Every year starting in 2002, the Library of Congress names 25 recordings to its National Recording Registry, a collection of works deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”
These can be songs, albums, or spoken word broadcasts — the only restriction is that they be at least 10 years old and they physically exist. Members of the public are welcome to submit nominations.
Last week, the Library released its newest batch of inductees, and I’ll highlight five of them this week.
Kicking things off is a 1938 recording of ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ by Louis Armstrong, which the Library notes is the “first jazz recording of the famous hymn.”
Now when the saints go marching in (marching in)
Yes, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
Lord we’ve got a home
Now when the saints (when the saints) go marching in (marching in)
Oh when the saints go marching in (marching in)
Yes, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in
So interesting all the thing we don’t know about. This number certainly belongs in this collection!
I have always loved Armstrong’s voice and style. This is a good first choice to kick off the nominations