Classical Gas

Mannheim Steamroller, Mason Williams

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: October 22, 1987
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: American Gramaphone
• ASIN: B0000005MN
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,724 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

133 of 137 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Know Your Classical Gas, January 4, 2005

By	Les Ferch - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album, released in 1987, may not be the one you want...

The song Classical Gas, by Mason Williams, has been recorded many times. Mason Williams has recorded at least three different versions himself, so it's not too surprising that many people end up buying something different than they expected. Here is a list of some of the more notable versions:

Title: Classical Gas
Performer: Mason Williams
Album: The Mason Williams Phonograph Record
Year: 1968
Comment: This is the original hit you have heard on the radio many times.

Title: Classical Gas
Performer: Mason Williams
Album: Handmade
Year: 1970
Comment: This superb acoustic version is my favorite. It also appears on the 1999 "The Story of Us" soundtrack. Many MP3 files circulating the Internet incorrectly credit this version to Eric Clapton.

Title: Classical Gas
Performer: Chet Atkins
Album: Street Dreams
Year: 1986
Comment: Features acoustic and electric guitar, violin, and flute - an interesting listen.

Title: Classical Gas
Performer: Mason Williams and Mannheim Steamroller
Album: Classical Gas
Year: 1987
Comment: This is the album shown above and is good if you like Mannheim Steamroller, but it does not contain the original Classical Gas recording that most people want.

Title: Classical Gas
Performer: Vanessa-Mae
Album: The Violin Player
Year: 1995
Comment: Very nice cover with violin as the lead instrument.

Title: Classical Gas
Performer: California Guitar Trio
Album: Pathways
Year: 1998
Comment: Impressive.

Title: Classical Gas
Performer: Zoe McCulloch
Album: Gypsy Noodle
Year: 2004
Comment: Electric guitar version by a brilliant young player. This album features several compositions by Mason Williams.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another dissapointed fan, August 31, 2001

By A Customer

Yes...I too bought it for Classical Gas. I only wish I had read the reviews BEFORE I bought it. I've searched years for this song only to finally find it and find that it is a poor rendition of what the original sounded like. Mason is awesome and the rest of the CD is good listening, but if you're a big Classical Gas fan like I am, spare yourself and skip this version. In the original, that guitar spoke to you, reached out and grabbed your senses, took you away to some magical place, made you want to go out and buy a guitar. Kind of like "Apache" by the Ventures, another awesome demonstration of the power and beauty of the guitar. This version of Classical Gas robs you of that appreciation.

58 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the best sound quality..., November 1, 1999

By	"andersonkirol" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

I was disappointed with the overall quality of this cd. I have always enjoyed Mason Williams but this cd doesn't do him justice. The recording quality is poor and the sound produced is very "tinny". It sounded too much like listening to an old transistor radio. Classical Gas itself was a big disappointment. The older recordings of this were less synthesized and had more of Williams' superb playing style. It is such a great piece and this cd didn't give it the right attention. You really would do better to look for a different cd; something else with better sound quality!