The Library of Congress recently announced it will be adding Janet Jackson’s iconic 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814 to its National Recording Registry along with 24 other recordings. Nas’ Illmatic is also on the list to be added to the Registry.
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden made the announcement of the new additions on Wednesday (March 24).
“The National Recording Registry will preserve our history through these vibrant recordings of music and voices that have reflected our humanity and shaped our culture from the past 143 years,” Hayden said in a statement.
Other notable items on this year’s list include Labelle’s "Lady Marmalade," Louis Armstrong’s "When the Saints Go Marching In" and Kool & The Gang’s "Celebration."
“We received about 900 public nominations this year for recordings to add to the registry, and we welcome the public’s input as the Library of Congress and its partners preserve the diverse sounds of history and culture,” Hayden added.
There are a total of 575 items within the Registry, and which is just a portion of the Library’s complete sound collection that has almost four million items.
Hayden was appointed as the 14th Librarian of Congress in 2016 by former President Barack Obama. She is the first woman and first African American to hold the position.
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