I recently wrote an article on this year’s selections for the National Recording Registry. You can read about the newest honorees and get more info on the list here, but now, suffice it to say that since 2002, the Library of Congress has been recognizing recorded works for their historical and cultural significance. There are currently 600 recordings on the Registry.
More than half of those recordings are music. The biggest genre is designated as Pop, but Jazz, R&B, Country, Dance, Folk, and Hip-Hop also have many entries. It is an impressive collection, selected by the Librarian of Congress in consultation with curators and experts from various fields.
Even so, they are missing some worthy choices. The public is encouraged to submit suggestions for inclusion, and so I intend to do my part. I won’t come close to the 50-suggestion limit, but I will humbly offer up the following fifteen music recordings for consideration.
What should be added to the National Recording Registry
Some may be a bit off the beaten path. Others – well, to be honest, I’m a little surprised that some of these weren’t recognized long ago. The extremely open eligibility requirements state that the recording must be at least 10 years old and must still exist in its original form. I’m pretty sure all my suggestions are already on Spotify, so I think they will qualify.
Beyond that, the recordings must be “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” With that in mind, here is one music fan’s opinion on which recordings should be added to the Registry in 2026. We’ll go in chronological order.
Wanda Jackson (Album, Wanda Jackson, 1958 – Pop)
The self-titled debut album from the original queen of rockabilly. Her wild, uninhibited rendition of Jessie Mae Robinson’s “Let’s Have a Party” set a standard for female rock & roll shouters for decades to come. Featuring outstanding early guitar work from the likes of Buck Owens, Vernon Sandusky, and Roy Clark.
“What a Way to Die” (Single, the Pleasure Seekers, 1965 – Pop)
Suzi Quatro and her sisters blasted out of Detroit in the mid-‘60s playing hard rock with the best of the boys. They released a handful of singles in the 1960s that gave garage rock a raucous female touch. Alas, the Pleasure Seekers were well ahead of their time. Quatro would have to go to England in the 1970s to achieve major success.
John Prine (Album, John Prine, 1971 – Folk)
The debut album from one of the most important American singer-songwriters of the last fifty years. Contains classics like “Angel From Montgomery,” “Sam Stone,” and “Paradise.”
Nashville (Album, Assorted Artists, 1975 – Soundtrack)
The soundtrack album from Robert Altman’s magnificent film Nashville featured both actors and recording artists alike playing and singing a collection of original songs that simultaneously pay homage to and satirize the entire scene in Music City.
The music is virtually non-stop in the film, and much of that feeling is captured on the soundtrack release, which included the Oscar-winning song “I’m Easy” by Keith Carradine.
Never Mind the Bullocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (Album, The Sez Pistols, 1977 – Pop)
A couple of things to establish. This is as far from “pop” as you are likely to find. But as of now, the registry makes no distinction between pop and harder forms of rock. That is why Metallica and the Ramones are often classified as “pop.”
Second, the Sex Pistols are a British Band who recorded this album in London. Should it be considered for inclusion on an American registry? Well, there are already a handful of similarly non-American recordings like Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and the Wailers’ Burnin’ on the list, so I need some further clarification on that.
Those issues aside, how can this album be ignored? It is one of the most significant influences on hard rock ever released.
“Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys” (Single, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, 1978 – Country)
Willie Nelson is already on the Registry for Red Headed Stranger. Waylon Jennings is not. Enough said.
Double Nickels on the Dime (Album, Minutemen, 1984 – Pop)
There is precious little punk music on the Registry. The Ramones are the only true punk act. Patti Smith, Nirvana, Green Day, and Sonic Youth each hover in punk’s orbit. Other than Sonic Youth’s Daydream Nation, the Registry contains nothing from the post-hardcore ‘80s.
I may have to push a little harder for this, but Minutemen’s epic double-album, which raised the bar for all punk artists in terms of breadth of songwriting, is very deserving.
“Highwayman” (Single, The Highwaymen, 1985 – Country)
Did I mention that Waylon Jennings needs to be on the list? With this historic outlaw country song, you also get Kris Kristofferson, along with Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, both of whom are already recognized.
“Walk This Way” (Single, Run-DMC and Aerosmith, 1986 – Rap/Hip Hop)
All right – I am stepping out of line here. Run-DMC’s album Raising Hell is appropriately recognized on the Registry. “Walk This Way” is on that album. But to me, this single is so significant that it needs recognition all by itself. It is the inflection point where Rock and Hip Hop switched places. All right - maybe I'm being greedy here.
Demanding double recognition. Maybe I'll pull "Walk This Way" and substitute Raekwon's 1995 album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... With RZA's production and the pairing of Raekwon and Ghostface, that album is not only highly influential—it's simply outstanding.
“Tom’s Diner” (Single, Suzanne Vega, 1987 & 1990 – Pop)
Once again, stepping out of line. I want this recording to be recognized in two separate ways. Vega’s original a cappella recording from 1987 has massive cultural significance as the original MP3 song. It also became one of the most significant early remixes when DNA released their version of Vega’s voice with musical accompaniment in 1990. Plus, it’s a good song.
Read My Mind (Album, Reba McEntire, 1994 – Country)
Reba needs to be included in the Registry. She is one of the biggest-selling artists of all time. In addition to its great commercial success, this album had enormous cultural significance. “She Thinks His Name Was John” was the first popular country song about AIDS. Reba helped break down the door that conservative country music stations had kept locked from Nashville’s earliest days.
The Marshall Mathers LP (Album, Eminem, 2000 – Rap/Hip Hop)
The Registry has done an excellent job curating its Hip-Hop collection. It’s 16 entries that include crucial albums from the Notorious B.I.G., A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, N.W.A., and Public Enemy. Lauryn Hill and Queen Latifah are recognized as vital singles like “The Message,” “La Di Da Di,” and “Rapper’s Delight.” Still, there are holes.
One of the most obvious is Eminem. His third LP was very controversial and dealt with many unpleasant subjects, from the opening track, “Kill You,” to “Kim” and beyond. It also contains one of his most iconic numbers, “Stan.” Like the Sex Pistols’ album above, this is difficult material, but its cultural impact is undeniable.
O Brother, Where Art Thou (Album, Various Artists, 2000 – Soundtrack)
This collection of traditional and original recordings formed the sensational soundtrack of the Coen Brothers’ 2000 film of the same name. Produced by T-Bone Burnett, it became a surprise smash both on the mainstream and country charts. The brilliant collection of Americana music has sold more than eight million copies.
Get Away From Me (Album, Nellie McKay, 2004 – Pop)
Perhaps a bit obscure, this stunning collection of original music was created by McKay when she was just 21 years old. A double disc that ranges from torch songs to rap, it is filled with wit, insight, and outstanding songwriting that captures a great deal of what American music is about.
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Album, Kanye West, 2010 – Rap/Hip Hop)
Think whatever you like about Ye (or about Eminem above). Any list that purports to capture the most impactful American music of the past several decades without his music is incomplete. MBDTF is a massive, over-the-top production that captures much of what makes Hip Hop the most significant musical force in America over the past fifty years.
Those are my suggestions. You can get info on offering your own at the Registry’s website.