The Library of Congress is far more than just a collection of thousands of books; it is also the home of the National collection of Talking Books and the National Recording Registry.

Each year the LOC choose 25 recordings that are considered “culturally historically, or aesthetically significant” to the American soundscape”.

This year’s contributions include music from jazz, hip-hop, musical theatre, country, rock pop, and video game soundtracks.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden spoke on the new additions saying, “these are the sounds of America — our wide-ranging history and culture. The National Recording Registry is our evolving nation’s playlist.  The Library of Congress is proud and honored to select these audio treasures worthy of preservation, including iconic music across a variety of genres, field recordings, sports history and even the sounds of our daily lives with technology.”

With the new songs included in the National Registry, there are now 675 songs and albums in the collection.  The LOC has some four millions pieces in its collection.

Sir Elton John’s album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is among the newest additions saying, “nobody really knows what a hit record is. I’m not a formula writer. I didn’t think ‘Bennie and the Jets’ was a hit. I didn’t think ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ was a hit. And that’s what makes writing so special.  You do not know what you’re coming up with and how special it might become.”

Mary J Blige, whose album “My Life” has been added to the Registry noted, “my favorite lyric from the ‘My Life’ album is ‘Life can be only what you make of it.”

The oldest addition to the collection is from 1913 – “Aloha Oe” by the Hawaiian Quintette.  The original Broadway cast album for “Hamilton” is the most recent album to be included.

Chair of the National Recording Preservation Board Robbin Ahrold spoke on the new additions saying, “this year’s National Recording Registry list is an honor roll of superb American popular music from the wide-ranging repertoire of our great nation — from Hawaii to Nashville, from iconic jazz tracks to smash Broadway musicals, from Latin superstars to global pop sensations — a parade of indelible recordings spanning more than a century.”

The 2025 selections for the National Recording Registry:
“Aloha ‘Oe” by the Hawaiian Quintette (1913) (single)
“Sweet Georgia Brown” by Brother Bones & His Shadows (1949) (single)
“Happy Trails”  by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (1952) (single)
Radio Broadcast of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series  by Chuck Thompson (1960)
Harry Urata Field Recordings (1960–1980)
“Hello Dummy!” by Don Rickles (1968) (album)
“Chicago Transit Authority” by Chicago (1969) (album)
“Bitches Brew” by Miles Davis (1970) (album)
“Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'” by Charley Pride (1971) (single)
“I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy (1972) (single)
“El Rey” by Vicente Fernandez (1973) (single)
“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John (1973) (album)
“Before the Next Teardrop Falls” by Freddy Fender (1975) (single)
“I’ve Got the Music in Me” by Thelma Houston & Pressure Cooker (1975) (album)
The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett (1975) (album)
“Fly Like an Eagle” by the Steve Miller Band (1976) (album)
“Nimrod Workman Collection” (1973–1994)
“Tracy Chapman” by Tracy Chapman (1988) (album)
“My Life” by Mary J Blige (1994) (album)
Microsoft Windows Reboot Chime by Brian Eno (1995)
“My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion  (1997) (single)
“Our American Journey” by Chanticleer (2002) (album)
“Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse (2006) (album)
“Minecraft: Volume Alpha” by Daniel Rosenfeld (2011) (album)
“Hamilton” by the Original Broadway Cast Album (2015) (album)