The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is one of 25 recordings set to enter the US Library of Congress.
Radiohead’s 1997 album OK Computer and Sly and the Family Stone’s Stand! from 1969 join Lauryn Hill’s seminal 1998 debut in the library, which each year adds a selection of “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” sound recordings to its archive to be preserved for future generations.
This year the recordings span from 1890 to 1999 and include music by Joan Baez, The Righteous Brothers and Sesame Street, along with the Doors’ self-titled 1967 album. The spoken word picks include comedian Steve Martin and a 1953 reading of the epic Civil War poem ‘John Brown’s Body’.
OK Computer was picked for its themes of anti-consumerism and alienation, the library said. “I sort of see it as part of a certain ongoing phenomenon in rock music that maybe begins with the Velvet Underground but also The Doors, who are on the list this year,” explained curator Matt Barton. “Pop music is not entirely positive in its outlook, shall we say. I think we can say that OK Computer really sums a lot of that up.”
Public nominations are taken into account when the yearly selection is made, and nominated recordings must be at least 10 years old.
Here’s the full list of recordings selected for the 2014 National Recording Registry. [via BBC News]
Vernacular Wax Cylinder Recordings at University of California at Santa Barbara Library (c. 1890-1910)
The Benjamin Ives Gilman Collection, recorded at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago (1893)
The Boys of the Lough and The Humours of Ennistymon – Michael Coleman (1922)
Black Snake Moan and Match Box Blues – Blind Lemon Jefferson (1928)
Sorry, Wrong Number (episode of Suspense radio series) (25 May, 1943).
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive – Johnny Mercer (1944)
Radio Coverage of President Franklin D Roosevelt’s Funeral, – Arthur Godfrey and others (14 April, 1945)
Kiss Me, Kate original cast album, (1959)
John Brown’s Body (album) – Tyrone Power, Judith Anderson and Raymond Massey and directed by Charles Laughton (1953)
My Funny Valentine – Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Chet Baker (1953)
Sixteen Tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford (1955)
Mary Don’t You Weep – Swan Silvertones (1959)
Joan Baez (album)- Joan Baez (1960)
Stand By Me – Ben E King (1961)
New Orleans, Sweet Emma Barrett and her Preservation Hall Jazz Band (album) – Sweet Emma and her Preservation Hall Jazz Band (1964)
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – Righteous Brothers (1964)
The Doors (album) – Doors (1967)
Stand! – Sly and the Family Stone (1969)
Lincoln Mayorga and Distinguished Colleagues (album) – Lincoln Mayorga (1968)
A Wild And Crazy Guy (album), Steve Martin (1978)
Sesame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites (album) – various artists (1995)
OK Computer (album) – Radiohead (1997)
Songs Of The Old Regular Baptists – various artists (1997)
The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill (album) – Lauryn Hill (1998)
Fanfares For The Uncommon Woman (album) – Colorado Symphony Orchestra (1999)
