US Library of Congress also adds Blondie's ‘Parallel Lines’ to the National Recording Registry.
The US Library of Congress has finalised its annual list of albums to be preserved for posterity, with Green Day and Blondie making the cut this year.
Green Day’s breakout smash ‘Dookie’ was selected as one of the “defining sounds of history and culture”.
The 1994 album was the band’s third, and their first for a major label, and its success heralded the 90s pop-punk boom, with it going on to sell around 20 million copies to date.
“Say whaaattttt?” the band commented on social media, adding: “What an honour.”
Alongside ‘Dookie’ the punk community is also represented in this year’s National Recording Registry intake by Blondie’s 1978 landmark ‘Parallel Lines’.
Also Blondie’s third long-player, ‘Parallel Lines’ saw the New York band’s style coalesce into a robust punk-influenced power-pop that spawned international pop hits like the disco-inflected ‘Heart of Glass’ and the 60s pop stylings of ‘Sunday Girl’.
The Library of Congress selects recordings if they are deemed “audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time”, a high watermark that’s based on their “cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in [America’s] recorded sound heritage”.
In addition to Green Day and Blondie the ‘class of 2024’ also includes ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’, Perry Como’s ‘Catch a Falling Star’/‘Magic Moments’, Gene Autry’s ‘Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer’, and Bobby McFerrin’s ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’.
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said: “The Library of Congress is proud to preserve the sounds of American history and our diverse culture through the National Recording Registry. We have selected audio treasures worthy of preservation.”
Previous albums added to the Registry include Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’, Sonic Youth’s ‘Daydream Nation’, Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’, Talking Heads’ ‘Remain in Light’, The Police’s ‘Synchronicity’, Patti Smith’s ‘Horses’ and the Ramones’ first album.
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Live review: Disorder at Reading Facebar – 11th Oct 2025
Disorder, Healthy Junkies, and local punks Tape It Shut and Skinhawk brought the generations together at Reading Facebar. Disorder are still angry and all the
Book review: ‘Early Days, a conversation about art, punk & otherness’ by Penelope Houston with Maria Elena Buszek
‘Early Days, a conversation about art, punk & otherness’ by Penelope Houston of The Avengers with Maria Elena Buszek was recently published in the USA
Rats With Wings Records 5th Anniversary, The Prince Albert, Brighton 05.10.25
The Stereotypes (UK), Family Of Strangers, Noir Mates and Thee Derelique put on a punk party at Brighton’s Prince Albert to celebrate Rats With Wings
Album Review: The Menstrual Cramps say ‘We’re Not Ovaryacting’
Formed and based in Bristol, UK, The Menstrual Cramps have applaudingly never held back with their righteous manifesto. They are proudly, self described as a
Album Review: Omega Tribe prove ‘Power Pop Punk Rock’ has a future!
A particularly big fixture in the anarcho-punk scene of the early 80’s, Omega Tribe were much more tuneful than many of their peers, which made
Undercover Festival makes its unforgettable debut in Essex – Day Two review!
The second day at Undercover Festival 2025 saw even more of the best bands and artists playing, including The Stereotypes, Wyrd Sisters, Hinge, The Fanzines,
An occasional writer on punk rock.
Click on Dom’s photo for more of his articles
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
