“The National Recording Registry is the evolving playlist of the American soundscape. It reflects moments in history captured through the voices and sounds of the time. . . . As genres and formats continue to expand, the Library of Congress is committed to working with our many partners to preserve the sounds that have touched our hearts and shaped our culture.”
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 1920-2008, the selections for 2019 are as follows:
- “Whispering” (single), Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra (1920)
- “Protesta per Sacco e Vanzetti,” Compagnia Columbia; “Sacco e Vanzetti,” Raoul Romito
(1927) - “La Chicharronera” (single), Narciso Martinez and Santiago Almeida (1936)
- “Arch Oboler’s Plays” episode “The Bathysphere” (Nov. 18, 1939)
- “Me and My Chauffeur Blues” (single), Memphis Minnie (1941)
- The 1951 National League Tiebreaker: New York Giants vs. Brooklyn Dodgers — Russ
Hodges, announcer (Oct. 3, 1951) - Puccini’s “Tosca” (album), Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Angelo Mercuriali, Tito Gobbi,
Melchiorre Luise, Dario Caselli, Victor de Sabata (1953) - “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” (single), Allan Sherman (1963)
- WGBH broadcast of the Boston Symphony on the day of the John F. Kennedy Assassination,
Boston Symphony Orchestra (1963) - “Fiddler on the Roof” (album), original Broadway cast (1964))
- “Make the World Go Away” (single), Eddy Arnold (1965)
- Hiromi Lorraine Sakata Collection of Afghan Traditional Music (1966-67; 1971-73)
- “Wichita Lineman” (single), Glen Campbell (1968)
- “Dusty in Memphis” (album), Dusty Springfield (1969)
- “Mister Rogers Sings 21 Favorite Songs From ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ ” (album), Fred
Rogers (1973) - “Cheap Trick at Budokan” (album), Cheap Trick (1978)
- Holst: Suite No. 1 in E-Flat, Suite No. 2 in F / Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks / Bach:
Fantasia in G (special edition audiophile pressing), Frederick Fennell and the Cleveland
Symphonic Winds (1978) - “Y.M.C.A.” (single), Village People (1978)
- “A Feather on the Breath of God” (album), Gothic Voices; Christopher Page, conductor;
Hildegard von Bingen, composer (1982) - “Private Dancer” (album), Tina Turner (1984)
- “Ven Conmigo” (album), Selena (1990)
- “The Chronic” (album), Dr. Dre (1992)
- “I Will Always Love You” (single), Whitney Houston (1992)
- “Concert in the Garden” (album), Maria Schneider Orchestra (2004)
- “Percussion Concerto” (album), Colin Currie (2008)
