The Library of Congress is a huge fan of Elton John; not to mention 24 other acts.
John and a slew of others are among the 25 auditory works that the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress chose to preserve in 2025. To date, there are 675 titles in the registry.
The Library performs this action every year with works that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”
Hits on Hits
Music fans will recognize the monumental additions for 2025. John’s 1973 album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is joined by the likes of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Tracy Chapman’s self-titled album from 1988 is placed up there with 1969’s “Chicago Transit Authority” from Chicago, the band from Chicago.
According to the Library, more than 2,600 nominations were made by fans for 2025.
The genres vary as do the time periods. Lin Manuel-Miranda’s “Hamilton” featuring himself along with the original Broadway cast is the latest addition. Hawaiian Quintette’s 1913 single “Aloha ‘Oe” is the earliest.
“These are the sounds of America – our wide-ranging history and culture. The National Recording Registry is our evolving nation’s playlist” Carla Hayden, the 14th Library of Congress librarian said in the release.
“The Library of Congress is proud and honored to select these audio treasures worthy of preservation, including iconic music across a variety of genres, field recordings, sports history and even the sounds of our daily lives with technology” Hayden adds.
The National Recording Registry also contains familiar sounds besides traditional music. Brian Eno’s Microsoft Windows Reboot Chime made its way to the list. Not to mention popular video game “Minecraft’s” soundtrack — which is the second only to the theme form “Super Mario Bros,” added in 2023.
The Perfect Spotify Playlist
The complete list is below:
- “Aloha ‘Oe” – Hawaiian Quintette (1913) (single)
- “Sweet Georgia Brown” – Brother Bones & His Shadows (1949) (single)
- “Happy Trails” – Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (1952) (single)
- Radio Broadcast of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series – Chuck Thompson (1960)
- Harry Urata Field Recordings (1960-1980)
- “Hello Dummy!”– Don Rickles (1968) (album)
- “Chicago Transit Authority” – Chicago (1969) (album)
- “[Expletive] Brew” – Miles Davis (1970) (album)
- “Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’” – Charley Pride (1971) (single)
- “I Am Woman” – Helen Reddy (1972) (single)
- “El Rey” – Vicente Fernandez (1973) (single)
- “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” – Elton John (1973) (album)
- “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” – Freddy Fender (1975) (single)
- “I’ve Got the Music in Me” – Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker (1975) (album)
- “The Kӧln Concert” – Keith Jarrett (1975) (album)
- “Fly Like an Eagle” – Steve Miller Band (1976) (album)
- Nimrod Workman Collection (1973-1994)
- “Tracy Chapman” – Tracy Chapman (1988) (album)
- “My Life” – Mary J. Blige (1994) (album)
- Microsoft Windows Reboot Chime – Brian Eno (1995)
- “My Heart Will Go On” – Celine Dion (1997) (single)
- “Our American Journey” – Chanticleer (2002) (album)
- “Back to Black” – Amy Winehouse (2006) (album)
- “Minecraft: Volume Alpha” – Daniel Rosenfeld (2011) (album)
- “Hamilton” – Original Broadway Cast Album (2015) (album)