Donna Summer, among others, added to National Registry

Several of Donna Summer's hits play just as well today as they did decades ago when they were first released, but one in particular has been highlighted as a historical treasure.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress has selected 25 songs that are at least 10 years old, and that also fulfill the requirement of being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Summer's 1977 smash "I Feel Love" is among them, as well as hits from Dolly Parton, the Sugarhill Gang and Prince.

But those are just the more contemporary tracks.

The Registry also digs deep into the past to find recordings like a collection of 24 interviews with former African-American slaves which were taken mostly between 1932 and 1941, as well as a cylinder recording of an unknown Thomas Edison employee singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." (In 1888, an Edison company was working on making talking dolls for kids.)

There are also performances on the list, such as Leonard Bernstein’s first performance with the New York Philharmonic in 1943, and The Grateful Dead’s Barton Hall concert in '77 at Cornell University.

This round-up is needed, said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington in a statement Wednesday, because "America’s sound heritage is an important part of the nation’s history and culture." The selections for the 2011 list "reflect the diversity and creativity of the American experience."

The 25 new additions, listed below, bring the total number of recordings preserved for future listening in the National Recording Registry to 350.

1. Edison Talking Doll cylinder (1888)
2. "Come Down Ma Evenin’ Star," Lillian Russell (1912)
3. "Ten Cents a Dance," Ruth Etting (1930)
4. "Voices from the Days of Slavery," Various speakers (1932-1941 interviews; 2002 compilation)
5. "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart," Patsy Montana (1935)
6. "Fascinating Rhythm," Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five (1938)
7. "Artistry in Rhythm," Stan Kenton & and his Orchestra (1943)
8. Debut performance with the New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein (November 14, 1943)
9. International Sweethearts of Rhythm: Hottest Women’s Band of the 1940s (1944-1946)
10. "The Indians for Indians Hour" (March 25, 1947)
11. "Hula Medley," Gabby Pahinui (1947)
12. "I Can Hear It Now," Fred W. Friendly and Edward R. Murrow (1948)
13. "Let’s Go Out to the Programs," The Dixie Hummingbirds (1953)
14. "Also Sprach Zarathustra," Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1954, 1958)
15. "Bo Diddley" and "I’m a Man," Bo Diddley (1955)
16. "Green Onions," Booker T. & the M.G.’s (1962)
17. "Forever Changes," Love (1967)
18. "The Continental Harmony: Music of William Billings," Gregg Smith Singers (1969)
19. "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Vince Guaraldi Trio (1970)
20. "Coat of Many Colors," Dolly Parton (1971)
21. "Mothership Connection," Parliament (1975)
22. Grateful Dead concert at Barton Hall  (May 8, 1977)
23. "I Feel Love," Donna Summer (1977)
24. "Rapper's Delight," Sugarhill Gang (1979)
25. "Purple Rain," Prince and the Revolution (1984)