Listen to This: The Class of 2017

Here is a rundown of this year’s 25 entries into the National Recording Registry. Links provided when available.

“Dream Melody Intermezzo: Naughty Marietta” (single), Victor Herbert and his Orchestra (1911) [aka “That Song from Young Frankenstein“]

 

Standing Rock Preservation Recordings, George Herzog and Members of the Yanktoni Tribe (1928) [Hmmm…what could have prompted this inclusion?]

 

“Lamento Borincano” (single), Canario y Su Grupo (1930)

 

“Sitting on Top of the World” (single), Mississippi Sheiks (1930)

 

The Complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas (album), Artur Schnabel (1932-1935) [aka “The Complete Schroeder Collection”]

 

“If I Didn’t Care” (single), The Ink Spots (1939) [aka “The guy they’re spoofing in “Magical Maestro” that is completely lost on a modern audience”.]

 

Proceedings of the United Nations Conference on International Organization (4/25/45-6/26/45) [No full audio, but please enjoy this newsreel footage!]

 

“Folk Songs of the Hills” (album), Merle Travis (1946)

 

“How I Got Over” (single), Clara Ward and the Ward Singers (1950)

 

“(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” (single), Bill Haley and His Comets (1954) [How did it take this long to make the list?]

 

“Calypso” (album), Harry Belafonte (1956) [aka “The one with the Beetlejuice song”]

 

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” (single), Tony Bennett (1962) [aka “I can’t listen to this one because it WILL make me cry.”]

 

“King Biscuit Time” (radio), Sonny Boy Williamson II and others (1965)

 

“My Girl” (single), The Temptations (1964) [Another one of those “Wait, that wasn’t on the list already?”]

 

“The Sound of Music” (soundtrack), Various (1965)

 

“Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” (single), Arlo Guthrie (1967) [aka “Not the Big Yellow Joint song” Happy Thanksgiving!]

 

“New Sounds in Electronic Music” (album), Steve Reich, Richard Maxfield, Pauline Oliveros (1967)

 

“An Evening with Groucho” (album), Groucho Marx (1972)

 

“Rumours,” (album), Fleetwood Mac (1977)

 

“The Gambler” (single), Kenny Rogers (1978)

 

“Le Freak” (single), Chic (1978) [aka “Ahhhhh, FREAK OUT”]

 

“Footloose” (single), Kenny Loggins (1984)

 

“Raising Hell” (album), Run-DMC (1986)

 

“Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” (single), Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine (1987)

 

“Yo-Yo Ma Premieres:  Concertos for Violoncello and Orchestra” (album), Various (1996)