The first song in our series is Howlin’ Wolf’s "Smokestack Lightning," a cornerstone of Chicago Blues. Howlin' Wolf's daughter and his longtime guitarist Hubert Sumlin talk about the importance of his music.

This hit country song was written in 1970 by Loretta Lynn. With her plaintive, but proud voice, Lynn tells the story of growing up poor in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. Lynn, Nashville veteran Harold Ray Bradley, and Jack White of The White Stripes explain what makes the song a classic.

"Radio Free Europe" was R.E.M.'s first single. It represents a breakthrough moment, when indie rock was splitting away from punk music to become its own sound. Engineer Mitch Easter, radio manager Mike Henry, and R.E.M.’s Mike Mills look back.

Bonus Track: R.E.M. Live at Tyrone's O.C. (1981)

We have a real rarity to offer: a cassette recording one of R.E.M.’s first appearances, in 1981, at the club Tyrone's O.C. in Athens, Georgia. (Audio courtesy of Mike Henry, with permission from R.E.M.)

Morton Subotnick's Silver Apples of the Moon, was the first album of all-electronic music. Released in 1967, it found favor with electronics geeks, as well as legions of stoners who soaked in its mind-blowing sounds.

Our series receives production support from the Library of Congress.

Weigh in: What recordings should be added to the Registry?