and to a lesser extent, he does it here, too.

My only real complaint with this album is that, despite the fact he uses an orchestra, the arrangements often sound as though they're coming entirely from a MIDI keyboard. Steamroller has had this thin sound on their last few releases, and I can only hope that the upcoming "Fresh Aire 8" will go back to the fuller, orchestral sound of the latter half of the "Fresh Aire" series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Mannheim's Greatest, But Still Fun, December 18, 1999

By 

SJR (Wichita, Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mannheim Steamroller Meets The Mouse: Unique Musical Creations Based On Disney Songs (Audio CD)

I almost did not get this CD after listening to the 30 second samples, but I'm now glad I have the CD. Anyone who likes Disney tunes will appreciate these fun arrangements. Chim Chim Cher-ee, Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, Under the Sea, Davy Crockett, Heigh-Ho, and When You Wish Upon a Star are the best of the lot. Although Hakuna Matata is not faithful to the original song from the score of The Lion King, it is an absolute hoot...you gotta listen to it.