25 More Recordings Deemed a Key Part of Our Soundscape

Music by Louis Armstrong, Janet Jackson, Nas will be inducted to National Recording Registry
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 24, 2021 10:15 AM CDT
25 Recordings Are Deemed Worthy of Preserving This Year
From left, jazz musician Louis Armstrong appears in Rome in 1968; Janet Jackson performs at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on July 8, 2018; and Nas performs at the Essence Festival in New Orleans on July 6, 2019.   (AP Photo)

Janet Jackson's socially conscious album Rhythm Nation 1814, Louis Armstrong's jazzy When the Saints Go Marching In, and Nas' debut release Illmatic are among 25 recordings being inducted to the National Recording Registry. The Library of Congress announced Wednesday that Patti LaBelle's song "Lady Marmalade" and Kool & the Gang's "Celebration" are some of the titles tapped for preservation this year. The national library chose a few more memorable titles, including Kermit the Frog's "Rainbow Connection." Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said they received about 900 public nominations this year for recordings to add to the registry, reports the AP.

"The National Recording Registry will preserve our history through these vibrant recordings of music and voices that have reflected our humanity and shaped our culture from the past 143 years," Hayden said in a statement. The library selects titles for preservation because of their cultural and historic importance to the American soundscape. The titles have to be at least 10 years old. The registry is adding the 1941 Christmas Eve radio broadcast by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Others that made the list include the theme song for the soap opera Guiding Light and Phil Rizzuto’s 1961 radio play-by-play of Roger Maris' 61st home run, which surpassed Babe Ruth's previous record.

(More National Recording Registry stories.)

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