Search ErieReader.com
DonateBest of ErieTicketsAdvertiseDistributionIssuesAboutContactEventsNewsletter
Close
Donate!
Best of Erie 2025
The Reader Beat
Tickets
Newsletter Signup
Erie Reader Business Quarterly
City Guide
Events
Opinion
Features
Issues Archive
Events Calendar
Advertise
More
Arts & Culture
Business
Columns
Community
Environment
Film
From the Editors
Gem City Style
Local, Original Comics
Music Reviews
News & Politics
Recipes
Sports
Theater
Distribution Locations
About Us
Contact Us
Issue Archives
Internship Opportunities
Write for Us
Share:
Arts & Culture / EntertainmentMusic

Radiohead, Steve Martin, and Sesame Street Added to National Recording Registry

Big Bird and Thom Yorke are among the 2015 entries into the Library of Congress' collection of important recordings.

by Alex Bieler
View ProfileFacebookTwitterInstagramGoogle+RSS Feed
March 27, 2015 at 1:05 PM
Photo via Amazon

The Library of Congress' National Recording Registry named the the latest batch of entries into its hallowed vaults, and this year's group of 25 recordings feature a very interesting range of items, with everything from old wax cylinders to Radiohead's landmark album OK Computer.

That's what happens when you get a collection of recordings deemed  "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" enough for the Library of Congress to preserve. In addition to Radiohead and wax, The Doors, Joan Baez, the miseducated Lauryn Hill, Steve Martin, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's funeral, and Sesame Street all made the cut. Big Bird rocks!

Personally, I'm pumped that Radiohead made it, given that the band played a huge factor in my transistion from large, quiet child, into a large, music-loving man. It's a pretty long list, so feel free to check it out below or at the National Recording Registry's site. As for me, I'll be enjoying some nostalgia.

  • The Vernacular Wax Cylinder Recordings at University of California, Santa Barbara Library (c. 1890-1910)
  • The Benjamin Ives Gilman Collection, recorded at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago (1893)
  • "The Boys of the Lough"/"The Humours of Ennistymon" (single)—Michael Coleman (1922)
  • "Black Snake Moan" / "Match Box Blues" (single)—Blind Lemon Jefferson (1927)
  • "Sorry, Wrong Number" (episode of "Suspense" radio series, May 25, 1943)
  • "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" (single)—Johnny Mercer (1944)
  • Radio Coverage of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Funeral—Arthur Godfrey, et al. (April 14, 1945)
  • "Kiss Me, Kate" (original cast album) (1949)
  • "John Brown's Body" (album)—Tyrone Power, Judith Anderson, and Raymond Massey; directed by Charles Laughton (1953)
  • "My Funny Valentine" (single)—The Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Chet Baker (1953)
  • "Sixteen Tons" (single)—Tennessee Ernie Ford (1955)
  • "Mary Don't You Weep" (single)—The Swan Silvertones (1959)
  • "Joan Baez" (album)—Joan Baez (1960)
  • "Stand by Me" (single)—Ben E. King (1961)
  • "New Orleans' Sweet Emma Barrett and her Preservation Hall Jazz Band" (album)—Sweet Emma and her Preservation Hall Jazz Band (1964)
  • "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (single)—The Righteous Brothers (1964)
  • "The Doors" (album)—The Doors (1967)
  • "Stand!" (album)—Sly and the Family Stone (1969)
  • "Lincoln Mayorga and Distinguished Colleagues" (album)—Lincoln Mayorga (1968)
  • "A Wild and Crazy Guy" (album)—Steve Martin (1978)
  • "Sesame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites" (album)—Various (1995)
  • "OK Computer" (album)—Radiohead (1997)
  • "Old Regular Baptists: Lined-Out Hymnody from Southeastern Kentucky" (album)—Indian Bottom Association (1997)
  • "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" (album)—Lauryn Hill (1998)
  • "Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman" (album)—Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop, conductor; Joan Tower, composer (1999)

library of congressnational recording registryradioheadsteve martinsesame streetjoan baezthe doorsfdrlauryn hillbig bird

Featured Events

Today Tomorrow This Weekend

WQLN Online Auction Fundraiser

Community & Causes
May. 15th

The Downtown Edinboro Art & Music Festival

Music
May. 15th

The Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program In Erie County: Building Community Through Horticulture, Food Security, And Environmental Education

Community & Causes
May. 15th, 5:17 AM to 1:30 PM

Festival Of The Birds At Presque Isle

Outdoors & Recreation
May. 15th

Glass Growers Artist Reception: Denise Romecki & Marcia Walmer

Visual Arts
May. 15th, 5:17 AM to 7:30 PM

Submit Your Event   View Calendar

May 2026: Summer Preview
Erie Reader: Vol. 16, No. 5
View Past Issues
In This Issue
Erie Reader Business Quarterly
« Download PDF
View Articles »
Erie Reader Best of Erie City Guide 2023-2024

Popular This Week

COVID-19 Cases Rise Slightly In Erie County, Across Country

xRepresentx, Vice, Counterfeit, Cop Torture at BT

Ludacris Shows Behrend Some Southern Hospitality

Best of Erie 2014 Finalists

Hangin' Out at the South Pier

Related Articles

WhatARTu Doing on May 16?

by Gretchen Gallagher-Durney5/12/2026, 8:00 AM
Come see array of art and support Opened Eyes

Erie Philharmonic Performs Britten's War Requiem

by Thomas Taylor5/8/2026, 9:00 AM
Junior Philharmonic and Youth Chorale join for poignant reflections

Ashley Brown Steps In Time with Erie Philharmonic

by Thomas Taylor4/16/2026, 10:00 AM
While yogis asana to the violin sounds of Ann Yu

A Common Thread

by Cassandra Gripp4/15/2026, 10:45 AM
The Lake Erie Fiber Arts Guild Opens Art Show

April King's Rook Club Schedule Gets Funky, with Splashes of Metal

by Nick Warren4/10/2026, 10:00 AM
Inviting and varied lineups to shower concertgoers with grooves and more

Centennial Hall: Renovated and Ready to Go

by Larry Wheaton4/9/2026, 9:00 AM
The Menzingers set to open up refreshed venue
Member of Reporters Shield
© 2026 Great Lakes Online Media
PO Box 10963  //  Erie, PA 16514
Terms of Use Privacy Policy