The Laughing Song and Hallelujah among Latest Entries to the National Recording Registry

In the twelfth year of the National Recording Registry, Librarian of Congress James Billington has announced 25 sound recordings as the official entries for 2013, stating: "These recordings represent an important part of America’s culture and history. As technology continually changes and formats become obsolete, we must ensure that our nation’s aural legacy is protected. The National Recording Registry is at the core of this effort." Under the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, selected recordings must be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and at least ten years old.

In chronological order, the selections for 2013 are as follows:

1. "The Laughing Song" (single)—George Washington Johnson (c. 1896)
2. "They Didn’t Believe Me"—Harry Macdonough and Alice Green (1915)
3. "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" (singles)—Bing Crosby; Rudy Vallee (both 1932)
4. "Franz Boas and George Herzog Recordings of Kwakwaka’wakw Chief Dan Cranmer (1938)
5. "Were You There" (single)—Roland Hayes (1940)
6. "The Goldbergs": Sammy Goes Into the Army (July 9, 1942)
7. "Caldonia" (single)—Louis Jordan (1945)
8. "Dust My Broom" (single)—Elmore James (1951)
9. "A Night at Birdland" (Vols. 1 and 2) (albums)—Art Blakey (1954)
10. "When I Stop Dreaming" (single)—The Louvin Brothers (1955)
11. "Cathy’s Clown" (single)—The Everly Brothers (1960)
12. "Texas Sharecropper and Songster" (album)—Mance Lipscomb (1960)
13. "The First Family" (album) (1962)
14. Lawrence Ritter’s Interviews with Baseball Pioneers of the Late 19th and Early 20th Century (1962-1966)
15. Presidential Recordings of Lyndon B. Johnson (Nov. 22, 1963 – Jan. 10, 1969)
16. "Carnegie Hall Concert with Buck Owens and His Buckaroos" (album)—Buck Owens and His Buckaroos (1966)
17. "Fortunate Son" (single)—Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
18. "Theme from ‘Shaft’" (album)—Isaac Hayes (1971)
19. "Only Visiting This Planet" (album)—Larry Norman (1972)
20. "Celia & Johnny" (album)—Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco (1974)
21. "Copland Conducts Copland: Appalachian Spring"—Aaron Copland (1974)
22. "Heart Like a Wheel" (album)—Linda Ronstadt (1974)
23. "Sweeney Todd" (album)—Original Cast Recording (1979)
24. "The Joshua Tree" (album)—U2 (1987)
25. "Hallelujah" (single)—Jeff Buckley (1994)

The full National Recording Registry currently numbers 400 recordings, and can be viewed here. The Registry solicits nominations for inclusion on the registry; further information on the criteria and procedures for making nominations is available at the Registry website.