Mannheim Steamroller is a pioneer of the new age music genre, and has continuously been producing albums for the last several decades. I am a huge fan and have picked out, in my opinion, the 5 best Mannheim Steamroller songs from their Fresh Aire I album released in 1975. This album was actually used to demo hi-fi equipment, and customers would say "I like this stereo system, but I really love the record you're playing. Who is that?" So, that's how the Fresh Aire series got its start. Each of the first four Fresh Aire albums are based on a season, and Spring is the theme for Fresh Aire I. Chip Davis said the following about it: "Vivaldi did a nice piece called the "Seasons", and this sounded like a good idea for an overall concept (since Fresh Aire I seemed very "Springish") for any albums that would come later in the series. Of course, at the onset there were no plans for a whole series. We felt we'd be doing well to get one album off the ground. In fact it was the listening public's request for "Fresh Aire II" that spurred the idea to start a series." Several of the song names on this album are word plays of musical terms, like "Fresh Aire" is an air, "Ron Doe" is a rondo and "Pass the Keg, Lia" is a passacaglia.
Here are my top 5 picks in track listing order...
1. Chocolate Fudge
What's most amazing to me about this song is that it was released in 1975 on vinyl! Synthetic music was in its infancy, and this song still measures up to anything created synthetically today. It's probably my most favorite song on the album.
2. Interlude I
I love the use of the simple piano track set to the sounds of a thunderstorm in the background. It's very relaxing. I especially love the pause in the music to allow the loud clap of thunder to sound. Very ingenious.
3. Ron Doe
This song is written in the odd time signature of 5/8. The beginning piano interlude helps to build the power of this song, then it kicks into full gear using the uniqueness of this odd beat. Very fun to listen to.
4. Interlude III
Again, I love the use of the simple piano track set to the sounds of a forest with birds chirping in the background. This is the Interlude I love to play on the piano the most. This song was later used on the album "Yellowstone: The Music of Nature", and it was very fitting.
5. Pass the Keg, Lia
Using the Harpsichord in a rock 'n roll style makes this song very unique. It's no wonder that Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller describes their signature sound as "18th Century Classical Rock". Very original and nice to hear.
I also recommend listening to Interlude II with headphones on, very cool. Honestly, every song on this album is good, and I highly recommend getting the whole thing.
Whether you agree with my picks or not, there is no disputing that Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller is the best contemporary composer of our time.
If you like New Age music, then you might also like
ALBEDO: a Classical/New Age/Dance Artist.
Click here to download a free copy of their best-selling dance song, and a copy of their orchestral work from their latest classical album.
- Doug Clyde
