The Library of Congress officially unveiled the 25 recordings that have been added to the National Recording Registry.
Among the selection are The Notorious B.I.G‘s 1994 debut album Ready to Die, Green Day‘s major label debut Dookie, Bill Withers “Ain’t No Sunshine,” ABBA’s Arrival and Blondie’s Parallel Lines to name a few. The oldest inductee this year is “Clarinet Marmalade” from 1919 which was recorded by Lt. James Reese Europe’s 369th US. Infantry Band, an all-Black band formed by soldiers who served in France during the first World War.
Gene Autry’s “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is the third Christmas song to join the Registry following Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” while Héctor Lavoe’s “El Cantante” and Juan Gabriel’s “Amor Eterno” are two Latin recordings to be inducted.
“The Library of Congress is proud to preserve the sounds of American history and our diverse culture through the National Recording Registry [NRR],” Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, said in a statement.
Check out the full list of selections below.
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)
Various Artists, Wisconsin Folksong Collection (1937-1946)
Benny Goodman Sextet with Charlie Christian, “Rose Room” (1939)
Gene Autry, “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1949)
Patti Page, “The Tennessee Waltz” (1950)
Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, “Rocket ‘88’” (1951)
Johnny Mathis, “Chances Are” (1957)
Perry Como, “Catch a Falling Star” / “Magic Moments” (1957)
Lee Morgan, The Sidewinder (1964)
Jefferson Airplane, Surrealistic Pillow (1967)
Lily Tomlin, This is a Recording (1971)
Bill Withers, “Ain’t No Sunshine” (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” (1985)
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)
