aaamusic | On 24, Jun 2010

REM, Tupac Shakur and Patti Smith are among the acts who have been inducted into the Library of Congress‘ National Recording Registry.

As Reuters reports, the research library preserves “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” works which are at least 10 years old.

Featuring both songs and albums, this year’s selection features music from as early as 1913 up until 1995.

Of the list of 25, REM’s 1981 single ‘Radio Free Europe’, Patti Smith’s 1975 album ‘Horses’ and Tupac Shakur‘s 1995 song ‘Dear Mama’ are arguably the most well known entrants to the registry.

Others acts inducted include Willie Nelson’s 1975 album ‘Red Headed Stranger’, Little Richard’s 1955 single ‘Tutti Frutti’ and Howlin’ Wolf‘s 1956 track ‘Smokestack Lightning’.

In conserving the recordings, the Library of Congress will preserve and maintain the recordings and make them available to the American public.