Blind Lemon Jefferson, Joan Baez, and Radiohead among Artists Added to National Recording Registry

In the thirteenth year of the National Recording Registry, Librarian of Congress James Billington has announced 25 sound recordings as the official entries for 2014, stating: "Congress understood the importance of protecting America’s aural patrimony when it passed the National Recording Preservation Act 15 years ago. By preserving these recordings, we safeguard the words, sounds and music that embody who we are as a people and a nation." 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 2014 are as follows:

1. Vernacular Wax Cylinder Recordings at University of California, Santa Barbara Library (c.1890-1910)
2. The Benjamin Ives Gilman Collection, recorded at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago (1893)
3. "The Boys of the Lough"/"The Humours of Ennistymon" (single)—Michael Coleman (1922)
4. "Black Snake Moan" / "Match Box Blues"(single)—Blind Lemon Jefferson (1927)
5. "Sorry, Wrong Number" (episode of "Suspense" radio series, May 25, 1943)
6. "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" (single)—Johnny Mercer (1944)
7. Radio Coverage of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Funeral—Arthur Godfrey, et al. (April 14, 1945)
8. "Kiss Me, Kate" (original cast album) (1949)
9. "John Brown’s Body" (album)—Tyrone Power, Judith Anderson, and Raymond Massey; directed by Charles Laughton (1953)
10. "My Funny Valentine" (single)—The Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Chet Baker (1953)
11. "Sixteen Tons" (single)—Tennessee Ernie Ford (1955)
12. "Mary Don’t You Weep" (single)—The Swan Silvertones (1959)
13. "Joan Baez" (album)—Joan Baez (1960)
14. "Stand by Me" (single)—Ben E. King (1961)
15. "New Orleans’ Sweet Emma Barrett and her Preservation Hall Jazz Band" (album)—Sweet Emma and her Preservation Hall Jazz Band (1964)
16. "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’" (single)—The Righteous Brothers (1964)
17. "The Doors" (album)—The Doors (1967)
18. "Stand!" (album)—Sly and the Family Stone (1969)
19. "Lincoln Mayorga and Distinguished Colleagues" (album)—Lincoln Mayorga (1968)
20. "A Wild and Crazy Guy" (album)—Steve Martin (1978)
21. "Sesame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites" (album)—Various (1995)
22. "OK Computer" (album)—Radiohead (1997)
23. "Old Regular Baptists: Lined-Out Hymnody from Southeastern Kentucky" (album)—Indian Bottom Association (1997)
24. "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" (album)—Lauryn Hill (1998)
25. "Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman" (album)—Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop, conductor; Joan Tower, composer (1999)

The full National Recording Registry currently numbers 425 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.