From "Over the Rainbow" to "Straight Outta Compton," 25 New Selections Named to National Recording Registry

In the fifteenth year of the National Recording Registry, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden has just announced 25 sound recordings as the official entries for 2016, stating: "This year's exciting list gives us a full range of sound experiences. These sounds of the past enrich our understanding of the nation's cultural history and our history in general."

Under the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, selected recordings must be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and at least ten years old.

Spanning the years 1888-1997, the selections for 2016 are as follows:

1. The 1888 London cylinder recordings of Col. George Gouraud (1888)
2. Lift Every Voice and Sing (singles)—Manhattan Harmony Four (1923); Melba Moore and Friends (1990)
3. Puttin’ on the Ritz (single)—Harry Richman (1929)
4. Over the Rainbow (single)—Judy Garland (1939)
5. I’ll Fly Away (single)—The Chuck Wagon Gang (1948)
6. Hound Dog (single)—Big Mama Thornton (1953)
7. Saxophone Colossus—Sonny Rollins (1956)
8. The Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds—announced by Vin Scully (September 8, 1957)
9. Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs—Marty Robbins  (1959)
10. The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery—Wes Montgomery (1960)
11. People (single)—Barbra Streisand (1964)
12. In the Midnight Hour (single)—Wilson Pickett (1965)
13. Amazing Grace (single)—Judy Collins (1970)
14. American Pie (single)—Don McLean (1971)
15. All Things Considered—first broadcast (May 3, 1971)
16. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars—David Bowie (1972)
17. The Wiz—original cast album (1975)
18. Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)—Eagles (1976)
19. Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha—Gunter Schuller, arr. (1976) 
20. Wanted: Live in Concert—Richard Pryor (1978)      
21. We Are Family (single)—Sister Sledge (1979)
22. Remain in Light—Talking Heads (1980)
23. Straight Outta Compton—N.W.A (1988)
24. Rachmaninoff’s Vespers (All-Night Vigil)—Robert Shaw Festival Singers (1990)
25. Signatures—Renée Fleming (1997)

The full National Recording Registry currently numbers 475 recordings, and can be viewed here. The Registry solicits nominations annually for inclusion on the registry; further information on the criteria and procedures for making nominations for 2017 is available at the Registry website