Aaron Neville Music:

		List Price: $11.98		Label: Decca Salesrank: 183045 Released: October 14, 2003
		Our Price: $60.38
		Used Price: $5.72
		Media: Audio CD

Essential Aaron Copland: 12 Greatest Hits Reviews:
Great Music
2009-12-01 - I bought this because I wanted a recording of Appalachian Spring (Air and Simple Gifts). After listening to several versions I chose this one, which is performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

THE FANFARE WAS CUT SHORT!
2008-02-14 - MY HUBBY FOR WHOM I ORDERED THIS WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE LENGTH OF 'FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN.' HE FELT RIPPED OFF BY THE SHORTENED VERSION. I BOUGHT HIM ANOTHER 'GREATEST HITS,' I ONLY HOPE THAT HE LIKES THIS ONE BETTER.


Aaron Copland: Essential Classics
2003-11-20 - This excellent introduction to the symphonic Copland repackages an earlier "Decca Double Decker" (see B000004284). Deleted are "Old American Songs" and added are "Billy the Kid" and "Danzon Cubano". These recordings were made from 1969-1994. The sonics are exemplary. The performances are all very good to excellent. Everyone has their personal favorites of these works so your mileage may vary.

Dorati & Detroit SO > Rodeo, El Solon Mexico, Dance Symphony. Howarth & London Sinfonietta > Music for the Movies. Marriner & The Academy > Quiet City. Metha & LAPO > Fanfare for the Common Man, Appalachian Spring, Lincoln Portrait with Gregory Peck, narrator. Philip Jones Brass Ensemble > Ceremonial Fanfare. Zinman & Baltimore SO > Billy the Kid, Danzon Cubano.

Gregory Peck comes across very, very well. Warm, personal, forthright. Worth the price of the disc just to hear him deliver the words wrapped in Copland's music as directed by Metha and performed by the LA Philharmonic Orchestra.

Don't expect any copious liner notes here -- there aren't any. Just a listing of what's what and who did what. Two panels of the folded sheet are needlessly occupied by advertising other "essential" CDs. I would gladly rip them out if I didn't like the overall design so much. The art direction and design of the package is stellar but lacks "essential" or any background information.

Unless I'm mistaken, there are 5 "hits" on the first disc and 6 on the second. That's 11. The subtitle here is "12 Greatest Hits". Am I missing something?

Still, judging by what's here, the selections and performances, an excellent compilation. I'm glad to have it.