WASHINGTON (AP) – One of the most broadcast songs of the 20th century, Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me,” has been selected for preservation at the Library of Congress, along with recordings from Joan Baez, The Righteous Brothers, Steve Martin and the darker sounds of the band Radiohead.
Twenty-five sound recordings spanning from 1890 to 1999 were added Wednesday to the library’s National Recording Registry. Each year the library chooses recordings that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”
Some of the unforgettable tunes being archived include “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive” from Johnny Mercer in 1944, Baez’s first solo album, The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” and Steve Martin’s “A Wild and Crazy Guy” comedy album, which broke new ground in the 1970s as Martin broke out of formulaic jokes and punchlines for less predictable humor.
Upon hearing of his archive-worthy achievement, Martin deadpanned: “I could not be more proud of this honor. This means the record was probably funny.”
The Library of Congress has been seeking to preserve important sound recordings for 15 years under terms of a preservation act passed by Congress.