Dr. Dre’s The Chronic is among the new batch of records to be archived in the Library of Congress, the National Recording Registry announced today. Other records deemed “worthy of preservation because of their cultural, historical and aesthetic importance” include Cheap Trick at Budokan, Tina Turner’s Private Dancer, Dusty Springfield’s Dusty in Memphis, the Whitney Houston song “I Will Always Love You,” and Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.”
In a nod to the coronavirus measures keeping the country indoors, this year’s induction was dubbed the Stay at Home Playlist. “The National Recording Registry is the evolving playlist of the American soundscape,” a press release reads. “It reflects moments in history captured through the voices and sounds of the time.” Find the full list below.
Last year’s picks included JAY-Z’s The Blueprint, Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly, and the Nina Simone song “Mississippi Goddam.” Read Pitchfork’s Sunday Review of The Chronic.
2019 National Recording Registry:
01 Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra – “Whispering” (1920)
02 Raoul Romito – “Protesta per Sacco e Vanzetti”; Compagnia Columbia – “Sacco e Vanzetti” (1927)
03 Narciso Martinez and Santiago Almeida – “La Chicharronera” (1936)
04 “Arch Oboler’s Plays” episode “The Bathysphere.” (1939)
05 Memphis Minnie – “Me and My Chauffeur Blues” (1941)
06 The 1951 National League tiebreaker: New York Giants vs. Brooklyn Dodgers — Russ Hodges, announcer (1951)
07 Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Angelo Mercuriali, Tito Gobbi, Melchiorre Luise, Dario Caselli, Victor de Sabata – Puccini’s “Tosca” (1953)
08 Allan Sherman – “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” (1963)
09 WGBH broadcast of the Boston Symphony on the day of the John F. Kennedy assassination (1963)
10 “Fiddler on the Roof” (Original Broadway cast) (1964)
11 Eddy Arnold – “Make the World Go Away” (1965)
12 Hiromi Lorraine Sakata Collection of Afghan Traditional Music (1966-67; 1971-73)
13 Glen Campbell – “Wichita Lineman” (1968)
14 Dusty Springfield – Dusty in Memphis (1969)
15 Fred Rogers – Mister Rogers Sings 21 Favorite Songs From “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” (1973)
16 Cheap Trick – Cheap Trick at Budokan (1978)
17 Frederick Fennell and the Cleveland Symphonic Winds – Holst: Suite No. 1 in E-Flat, Suite No. 2 in F / Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks / Bach: Fantasia in G (1978)
18 Village People – “Y.M.C.A.” (1978)
19 Gothic Voices; Christopher Page, conductor – Hildegard von Bingen: A Feather on the Breath of God (1982)
20 Tina Turner – Private Dancer (1984)
21 Selena – Ven Conmigo (1990)
22 Dr. Dre – The Chronic (1992)
23 Whitney Houston – “I Will Always Love You” (1992)
24 Maria Schneider Orchestra – Concert in the Garden (2004)
25 Colin Currie – Percussion Concerto (2008)