Devon Strolovitch

It began as a time-filler during a lull in the writer's room; became a favorite party gag; then was captured on a 1961 album – "the comedian's Bible," says Billy Crystal.

George Jones and songwriter Bobby Braddock were a power team in country music, and certainly no strangers to sentiment. But when Jones was presented with "He Stopped Loving Her Today," by Braddock and Curly Putman, the singer was taken aback.

'O Que è Que a Bahiana Tem' was recorded by Carmen Miranda in 1939. Dori Caymmi, the son of the songwriter and biographer Martha Gil-Montero explain how the song brought Brazilian music to the global marketplace; with unforeseen consequences for Miranda.

The year 1967 saw the release of two psychedelic pop masterpieces – one globally famous (the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper), the other nearly forgotten: Forever Changes, by Love.

The New Orleans piano player Henry Roeland Byrd made a name for himself as Professor Longhair,In 1953 Atlantic records released "Tipitina." It was among the music chosen during the past year by the Library of Congress for its National Recording Registry.

Last year, the Library of Congress inducted a Captain Beefheart record into its National Recording Registry. Trout Mask Replica (1969) is part free jazz, part blues, part beat poetry.

Every year the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress selects 25 recordings to be preserved for all time. One of this year's picks is John Lee Hooker's breakthrough song 'Boogie Chillen.'