The 5 Best Mannheim Steamroller Songs Of All Time, And Why

Mannheim Steamroller is best known for its multi-platinum Christmas and holiday albums, proving to the music industry that Christmas music was not the “last gasp” genre for dying artists.

However, before the 1984 release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, the group had already made a name for themselves among audiophiles with their Fresh Aire series of albums. This top/best list is based on all 8 Fresh Aire albums.

Here’s my countdown of the top 5 Mannheim Steamroller songs from their Fresh Aire (FA) album series:

5. Chakra #4 (Fresh Air 7)
The best song from the album that won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best New Age Album. The song is haunting and relaxing, and since Chakra #4 is the Heart Chakra, this song evokes emotions that come from the heart. Favorite moment: 4:12. The whole song is good, but this is my favorite part.

Four. go to another place (FAII)
This song just reminds me of the excitement that surrounds leaving on a long-awaited journey. Recapping a theme Mannheim Steamroller introduced in the Fantasia section earlier in the album, it’s a perfect blend of Mannheim Steamroller’s trademark medieval rock-n-roll and a fitting conclusion to the musical journey the album offers. Favorite time — 2:00. Great transition towards the final verse and the outro.

3. mother photo (FAIII)
There are so many favorites of mine that come from this album, however Mere Image is the third best of all time. It was originally written for the Omaha Ballet and is a musical journey from youth to old age. Favorite moment — 0:31. The harpsichord entry here is grandiose and seems to herald the vigor of youth.

two. Lumen/atmosphere exhaust (AVF)
This whole album is based on a dream that Johann Kepler had to travel to the moon. opening track, lumensfeatures the renowned Cambridge Singers, and escape the atmosphere it is nothing like any previous Mannheim Steamroller song up to this point. It conjures up images of leaving the gravitational pull of the earth, floating weightlessly in space, and entering the orbit of the moon.
Favorite moment: 5:33. This part of the breakdown is really nice, especially the use of what sounds like a Koto as the instrument that carries the melody through this section.

1. come home to the sea (AF VI)
This is truly the best Mannheim Steamroller song. Originally written for Fresh Aire VI, it was also included in Yellowstone: Music of NatureY saving wildlife.

Considering the state of electronic synthesis at the time, the dolphin (or whale) sounds at first are pretty good. But that’s not what makes it a great track. Fantastic orchestration, a brilliant juxtaposition of piano and harpsichord throughout, and a general buildup of energy and emotion throughout the song catapult it over the top. Favorite moments: 2:34 and 2:48. I love huge buildups, and this song has a lot of them, but the buildups at these two points in the song are absolutely amazing.