There are 25 recordings that are being added to the National Recording Registry that the US Library of Congress have announced. They are adding songs by Kool & The Gang, Janet Jackson and Kermit the Frog to name a few. You can see the full list HERE, but this is what the NRR themselves had to say about these specific submissions:

 

 

“Celebration” — Kool & the Gang (1980) (single)
‘Founded in 1964 by brothers Robert “Kool” Bell and Ronald Bell, Kool and the Gang (formerly the Jazziacs or the Soul Town Band early on) had already had hits with their songs “Ladies Night” and “Jungle Boogie,” when they released their 1980 album “Celebrate!” containing the group’s most famous and enduring song, “Celebration.”  Led by J.T. Taylor’s spirited lead vocal, it would be their biggest hit and quickly became a feature of national celebrations like the 1980 World Series, the 1981 Super Bowl and the 1981 NBA Finals. While others have released covers to great success, such as Kylie Minogue in 1992, the original remains a staple of every party DJ’s set list — be it at a high school dance or a 50th anniversary party.’

 

 

“Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814” — Janet Jackson (1989) (album)
‘Despite her record label’s wishes, Janet Jackson resisted the urge to release another album like her previous “Control” in favor of an album with more socially-conscious lyrics. On “Rhythm Nation 1814,” Jackson explores issues of race, homelessness and school violence among other topics. Musically, the album continued the productive relationship Jackson had enjoyed on “Control” with producers James “Jimmy Jam” Harris and Terry Lewis. The duo relied on drum machines and samples of street sounds, breaking glass and trash can lids to create several brief interludes between the songs that lent the album a unified feel. Jackson’s impeccable vocal timing also helped the producers build up dense multi-layered vocal mixes of the funky “Alright” and other songs on the LP. Despite such cutting edge touches, Jackson did deliver dance songs like the lively “Escapade,” but also on display were ballads like “Someday is Tonight” and even the guitar-driven rocker “Black Cat.” Even the tunes with a serious call for racial healing and political unity like “Rhythm Nation” featured catchy beats, proving that dance music and a social message are not mutually exclusive.’

 

 

“The Rainbow Connection” — Kermit the Frog (1979) (single)
‘Written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher, “The Rainbow Connection” opened the Muppets’ first foray into film in “The Muppet Movie.” The song is performed by Kermit the Frog (voiced by Jim Henson), and was produced by Williams and Jim Henson. Williams and Ascher received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song at the 52nd Academy Awards for its composition. Since then, the song has been covered dozens of times, from Judy Collins in 1980 to Kacey Musgraves in 2019, but the Kermit/Henson recording remains the iconic version of the work. It has been used as a theme song by many charitable organizations, and its plaintive message about dreams and their fulfillment remains enduring.’

 

 

All of these recordings where chosen from a public nomination pool of around 900 submissions, and have been picked based on their “cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage”. This is music that will forever be recognized as impactful, with some recordings being in other languages. Even the Rock world has former inductees like Cheap Trick, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, The Eagles and so many more. It’s not just music and musicians that make the this list though, also important broadcasts and notable recordings capturing moments in history:

 

 

 

 

 

In total, the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry now contains 575 recordings and, “…will preserve history through these vibrant recordings of music and voices that have reflected our humanity and shaped our culture from the past 143 years.”