The National Recording Registry Class of 2026

I was starting to get worried that we weren’t going to hear from the National Recording Registry, but much like its sister Film Registry, better late than never. Here is the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry picks for 2026. In chronological order:

  • “Cocktails for Two” – Spike Jones and His City Slickers (1944) (single)
  • “Mambo No. 5” – Pérez Prado and His Orchestra (1950) (single)
  • “Teardrops from My Eyes” – Ruth Brown (1950) (single)
  • “Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)” – Kaye Ballard (1954) (single)
  • “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” – Paul Anka (1959) (single)
  • “The Blues and the Abstract Truth” – Oliver Nelson (1961) (album)
  • “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” – Ray Charles (1962) (album)
  • “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” – The Byrds (1965) (single)
  • “Amen, Brother” – The Winstons (1969) (single)
  • “Feliz Navidad” – José Feliciano (1970) (single)
  • “The Fight of the Century: Ali vs. Frazier” (March 8, 1971) (broadcast)
  • “Midnight Train to Georgia” – Gladys Knight and the Pips (1973) (single)
  • “Chicago” Original Cast Album (1975) (album)
  • “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” – The Charlie Daniels Band (1979) (single)
  • “Beauty and the Beat” – The Go-Go’s (1981) (album)
  • “Texas Flood” – Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble (1983) (album)
  • “I Feel For You” – Chaka Khan (1984) (single)
  • “Your Love” – Jamie Principle (1986) / Jamie Principle/Frankie Knuckles (1987) (singles)
  • “Rumor Has It” – Reba McEntire (1990) (album)
  • “The Wheel” – Rosanne Cash (1993) (album)
  • “Doom” Soundtrack – Bobby Prince, composer (1993)
  • “Go Rest High On That Mountain” – Vince Gill (1994) (single)
  • “Weezer (The Blue Album)” – Weezer (1994) (album)
  • “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” – Beyoncé (2008) (single)
  • “1989” – Taylor Swift (2014) (album)

Other notes

  • As always, the LoC has included a playlist of all these songs for wherever you listen to music.
  • Much like his recent NFR picks, Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen has picked 25 diverse, safe choices. Nothing too controversial, just 25 picks from artists we can pretty much all agree are historically significant and worthy of inclusion. Newlen also continues the recent NRR preference of songs and albums over other types of recordings (“The Fight of the Century” is the only one of the 25 that isn’t a musical recording).
  • “Put Your Head on My Shoulder”, “Feliz Navidad”, “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” make my list of “Weren’t those already on the Registry?” songs. Also, we got two “Georgia” songs this year, plus a Ray Charles album, but not his cover of “Georgia on My Mind”. That’s a pretty major oversight if you ask me.
  • Like “Fortunate Son” and “Somebody to Love”, it’s not a movie set in the ‘60s until you hear The Byrds’ “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)”.
  • I didn’t realize there was a “Mambo No. 5” before Lou Bega. According to the NRR press release, Bega sampled the original Prado version for his “Mambo No. 5”. Sadly, the original “Mambo” does not highlight the significant contributions of Monica, Erica, Rita, Tina, Sandra, Mary, Jessica, and most importantly, you.
  • Speaking of covers, I had no idea that “Fly Me to the Moon” was a Kaye Ballard song first. Even more suprising, the Sinatra version wasn’t released until a full decade later in 1964!
  • The inclusion of Spike Jones and HIs Orchestra reminds me; when is Weird Al gonna make this list? Surely there’s room on the Registry for “Eat It”.
  • Very disappointed to learn that the “Ali vs. Frazier” fight is not, I repeat, NOT, the fight where Howard Cosell announces “Down goes Frazi-ah! Down goes Frazi-ah!” That was two years later when Joe Frazier was defeated by George Foreman. (For the record: Frazier beat Ali in “the Fight of the Century”.)
  • I always appreciate when the NRR finds room for an original Broadway cast recording, though “Chicago” is an interesting choice. If you’re going to pick a Kander & Ebb musical, why not their first breakthrough “Cabaret”? Regardless, it’s nice to see Barney Martin, aka Morty Seinfeld, now represented on both National Registries. 
  • Weezer’s debut album includes “Buddy Holly”, which has a music video that is unironically my favorite episode of “Happy Days”.
  • Last but definitely not least, the NRR’s major headline inductees this year are Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. Given their massive popularity I’m surprised we’re only now getting to their NRR induction. I’ve got nothing for or against either of them (though Beyoncé gets points for being Foxxy Cleopatra), so I’ll just shrug my shoulders, nod in agreement, and move on before my indifference incurs the wrath of either of their fanbases.

As always, you can nominate recordings for consideration for next year’s induction right now! You have until October 1st, 2026, but as with the Film Registry, I recommend nominating early so that the Powers That Be know how popular both registries are with the public and renew their respective preservation acts. 

Happy Listening,

Tony

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