The Library of Congress has announced 25 new inductees into the National Recording Registry for the class of 2024. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden stated that these recordings are “worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”
The Swedish group ABBA just saw the induction of their 1976 album “Visitors.” Other inductees include Notorious B.I.G.’s 1994 album “Ready to Die,” Blondie’s 1978 breakthrough “Parallel Lines,” and Gene Autry’s 1949 version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Other notable additions include Puerto Rican singer Héctor Lavoe’s signature song “El Cantante,” written by Ruben Blades, and Mexican singer Juan Gabriel’s 1990 tribute to his mother, “Amor Eterno.”
The list also features Jefferson Airplane’s 1967 album “Surrealistic Pillow,” Green Day’s 1994 album “Dookie,” and the Chicks’ 1998 “Wide Open Spaces,” which is the most recent recording among the new inductees. Lily Tomlin’s 1971 album “This Is a Recording” is the only comedy and non-musical recording on this year’s list.
Gene Autry, a popular singing cowboy in the mid-20th century, recorded the definitive version of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” This addition comes a year after Mariah Carey’s mainstay “All I Want For Christmas Is You” was inducted into the registry, which now has 650 titles.
Other significant entries include the Cars’ self-titled debut album from 1978, representing new wave music.
The list also includes “Rocket ’88′” by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, a 1951 single that some argue was the first rock ‘n’ roll song, as well as career-defining singles from artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby McFerrin, Patti Page, and Bill Withers.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.