New class enters National Registry
ABBA, Biggie, Blondie and Rudolph are entering America’s audio canon.
New inductees into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress include ABBA’s 1976 album “Visitors,” The 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.”
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced the 25 new titles in the class of 2024 on Tuesday, saying in a statement that they are “worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.”
Puerto Rican singer Héctor Lavoe’s signature song, 1978’s “El Cantante,” written by Ruben Blades, will enter the registry, along with Mexican singer Juan Gabriel’s 1990 tribute to his mother, “Amor Eterno.”
Other titles deemed to be among “the defining sounds of the nation’s history and culture” are Jefferson Airplane’s 1967 album “Surrealistic Pillow,” Green Day’s 1994 album “Dookie” and the Chicks’ 1998 release “Wide Open Spaces.”
Lily Tomlin’s 1971 album of sketches “This Is a Recording” is the only comedy and the only non-musical recording on this year’s list.
“The Visitors” was the disco-tinged fourth album from the Swedish supergroup ABBA, and included their hits “Dancing Queen,” “Money, Money, Money” and “Fernando.”
Blondie and singer Deborah Harry had their commercial breakthrough with “Parallel Lines,” an album that featured “Heart of Glass.”
It’s joined this year by another new wave classic from the same year, the self-titled debut album by the Cars.
The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1994 album “Ready to Die” featuring “Juicy” and “Big Poppa,” the only album released during his life, headlines hip-hop entries that also include “La-Di-Da-Di” — Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s 1985 single.
“Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats, the 1951 single that some argue was the first rock ’n’ roll song, is also on the list.
CBS to reair Joel concert:
CBS has bowed under pressure after it broke away early from the taped broadcast of “Billy Joel: The 100th — Live at Madison Square Garden,” forcing local affiliates Sunday to start their latenight newscasts.
The veteran musician was wrapping up “Piano Man” when the screen went blank for a few seconds around 10:30 p.m., then went to local news in markets in the East and Central time zones.
The concert was scheduled to end at 10 p.m. but was delayed because of bonus coverage of the Masters golf tournament. Fans on social media were quick to blame their local stations, but it was purely a network decision. CBS has apologized and plans to rebroadcast the concert in its entirety at 8 p.m. Friday.
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