The Library of Congress has announced this year’s selection of 25 “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” pieces of recorded music to archive into the National Recording Registry, led by albums from Green Day, The Notorious B.I.G., and Blondie.
In addition to Green Day’s seminal Dookie, The Notorious B.I.G.’s classic debut Ready to Die, and Blondie’s commercial breakthrough Parallel Lines, other albums preserved among “the defining sounds of history” include ABBA’s Arrival and The Chicks’ Wide Open Spaces. Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow and The Cars’ self-titled debut also made the list.
Songs include Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s “La-Di-Da-Di,” Perry Como’s “Catch a Falling Star,” Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” and Gene Autry’s “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” See the full list below and take a look at the Library of Congress’ full registry here.
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Last year’s selections included Madonna’s Like a Virgin, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” and Queen Latifah’s All Hail the Queen.
Be sure to find out where Ready to Die ranked on our list of the best hip-hop albums of all time and see where Dookie landed on our definitive ranking of every Green Day album.
2024 National Recording Registry:
Lt. James Reese Europe’s 369th U.S. Infantry Band – “Clarinet Marmalade” (1919)
Viola Turpeinen and John Rosendahl – “Kauhavan Polkka” (1928)
Wisconsin Folksong Collection (1937-1946)
Benny Goodman Sextet with Charlie Christian – “Rose Room” (1939)
Gene Autry – “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1949)
Patti Page – “Tennessee Waltz” (1950)
Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats – “Rocket ‘88’” (1951)
Perry Como – “Catch a Falling Star” / ”Magic Moments” (1957)
Johnny Mathis – “Chances Are” (1957)
Lee Morgan – The Sidewinder (1964)
Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow (1967)
Bill Withers – “Ain’t No Sunshine” (1971)
Lily Tomlin – This Is a Recording (1971)
J.D. Crowe & the New South – J.D. Crowe & the New South (1975)
ABBA – Arrival (1976)
Héctor Lavoe – “El Cantante” (1978)
The Cars – The Cars (1978)
Blondie – Parallel Lines (1978)
Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick (MC Ricky D) – “La-Di-Da-Di” (1988)
Bobby McFerrin – “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (1988)
Juan Gabriel – “Amor Eterno” (1990)
Kronos Quartet – Pieces of Africa (1992)
Green Day – Dookie (1994)
The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die (1994)
The Chicks – Wide Open Spaces (1998)
