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Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Like much of the world, the Library of Congress is very saddened to hear of the passing of the great Stephen Sondheim. Mr. Sondheim passed away on Friday at age 91. While already missing him, we take comfort in all that he left behind for us. Not surprisingly, Mr. Sondheim is well represented on the …
Posted in: Musical Theater, National Recording Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
For many, it has become as much of a Thanksgiving tradition as turkey and dressing. Arlo Guthrie’s immortal recording “Alice’s Restaurant Massacre” was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2017. Not long after, music journalist Hank Reineke kindly wrote about it for the Library. In honor of this holiday, we share …
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Recorded Sound, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Like most people, we were very saddened to hear of the passing of the great Mort Sahl last week at the age of 94. About 10 years ago, Sahl’s landmark comedy album, “At Sunset” (1955), was added to the Library’s National Recording Registry. In 2017, the Library was able to sit down with Sahl to …
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Recorded Sound, Uncategorized
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BOSS! In honor of Bruce Springsteen’s birthday today, author Tyler Hayes pays tribute to Springsteen’s legendary album “Born to Run,” added to the National Registry in 2003. Two albums into his career, Bruce Springsteen’s music trajectory was not set to contain notoriety. He was on a path that would soon see …
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Recorded Sound
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
The Library of Congress is very saddened to hear of the passing of Sarah Dash, powerhouse vocalist, true diva and onetime member of the group Labelle. Earlier this year, after Labelle’s legendary “Lady Marmalade” was added to the Library’s National Recording Registry, the LC spoke with Ms. Dash about her remarkable hit and career. Our …
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Recorded Sound, Uncategorized
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Today, on the anniversary of Booker T. Washington’s historic Atlantic speech, we look back at the recording Washington made of it in 1908, so that his words would not be lost to history. Professor Jacqueline M. Moore does the honors for the recording added to the National Registry in 2002. Booker T. Washington’s 1895 Address …
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Recorded Sound, Uncategorized
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Sixty-two years ago today, a group of talented singers gathered in Fyffe, Alabama, to recording a remarkable, one of a kind album utilizing “shape-note singing.” The Library’s own Matt Barton examines the resulting recording that was named to the Library’s National Registry in 2010. “If you don’t like it [Sacred Harp singing] you had better …
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Recorded Sound
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
As the great Bob Newhart turns 91 today, the Library of Congress, with the assistance of Professor Wayne Federman, looks back at his seminal, star-making album “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” released in 1960 and added to the Library’s National Recording Registry in 2006. “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” is one of the most …
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Spoken Word
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
“Tiger Rag” by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in its inaugural year of 2002. In this essay, author Tim Gracyk explains why. Few tunes have been recorded as often as “Tiger Rag.” It is one of the earliest jazz tunes to evolve into …
Posted in: National Recording Registry, Recorded Sound