Judy Garland, David Bowie, N.W.A., Vin Scully Added To National Recording Registry By Library of Congress

Ziggy In The Library (doddis77/Shutterstock)

JUDY GARLAND’s hit single “Over The Rainbow," DAVID BOWIE's classic 1972 "Ziggy Stardust" album, N.W.A.'s groundbreaking "Straight Outta COMPTON" and VIN SCULLY's final NEW YORK broadcast are among the "aural treasures" worthy of preservation as part of AMERICAN history. Librarian Of CONGRESS CARLA HAYDEN named these recordings and others to the NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY of the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS "because of their cultural, artistic and historical importance to AMERICAN society and its audio heritage."

Other selections included the original-cast album of “The Wiz”; THE EAGLES’ 1976 “Their Greatest Hits”; and two versions of the national anthem of black AMERICA, "Lift Every Voice And Sing."

Commented HAYDEN, “This year’s exciting list gives us a full range of sound experiences which enrich our understanding of the nation’s cultural history and our history in general.”

Under the terms of the NATIONAL RECORDING PRESERVATION ACT of 2000, the Librarian, with advice from the LIBRARY’s NATIONAL RECORDING PRESERVATION BOARD, annually selects 25 titles that are “culturally, historically, or esthetically significant” and are at least 10 years old. 

The recordings selected for the 2016 REGISTRY bring the total number of titles to 475, a small part of the LIBRARY’s vast recorded-sound collection of nearly 3 million items. 

Among the 2016 selections are HARRY RICHMAN’s 1929 “Puttin’ on the Ritz”; BIG MAMA THORNTON’s 1953 “Hound Dog”; SONNY ROLLINS’ 1956 “Saxophone Colossus”; WILSON PICKETT’s 1965 “In The Midnight Hour”; TALKING HEADS’ 1980 “Remain in Light”; MARTY ROBBINS’ 1959 “Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs”; the 1960 album “The Incredible Jazz Guitar of WES MONTGOMERY," and SISTER SLEDGE’s 1979 hit single “We Are Family.”

BARBRA STREISAND’s 1964 debut hit single, “People,” was also tapped for a place in the registry.

Commented the performer, “It is so humbling and gratifying to learn that my recording of the song ‘People’ by composer JULE STYNE and lyricist BOB MERRILL will be installed in the NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY of the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. This is the prestigious treasure house in which AMERICAN art is archived and acknowledged as part of the flow of our nation’s culture. I believe ‘People’ touched our common desire to relate to others with love and caring, and I’ve always tried to express this in my renditions of this magical song.”

DON McLEAN's 1971 single “AMERICAN Pie," was also honored  Said McLEAN, “With few exceptions, AMERICAN music is the whole of popular music. We have done it all. Written the greatest songs and produced the greatest artists. I am so proud to be a part of this creative effort.”  

Several gospel songs made the list. THE CHUCK WAGON GANG’s 1948 version of “I’ll Fly Away” and two renditions of the hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which became the national anthem of the AFRICAN-AMERICAN community — the 1923 version by the MANHATTAN HARMONY FOUR and a modernized 1990 all-star recording, headed by MELBA MOORE.

JUDY COLLINS, whose a capella arrangement of “Amazing Grace” was also named to the registry, stated, “I am so honored that the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS has chosen my 1970 recording of ‘Amazing Grace’ for its collection of memorable songs of the centuries.” 

Spoken-word recordings on the list include two radio broadcasts: the first episode of NPR’s flagship news program “All Things Considered” in 1971 and VIN SCULLY's announcing of the final BROOKLYN DODGERS-NEW YORK GIANTS game in NEW YORK at the old POLO GROUNDS on SEPTEMBER 8th, 1957 shortly before each relocated to LOS ANGELES and SAN FRANCISCO, respectively. The newest comedy selection to the registry is RICHARD PRYOR’s 1978 double album, “Wanted: Live In Concert.”

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