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Re: [ARSCLIST] Fw: Nat'l Recordings Registry
I'm not sure why anyone thought the National Recording Registry was exclusively concerned with preservation. Like it has been in previous yeas and like the National Film Registry, it combines historical with preservation concerns, and attempts to be broadly representative of American music. It will never be perfect with respect to the latter concern, but I thought it wasn't too shabby. And I wouldn't hesitate to say if it was.
The "criticism" of the choice Public Enemy smells like pure ignorant classism or racism to me. One might have chosen a different recording (e.g. BDP's "Criminal Minded", Run DMC's "Raising Hell" or PE's earlier "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back") as a more historically important crossover/breakthrough record, but Black Planet was pretty close at least.
I may be reading too much into previous posts, but I think it's significant that this recording was singled out among the many on the new registry that are still in print, and, goodness me, it just happens to be a hip-hop record, meaning it was made by black musicians not sufficiently insulated by 40+ years from some folks' far too delicate ears.
For the record, though I work at the Library of Congress, I had nothing whatsoever to do with the choice of recordings or anything at all to do with the Registry of Recordings. Also, these opinions are mine alone and don't reflect any official policy of the Library, the Registry, or anyone else.
James
>>> dick@xxxxxxxx 04/08/05 1:19 PM >>>
this dialogue began a couple of days ago. I thought it might be of
broader interest.
Dick
----- Forwarded by Dick Spottswood/dick/AmericanU on 04/08/2005 01:17 PM
-----
Joe Wilson <joe@xxxxxxxx>
04/07/2005 11:19 PM
To: "Bill Nowlin" <bnowlin@xxxxxxxxxxx>
cc: "Catherine Hiebert Kerst" <cker@xxxxxxx>,
<art.menius@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Matthew Barton" <mbarton@xxxxxxx>,
<desmaele5str@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <jhick@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
<sdunner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <malcolm.taylor@xxxxxxxxx>,
<McEnaneyC@xxxxxxxxxx>, <jabbour@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "John Barton"
<jbar@xxxxxxx>, <rdnevins@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "Doris M Craig" <dcra@xxxxxxx>,
<MKAldin@xxxxxxx>, <Flawn@xxxxxxx>, "Nora Yeh" <nyeh@xxxxxxx>,
<ncohen@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, <dacor@xxxxxxx>, <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
<RhythmNow@xxxxxxx>, "Ken Irwin" <kirwin@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "Gene Berry"
<gber@xxxxxxx>, "Theadocia Millich Austen" <taus@xxxxxxx>, "Judy Ng"
<jng@xxxxxxx>, <cwolfe@xxxxxxxx>, "Jennifer A Cutting" <jcut@xxxxxxx>,
<bergeyb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <don.fleming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Stephen Winick"
<swinick@xxxxxxx>, <mcliff@xxxxxxxx>, "Peter T Bartis" <peba@xxxxxxx>,
"Guha Shankar" <gshankar@xxxxxxx>, "Ann Hoog" <ahoo@xxxxxxx>, "Ilana
Harlow" <ihar@xxxxxxx>, "Sarah Bradley Leighton" <slei@xxxxxxx>,
<morningjew@xxxxxxxxx>, "Michael Taft" <mtaf@xxxxxxx>,
<pete@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <sheehyd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Stephanie
Aileen Hall" <shal@xxxxxxx>, <jacob@xxxxxxxxxxxx>,
<penguineggs@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <janet.topp-fargion@xxxxx>, <BurgessR@xxxxxx>,
<askmike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Marcia Segal" <mseg@xxxxxxx>, "Jonathan
Gold" <jongold@xxxxxxx>, <Pmkennedy@xxxxxxx>, <daryl@xxxxxxxxxx>, "David A
Taylor" <dtay@xxxxxxx>, "Margaret Kruesi" <mkru@xxxxxxx>,
<charlie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Judith A Gray" <jugr@xxxxxxx>,
<rod@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Peggy Bulger" <mbul@xxxxxxx>,
<T80MJP1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Dick Spottswood" <dick@xxxxxxxx>, "Todd
Harvey" <tharvey@xxxxxxx>, "Valda Morris" <vmor@xxxxxxx>,
<rmusgrave@xxxxxxxxx>, <hnuttall@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <mike@xxxxxxxxxx>,
<ThompsonFandC@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Nat'l Recordings Registry
I can define the problem in two words: James Billington. It has
become another "national hits" list and accompanying blather because
the Librarian wants it that way. When the legislation was passed
Mickey Hart, Fred Leiberman and me were on the Hill and worked to
persuade the main sponsors (mainly Steny Hoyer) to include collections
and other material truly endangered in the list of materials that would
be considered for inclusion. They agreed, Mr. Hoyer was very cordial,
some changes were made in the legislation, and we thought all was fine.
