Los Angeles —ABBA, Biggie, Blondie, and Rudolph are joining American music. New additions to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry include ABBA's 1976 album "Arrival," The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 album "Ready to Die," Blondie's 1978 breakthrough "Parallel Lines," and Gene Autry's 1949 "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
On Tuesday, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden declared the 25 books for the 2024 class as “worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”
Juan Gabriel's ode to his mother, “Amor Eterno,” and Puerto Rican artist Héctor Lavoe's 1978 signature song, “El Cantante,” penned by Ruben Blades, will join the registry. The library has a 1990 recording of the 1984 song.
Other albums considered “the defining sounds of the nation's history and culture” include Jefferson Airplane's 1967 "Surrealistic Pillow," Green Day's 1994 "Dookie," and The Chicks' 1998 "Wide Open Spaces," the most recorded. This year's lone comedy and non-musical album is Lily Tomlin's 1971 sketch album “This Is a Recording”.
Mid-20th-century American superstar Autry recorded the canonical version of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The list now boasts 650 titles, including Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You," which debuted last year. “Arrival” was ABBA's fourth disco album, featuring classics like “Dancing Queen,” “Money, Money, Money,” and “Fernando.”
Blondie and Debbie Harry broke through with “Parallel Lines,” an album with a striped black-and-white cover and “Heart of Glass.” The Cars' self-titled first album joins it this year as another new wave masterpiece from the same year.
Hip-hop entries include Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick's 1985 single "La-Di-Da-Di" and Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 album “Ready to Die” containing “Juicy” and “Big Poppa,” his sole album. Some consider Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats' 1951 hit “Rocket ‘88’” the first rock 'n' roll tune.
Johnny Mathis' “Chances Are,” Bobby McFerrin's “Don't Worry, Be Happy,” Patti Page's “The Tennessee Waltz,” and Bill Withers' “Ain't No Sunshine” are all joining the registry.
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