The Notorious BIG, The Chicks, Green Day & More Selected for National Recording Registry (Full List)

Albums by The Notorious BIG, The Chicks and Green Day are among those inducted in 2024 into the National Recording Registry, which is managed by the Library of Congress. The 25 newly added recordings bring the number of titles in the Registry to 650.

Several of the recordings capture important scenes in popular music. of Jefferson Airplane Surreal Pillowwhich spawned the hits “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love,” captures the Summer of Love in 1967. Cars' The cars and Blondie's Parallel lines capitalized on the new wave scene of the late 70s. Héctor Lavoe's “El Cantante” was part of the late 70's salsa boom in New York.

Other inductees include Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats' “Rocket '88” (1951), produced by Sam Phillips, often called the first rock'n'roll recording. Lily Tomlin's This is a recording, the first comedy album by a woman to be introduced; and Gene Autry's “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 1949, the third Christmas song entered (after Bing Crosby's “White Christmas” and Mariah Carey's “All I Want for Christmas Is You”).

“The Library of Congress is proud to preserve the sounds of American history and our diverse culture through the National Recording Registry [NRR]Carla Hayden, the librarian of Congress, said in a statement.

The inductees cover a wide range of genres, including jazz, bluegrass, pop, dance, country, rock, rap, Latin and classical music.

Several of the inductees achieved historic firsts. Bobby McFerrin's “Don't Worry, Be Happy” became the first WITHOUT accompaniment of musical instruments Recording to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. It was also the first recording produced by a woman (Linda Goldstein) to win a Grammy for Record of the Year. Perry Como's “Catch a Falling Star” (1958) was the first single to be officially certified gold by the RIAA.

Several debut or first major label recordings were made — Biggie's debut album, Ready to die; the debut single (“Ain't No Sunshine”) from Bill Withers' debut album Just like I am (1971); and the first major label albums by Green Day (1994 Dookie) and The Chicks (ex-Dixie Chicks, 1998's Wide Open Spaces).

In addition to McFerrin's “Don't Worry, Be Happy,” which topped the Hot 100 in 1988, the list includes four songs that reached No. 1 on the pop charts that appeared on Advertising sign before the 1958 Hot 100 entry: Autry's “Rudolph,” Como's “Star,” Patti Page's pop and country smash “The Tennessee Waltz” (1950), and Johnny Mathis' “Chances Are” ( 1957). (NRR lists the latter smash along with its B-side hit, “Magic Moments,” one of the first hits for songwriting titans Burt Bacharach & Hal David.)

Two of the albums entered generated No. 1 hits on the Hot 100. ABBA's Arrival (1976) included their feature “Dancing Queen”. Blondie's Parallel lines (1978) included their dance/disco hit “Heart of Glass,” their first of four No. 1 hits in a two-year blitz.

Two hip-hop recordings were hailed – by Biggie Ready to die and “La-Di-Da-Di” by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, which began as the B-side of Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew's 1985 single “The Show.” Side A was in the top five Advertising signHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.

Two Latin recordings were honored. Lavoe's “El Cantante” (1978) is among the late Puerto Rican salsa singer's most famous recordings. written by Rubén Blades and produced by Willie Colón. Likewise, Juan Gabriel's “Amor Eterno” (1990) is one of the signature songs of the late Mexican singer/songwriter. “It's a great honor for my dad,” Juan Gabriel's son Ivan Gabriel Aguilera told the Library in Spanish. “… He's always said that 'as long as the public, the people, keep singing my music, Juan Gabriel will never die,' and it's nice to see that happening here.”

Benny Goodman was credited a second time, a relative rarity in NRR. “Rose Room,” a 1939 recording by the Goodman Sextet with guitarist Charlie Christian, follows Goodman's 1938. Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert in the Registry. This landmark album was released in 2003.

Booker T. Jones, who produced Withers' great “Ain't No Sunshine,” was previously inducted as an artist on Booker T. & the MG's 1967 album Green onions.

Some albums are considered critical building blocks even though they did not make the Billboard 200. A self-titled album by JD Crowe & the New South (1975) was important in reviving interest in bluegrass. Crowe's musicians included Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice and Jerry Douglas.

The oldest recording honored this year is “Clarinet Marmalade,” a 1919 recording by Lt. James Reese Europe of the U.S. 369th. Infantry Band. The all-black band was made up of soldiers who served in France during World War I.

The most recent release on this year's list is The Chicks' 1998 RIAA Diamond-certified breakthrough album. Wide Open Spaces.

Remarkably, three of the honored artists were killed. Lieutenant James Reese Europe died in May 1919 – just three months after returning from service in World War I, after being stabbed in the neck by one of his drummers. Jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan, whose 1964 album The Sidewinder introduced, shot to death in 1972. Notorious BIG shot to death in 1997.

Under the terms of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Librarian of Congress, with advice from the National Recording Preservation Board, selects 25 titles each year that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and are at least 10 years old. This board is chaired by Robbin Ahrold, president and CEO of Century Media Partners LLC in Washington DC and a former executive at BMI, RCA Music Group and HBO.

A record 2,899 nominations were made by the general public this year. The public can submit nominations throughout the year at Library website. Nominations for next year's Register will be accepted until October 1st.

Here is a full list of recordings selected for the 2024 National Recording Registry.