But here a few years later we have a blather list of hits, not one
item really endangered. I hear that the problem is the Librarian; that
he likes to whoop it up on the stump for highly visible preservation,
and get lots of attention. But I think this list proves that this
program is totally unconcerned with preservation and is worse than
useless because it creates the illusion that something is being done.
So I hereby join up with Dick and Bill to create the Raspberry Trio.
Maybe the Yolo boy out in California will want to come forth and we can
all get together and discuss adjustments. There are still some people
on the Hill who worry about such matters as misrepresentation and
baloney programs. Joe Wilson
On Apr 7, 2005, at 11:49 AM, Bill Nowlin wrote:
> Dick, you old fuddy-duddy, don't you think it is important to preserve
> hip-hop superstar Chuck D's album "Fear of a Black Planet"? The
> album came out fifteen years ago, on the obscure Def-Jam label.
> Copies of this rare album are selling for as much as $10.99 new from
> retailer Amazon.com. Surely, the time to act is now.
>
>
>
> Bill
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear Jen,
>
> Looks to me as though the list is turning into one more Greatest Hits
> compilation. I thought the idea of the Registry was to identify for
> preservation purposes important recordings whose future existence is
> in peril.
>
> Dick Spottswood
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Jennifer A Cutting" <jcut@xxxxxxx>
>
> 04/07/2005 10:24 AM
>
>
> To: <charlie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> <don.fleming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <dacor@xxxxxxx>, <Flawn@xxxxxxx>,
> <MKAldin@xxxxxxx>, <Pmkennedy@xxxxxxx>, <RhythmNow@xxxxxxx>,
> <ThompsonFandC@xxxxxxx>, <bergeyb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> <janet.topp-fargion@xxxxx>, <askmike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> <mike@xxxxxxxxxx>, <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <malcolm.taylor@xxxxxxxxx>,
> <sheehyd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <daryl@xxxxxxxxxx>,
> <desmaele5str@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <penguineggs@xxxxxxxxxxx>,
> <hnuttall@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Ann Hoog" <ahoo@xxxxxxx>, "Catherine
> Hiebert Kerst" <cker@xxxxxxx>, "Doris M Craig" <dcra@xxxxxxx>, "David
> A Taylor" <dtay@xxxxxxx>, "Gene Berry" <gber@xxxxxxx>, "Guha Shankar"
> <gshankar@xxxxxxx>, "Ilana Harlow" <ihar@xxxxxxx>, "John Barton"
> <jbar@xxxxxxx>, "Jennifer A Cutting" <jcut@xxxxxxx>, "Judy Ng"
> <jng@xxxxxxx>, "Jonathan Gold" <jongold@xxxxxxx>, "Judith A Gray"
> <jugr@xxxxxxx>, "Matthew Barton" <mbarton@xxxxxxx>, "Peggy Bulger"
> <mbul@xxxxxxx>, "Margaret Kruesi" <mkru@xxxxxxx>, "Marcia Segal"
> <mseg@xxxxxxx>, "Michael Taft" <mtaf@xxxxxxx>, "Nora Yeh"
> <nyeh@xxxxxxx>, "Peter T Bartis" <peba@xxxxxxx>, "Stephanie Aileen
> Hall" <shal@xxxxxxx>, "Sarah Bradley Leighton" <slei@xxxxxxx>,
> "Stephen Winick" <swinick@xxxxxxx>, "Theadocia Millich Austen"
> <taus@xxxxxxx>, "Todd Harvey" <tharvey@xxxxxxx>, "Valda Morris"
> <vmor@xxxxxxx>, <cwolfe@xxxxxxxx>, <rod@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> <jabbour@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <McEnaneyC@xxxxxxxxxx>, <joe@xxxxxxxx>,
> <jacob@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, <billn@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <keni@xxxxxxxxxxx>,
> <sdunner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <BurgessR@xxxxxx>, <jhick@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> <ncohen@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, <pete@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> <rdnevins@xxxxxxxxxxx>, <dick@xxxxxxxx>, <mcliff@xxxxxxxx>,
> <art.menius@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, <rmusgrave@xxxxxxxxx>,
> <T80MJP1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <morningjew@xxxxxxxxx>
> cc:
> Subject: Nat'l Recordings Registry
>
>
>
>
> In case you haven't gotten around to reading about this, I'm copying
> you all on an SEM list posting about the new National Recordings
> Registry selections... or, just go to the link on the Library's home
> page at www.loc.gov!
>
> I'm happy to see that, standing right alongside Nirvana and the Beach
> Boys -- are Jimmie Rodgers, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Flatt & Scruggs,
> and Muddy Waters. Lots of good stuff there. Check it out!
