Library of Congress Inducts Doors, Baez, Radiohead, Lauryn Hill Into Archives
Each year, the Library of Congress selects 25 songs or albums to be inducted into their archives and the latest batch of honorees include contemporary classics from Radiohead and Lauryn Hill, plus older gems from Joan Baez and the Doors.
In order to be selected, the “sound recording” -- as it is termed -- must be “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and it must be at least 10 years old.
Radiohead’s third album, 1997’s OK Computer, made this year's cut; in addition to Lauryn Hill’s acclaimed debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, first released in 1998.
Other debuts on the list include firsts from both the Doors and Baez, but one selection might appeal to nostalgic adults and kids alike. That would be the 1995 compilation album Sesame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites which includes the all-time favorite classic “Rubber Duckie."
Happen to be more of a comedy nerd than a music dork? The Library of Congress is recognizing works in that arena too, as Steve Martin’s 1978 album A Wild and Crazy Guy is also among the 25 chosen recordings.
More works included are the classic Ben E. King tune “Stand by Me," the original-cast recording of Cole Porter’s Broadway sensation Kiss Me, Kate, "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” by the Righteous Brothers, “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford, and the Sly and the Family Stone album Stand!
The best existing versions of each selected recording are preserved at the Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Virgina. The total number of recordings in the registry stands at 425.
Tonight, March 25, check out “The Sing Off Live Tour” streaming live on Yahoo. The show starts at 4:40 p.m. PT, and for the best seats in the house (yours!) check here.
