120 Music Masterpieces

120 Music Masterpieces was a four album set of mostly classical music (also including Gershwin and others), originally released by Columbia House through mail order in 1971. The set was advertised through a television commercial featuring British character actor John Williams (no relation), who had worked with Alfred Hitchcock and typically played genteel, cultured types. Shot on a set including classical paintings, a bust, and other highbrow accoutrements, Williams talked about how the melodies were familiar and classic and how they represented the greatest works of Beethoven and others. As a bonus, an additional album of 30 piano masterpieces was included.
While Williams died in 1983, the commercial was still running until 1984.
==References==
*An insert only used in Sesame Street Episode 0927 (1976) features Luis as Milton Crust promoting mailed delivery of rhyming items, spoofing the commercial.
*Oscar the Grouch (in an Alistair Cookie-style smoking jacket) parodies the commercial to promote the record Yucchy Moments from the Alphabet in Sesame Street Episode 1452 (1980). "Wait till you hear all the yucchy songs they put together to make this historic recording," such as "the immortal Fonz" saying "A." Oscar closes the commercial by saying you can't get the record in stores, or at all (and no vegetable choppers or storm windows either). The room set includes Grouch counterparts to the classical artwork, including a painting of Mona Lisa in a trashcan. 
==External links==
*120 Music Masterpieces commercial
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Advertising References