>
> Jennifer
>
> =========
>
> Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 15:12:16 -0500
> From: Suzanne Flandreau <sflandreau@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: National Recording Registry for 2004
>
> Friends:
>
> The third round of selections for the National Recording Registry was
> announced yesterday. The registry names especially important or
> significant recordings in a number of fields. Tony Seeger is SEM's
> representative to the National Recording Preservation Board and I am
> alternate. We both voted
> on the nominations to the list, which was then selected by the
> Librarian of Congress. Note also that the NRPB has begun to deal with
> the issues of archiving and preservation.
>
> The list of this year's selections is at
> http://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/nrpb-2004reg.html and the entire
> list so far is at
> http://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/nrpb-masterlist.html .
>
> This year the collections of field recordings named to the list were
> represented by a single performance, although entire collections were
> named in previous years. The press release is pasted below. Note that
> nominations for the next list will be accepted until July 1, 2005. We
> encourage you to send in nominations of historically, culturally or
> technologically important ethnomusicological collections.
>
> Suzanne Flandreau
> For Tony Seeger and the NRPB
>
> April 5, 2005
>
> LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS NAMES 50 RECORDINGS
> TO THE 2004 NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY
>
> Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has made his annual
> selection of 50 sound recordings for the National Recording Registry.
> Under the terms of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000,
> the Librarian is responsible for annually selecting recordings that
> are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
> Registry recordings must be at least 10 years old. In announcing the
> registry, the Librarian said, "Once again, we have the opportunity to
> celebrate the rich variety of music
> recorded in the United States and the importance of sound recording
> in our lives."
> The National Recording Registry was created by the National Recording
> Preservation Act of 2000, legislation that promotes and supports audio
> preservation. The registry celebrates the richness and variety of the
> nation's audio legacy and underscores the responsibility to assure the
> long-term preservation of that legacy for future generations.
> Congressman Steny Hoyer was one of the sponsors of the legislation
> establishing the first nationwide effort to preserve the nation's
> sound recordings. "I am pleased we are adding 50 sound recordings to
> the National Recording Registry to ensure that future generations will
> be able to hear and experience the musical selections which have
> become a part of this country's heritage," he said.
> Nominations for the registry were gathered from members of the
> public, who submitted suggestions online (www.loc.gov/nrpb), and from
> the National Recording Preservation Board, which comprises leaders in
> the fields of music, recorded sound and preservation. The board also
> assisted the Librarian with the review of nominations. The new
> additions to the registry honor a wide variety of outstanding spoken
> and musical recordings. Among the selections is the sound recording
> of one of 20th century's greatest scientific achievements - the
> landing on the moon - which was beamed into homes throughout the
> world. The registry also
> highlights the use of sound in the natural sciences, as demonstrated
> through Professor Katharine Payne's revelatory recordings of
> elephants. Selections include a number of significant political
> recordings, as well as the first complete recording of the Bible.
> Hip-hop superstar Chuck D, whose album "Fear of a Black Planet " was
> added to the registry, and Michael Feinstein, one of the premier
> interpreters of American popular song, attended the news conference to
> discuss the importance of sound preservation. Feinstein paid tribute
> to George Gershwin and Fred and Adele Astaire's 1926 recording of
> "Fascinating Rhythm," by
> performing it on Gershwin's own piano, now at the Library of Congress
> and on view in the George and Ira Gershwin Room, a permanent
> exhibition for materials from the Library's extensive Gershwin
> Collection. The Astaire-Gershwin recording was named to the third
> annual registry. On behalf of Congress and the National Recording
> Preservation Board, the Library of Congress is conducting a study on
> the state of audio preservation
> and will develop a comprehensive national recording preservation
> program, the first of its kind. The study encompasses the current
> state of sound-recording archiving, preservation, restoration
> activities and access to those recordings by scholars and the public.
> The Council on Library and Information Resources is assisting the
> Library in conducting the audio preservation study.
> The Library is identifying and preserving the best existing versions
> of the recordings on the registry. These efforts have received support
> from record companies and archives. Sony BMG, in particular, is
> assisting the national preservation program by locating the best
> surviving elements of its recordings and duplicating them at no cost
> to the Library, ensuring that the
> best existing versions are added to the National Recording Registry
> Collection at the Library of Congress.
> The Library is currently accepting nominations for the 2005 National
> Recording Registry at the National Recording Preservation Board Web
> site, www.loc.gov/nrpb. The deadline for public nominations is July
> 1, 2005. The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal
> cultural institution and the world's largest library with more than
> 130 million items, which includes nearly 3 million sound recordings.
> The Library's Recorded Sound
> Section holds the largest number of radio broadcasts in the United
> States - more than 500,000.
>
>
>
>
> =======================================
> Jennifer A. Cutting, Folklife Specialist (Reference)
> Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center
> Library of Congress
> 101 Independence Ave., SE
> Washington, D.C. 20540-4610
> vox: (202) 707-1731 (personal desk)
> (202) 707-5510 (reference desk)
> fax: (202) 707-2076
> email: jcut@xxxxxxx
> =======================================
> "A nation creates music -- the composer only
> arranges it."
> Bela Bartok