Prince, Donna Summer Records Tapped for Library of Congress

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage(WASHINGTON) — The Library of Congress Wednesday tapped 25 recordings, from spoken-word pieces to Donna Summer‘s 1977 hit “I Feel Love” and an album from A Charlie Brown Christmas, to be inducted into its National Recording Registry in its 10th year.

To be considered for selection, the recordings had to be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” and at least 10 years old.

The recordings — which now total 350 with Wednesday’s additions — will be located in the library’s Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Va.

The Edison Talking Doll cylinder, created in 1888, was the registry’s oldest selection. It was found in 1967 in the desk of Thomas Edison’s assistant and had been made to allow children’s dolls to “talk.” It plays a recording of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” but had been considered unplayable because of the cylinder’s poor condition. In 2011, its surface was scanned in 3-D with digital mapping tools.

The most contemporary pick was Prince and the Revolution’s Purple Rain from 1984. In a first for Prince, this album — his sixth — consisted of a band, not simply the artist playing several instruments to create his unique sound. According to the Library of Congress, portions of the album were recorded in his hometown of Minneapolis.

Below is a complete list of the registry’s picks.

1. Edison Talking Doll cylinder (1888)
2. “Come Down Ma Evenin’ Star,” Lillian Russell (1912)
3. “Ten Cents a Dance,” Ruth Etting (1930)
4. “Voices from the Days of Slavery,” Various speakers (1932-1941 interviews; 2002 compilation)
5. “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” Patsy Montana (1935)
6. “Fascinating Rhythm,” Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five (1938)
7. “Artistry in Rhythm,” Stan Kenton & and his Orchestra (1943)
8. Debut performance with the New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein (Nov. 14, 1943)
9. International Sweethearts of Rhythm: Hottest Women’s Band of the 1940s (1944-1946)
10. “The Indians for Indians Hour” (March 25, 1947)
11. “Hula Medley,” Gabby Pahinui (1947)
12. “I Can Hear It Now,” Fred W. Friendly and Edward R. Murrow (1948)
13. “Let’s Go Out to the Programs,” The Dixie Hummingbirds (1953)
14. “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1954, 1958)
15. “Bo Diddley” and “I’m a Man,” Bo Diddley (1955)
16. “Green Onions,” Booker T. & the M.G.’s (1962)
17. “Forever Changes,” Love (1967)
18. “The Continental Harmony: Music of William Billings,” Gregg Smith Singers (1969)
19. “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Vince Guaraldi Trio (1970)
20. “Coat of Many Colors,” Dolly Parton (1971)
21. “Mothership Connection,” Parliament (1975)
22. Barton Hall concert by the Grateful Dead (May 8, 1977)
23. “I Feel Love,” Donna Summer (1977)
24. “Rapper’s Delight,” Sugarhill Gang (1979)
25. “Purple Rain,” Prince and the Revolution (1984)

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