Copland / Ives - Adlai Stevenson, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Lincoln Portrait, Fanfare For The Common Man, Three Places In New England flac

A fascinating release which I bought primarily for the version of "Lincoln Portrait" with the narration by the Democratic party's two-time Presidential candidate of the 1950s (1952 and 1956), Adlai Stevenson (twice defeated by Dwight D. Eisenhower, how different might the '50s have been?). Having grown up on the more populist Henry Fonda version, the Stevenson version was new to me, but immediately won me over: Stevenson's reputation for oratory prowess was not understated. The follow-up of the Ives piece on Side B was also welcome: I like Ives, but find him to be more challenging to listen to than the more accessible Copland. And who could dislike the opening track of Side A, "Fanfare for the Common Man"? A great LP, and worth a listen if you're at all inclined toward modern American classical music.