User:SurreyJohn/120 Greatest Musical Masterpieces

150 Greatest Musical Masterpieces is a five LP, 33rpm classical music compilation released in the U.S. by Colombia Records, Colombia House from 1971 (also available on 8-track and cassette), comprising a four record set titled 120 Music Masterpieces and a companion or bonus album titled 30 Piano Masterpieces. The first four records actually includes 118 orchestral pieces, many of them excerpts from larger works. The fifth album consists of extracts of solo piano pieces. The records are described as 'electronically rechannelled for stereo'.

In the U.K., the album was released in 1972 as 120 Greatest Music Masterpieces (DL1/1 - DL1/4) and a bonus album titled 30 Great Piano Classics (DL2/1). This version of the compilation was marketed by Dracop Records of 47B Welbeck Street, London (whom are no longer trading). These albums had the same tracks but reordered, and also has new album cover artwork.

The albums were advertised on TV by the Anglo-American actor John Williams. This two minute commercial became the longest-running nationally seen commercial in U.S. television history, for 13 years from 1971 to 1984. It began, "I'm sure you recognize this lovely melody as 'Stranger in Paradise', but did you know that the original theme is from the Polovetsian Dance No. 2 by Borodin?". The commercial became so familiar that it was spoofed on the TV show "Steve Martin's Best Show Ever" (25 Nov 1981).

This was the first large classical LP compilation to be released through mail-order and TV advertising. It was described as "a priceless introduction to the classics which will enrich every home", and "performed by Europe's finest musicians".

After the advent of CDs, better quality digital compilations followed. The London Philharmonic Orchestra recorded The 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music, being the first to record a popular classical compilation on CD.