Christmas 1984

• Artist: Mannheim Steamroller
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1984
• Total Time: 33:01
• Type: Christmas
• Genre: New Age

Review

Christmas 1984 is the first holiday album the Mannheim Steamroller released, and it remains their definitive work. Chip Davis never strayed from the clean, airy instrumental style that he exhibits here (and earlier perfected on his Fresh Aire albums), but it is here where it all sounded fresh. It's also where he had his best selection of songs, tackling a variety of classic carols like "Deck the Halls," "We Three Kings," "Good King Wenceslas," "Wassail, Wassail," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and "I Saw Three Ships." Some listeners never found the Mannheim formula that engaging, but anyone who his been captured by one of their holiday records should investigate Christmas 1984, which is where it all began. ~ Rodney Batdorf, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Deck the Halls [Welsh Ayre]	Traditional	Mannheim Steamroller	(3:29)
We Three Kings	John Henry Hopkins, Jr.	Mannheim Steamroller	(3:40)
Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella		Mannheim Steamroller	(2:32)
Coventry Carol		Mannheim Steamroller	(2:38)
Good King Wenceslas	John M. Neale	Mannheim Steamroller	(3:29)
Christmas Sweet: Wassail, Wassail		Mannheim Steamroller	(2:20)
Christmas Sweet: Carol of the Birds		Mannheim Steamroller	(2:03)
Christmas Sweet: I Saw Three Ships		Mannheim Steamroller	(1:28)
Christmas Sweet: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen		Mannheim Steamroller	(1:37)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen	Traditional	Mannheim Steamroller	(4:19)
Stille Nacht (Silent Night)	Franz Xaver Gruber	Mannheim Steamroller	(5:26)

Credits

Chip Davis (Crumhorn), Ron Dabbs (Bells), Carol Davis (Art Direction), Jackson Berkey (Fender Rhodes), Ron Cooley (?), Jackson Berkey (Harpsichord), Michael Strauss (Strings), Chip Davis (Dulcimer (Hammer)), Chip Davis (Soprano Dulcian), Willis Ann Ross (Flute), Jackson Berkey (Toy Piano), Richard Altenbach (Strings), Ron Cooley (Guitar), Ron Cooley (Guitar (12 String)), Joe Gastwirt (Mastering), John Boyd (Engineer), Chip Davis (Recorder), Steve Shipps (Violin), Bill Ritchie (Strings), Chip Davis (Conductor), John Boyd (Mixing), Jackson Berkey (Bells), Richard Lohmann (Strings), Jackson Berkey (Keyboards), Jackson Berkey (Vocals), David Kappy (French Horn), Eric Hansen (Lute), Chip Davis (Vocals), Chip Davis (Arranger), Carol Davis (Photography), Roxanne Adams (Strings), Carol Davis (Design), Chip Davis (Drums), Grace Granata (Strings), Michelle Brill (Strings), Mary Walter (Harp), Chip Davis (Percussion), David Low (Cello), Eric Hansen (Bass), Jackson Berkey (Production Assistant), Jackson Berkey (Clavichord), Wayne Anderson (Strings), Jackson Berkey (Piano), Chip Davis (Producer), Chip Davis (Bells), Bobby Jenkins (Oboe), Jackson Berkey (Synthesizer), Ron Darbs (Bells)