The Library of Congress has selected 25 recordings for inclusion in its National Recording Registry for 2026. This year’s selections feature Weezer’s self-titled debut album, often called “The Blue Album,” and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble’s “Texas Flood.”
Each year, the National Recording Registry honors recordings that have cultural, historical or aesthetic importance to the nation’s recorded sound heritage. Other 2026 entries include Taylor Swift’s “1989,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” and the Charlie Daniels Band’s “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
The registry now holds more than 600 recordings, ranging from historic speeches to popular music releases.
Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Texas Flood”
With the release of “Texas Flood” in 1983, Vaughan became known as a leading guitar player of the decade. The album pushed him beyond the Austin, Texas, blues scene and brought national attention. The Library of Congress statement describes the album’s slower songs, including “Texas Flood” and “Lenny,” as highlighting Vaughan’s unique guitar tone, shaped by heavy strings and specific amplifier settings. The statement also notes tributes to Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy and Howlin’ Wolf on the album. “Rude Mood,” the album’s fastest song, stands out for its energy and precision.
Weezer’s “Blue Album”
Weezer’s debut arrived in 1994 during the rise of alternative rock. Produced by Ric Ocasek of the Cars, the album’s sound stood out for its power-pop hooks and sense of humor, offering a different style from grunge bands of the time. The Library of Congress describes it as “a new nerdy geek-rock charm” and calls it an “essential classic” of alternative rock. The album features hits including “Buddy Holly,” “Say It Ain’t So” and “Undone — The Sweater Song.”
Other 2026 Additions
This year’s additions also include:
– Spike Jones and His City Slickers, “Cocktails for Two” (1944)
– Pérez Prado and His Orchestra, “Mambo No. 5” (1950)
– Ruth Brown, “Teardrops From My Eyes” (1950)
– Kaye Ballard, “Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)” (1954)
– Paul Anka, “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” (1959)
– Oliver Nelson, “The Blues and the Abstract Truth” (1961)
– Ray Charles, “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” (1962)
– The Byrds, “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” (1965)
– The Winstons, “Amen, Brother” (1969)
– José Feliciano, “Feliz Navidad” (1970)
– “The Fight of the Century: Ali vs. Frazier” (March 8, 1971)
– Gladys Knight and the Pips, “Midnight Train to Georgia” (1973)
– Chicago Original Cast Album (1975)
– The Charlie Daniels Band, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (1979)
– The Go-Go’s, “Beauty and the Beat” (1981)
– Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, “Texas Flood” (1983)
– Chaka Khan, “I Feel for You” (1984)
– Jamie Principle, “Your Love” (1986) / Jamie Principle and Frankie Knuckles (1987)
– Reba McEntire, “Rumor Has It” (1990)
– Rosanne Cash, “The Wheel” (1993)
– Bobby Prince, “Doom Soundtrack” (1993)
– Vince Gill, “Go Rest High on That Mountain” (1994)
– Weezer, “Weezer (The Blue Album)” (1994)
– Beyoncé, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (2008)
– Taylor Swift, “1989” (2014)
Since its start in 2002, the registry has included early sound recordings, classic albums and notable singles spanning more than a century. Past honorees include Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Amy Winehouse, Steve Miller Band, Elton John and Green Day.
You can view the entire National Recording Registry on the Library of Congress website. Which recording do you think deserves a spot next year?