Library of Congress picks classics by John Lennon, Led Zeppelin and more for the National Recording Registry

The Library of Congress has chosen 25 new recordings to join the National Recording Registry, including classics from John Lennon, Led Zeppelin and more.

Recordings chosen for preservation based on their “cultural, historical or aesthetic importance” include such songs as Lennon’s “Imagine,” Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and Eurhythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” along with the albums Synchronicity by The Police and Déjà Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

“The National Recording Registry preserves our history through recorded sound and reflects our nation’s diverse culture,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden shares. “The national library is proud to help ensure these recordings are preserved for generations to come, and we welcome the public’s input on what songs, speeches, podcasts or recorded sounds we should preserve next.” She noted, “We received more than 1,100 public nominations this year for recordings to add to the registry.”

With the new additions, the National Recording Registry titles are now at 625, part of a recorded sound collection of about 4 million items.