Led Zeppelin's 1971 rock anthem "Stairway to Heaven" and Peter, Paul and Mary's classic 1963 recording of "Blowin' in the Wind" are among 21 new additions to the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Recording Academy announced today (Jan. 24). The majority of the new entries represent classic recordings from the 1960s and '70s. The inductees bring the number of hall of fame recordings to 606.
"The purpose of the hall of fame is to spotlight recorded musical masterpieces that have significantly impacted our musical history," Recording Academy president Neil Portnow says. "This year's selections are outstanding recordings and compositions of social significance that uniquely represent pieces of our country's cultural history."
In addition to "Blowin' in the Wind," five other entries from the 1960s were chosen, including Judy Collins' "Both Sides Now" (1968), Henry Mancini's film theme "Days of Wine and Roses" (1963), and Petula Clark's hit "Downtown" (1964).
Eleven recordings from the 1970s were inducted. Among them were the Eagles' single "Hotel California" (1977), Carole King's hit "It's Too Late" (1971), Bruce Springsteen's album "Born to Run" (1975), Ike & Tina Turner's version of "Proud Mary" (1971), Paul Simon's album "Still Crazy After All These Years" (1975), Elton John's double album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973), and Fleetwood Mac's album "Rumours" (1977).
The oldest recording to be inducted this year is Ethel Waters' 1933 version of "Stormy Weather." Also joining the hall of fame are jazz legend Thelonious Monk's 1949 album "The Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 & 2," the New York Philharmonic's 1956 recording of "Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99," and the Flamingos' 1959 single "I Only Have Eyes for You."
"The purpose of the hall of fame is to spotlight recorded musical masterpieces that have significantly impacted our musical history," Recording Academy president Neil Portnow says. "This year's selections are outstanding recordings and compositions of social significance that uniquely represent pieces of our country's cultural history."
In addition to "Blowin' in the Wind," five other entries from the 1960s were chosen, including Judy Collins' "Both Sides Now" (1968), Henry Mancini's film theme "Days of Wine and Roses" (1963), and Petula Clark's hit "Downtown" (1964).
Eleven recordings from the 1970s were inducted. Among them were the Eagles' single "Hotel California" (1977), Carole King's hit "It's Too Late" (1971), Bruce Springsteen's album "Born to Run" (1975), Ike & Tina Turner's version of "Proud Mary" (1971), Paul Simon's album "Still Crazy After All These Years" (1975), Elton John's double album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973), and Fleetwood Mac's album "Rumours" (1977).
The oldest recording to be inducted this year is Ethel Waters' 1933 version of "Stormy Weather." Also joining the hall of fame are jazz legend Thelonious Monk's 1949 album "The Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 & 2," the New York Philharmonic's 1956 recording of "Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99," and the Flamingos' 1959 single "I Only Have Eyes for You."
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