Don McLean and the Rest of the National Library of Congress

Don McClean made more news a few weeks ago when it was revealed that his tune “American Pie” (the day the music died), Buddy Holly plane crash 1959 would be secured in the National Library of Congress. In what’s called the National Recording Registry, recordings that culturally or historically reflect life in the United States are admitted. Think of it as the Hall of Fame for audio that should be kept in a time capsule for the next thousand years.

Who or what else is in the National Library of Congress? How about songs from The Who, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, “Respect” from Aretha Franklin, “Roll Over Beethoven” from Elvis, Chuck Berry, “Born to Run” from Bruce Springsteen, the album ‘Pet Sounds’ from the Beach Boys, Nirvana’s “Never Mind,” Jimi Hendrix and “Are You Experienced,” Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life,” I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” from the Rolling Stones, the LP ‘Graceland’ from Paul Simon, Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ LP, and more.

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