Legislative Branch (Congress) Music

Legislative Branch (Congress) Music

Woody Guthrie, Library of Congress Recordings, vols. 1-3 (1992 box set, original release 1964)

Okay, so it's a bit of a reach, but most congressmen don't really make sweet music. But the Library of Congress, which has served as the legislative branch's research arm for two centuries, is also an incredible repository for classic American music…which gives us the perfect opportunity to hype this priceless collection of recordings by Woody Guthrie, perhaps the greatest folk musician in American history. Check it out and learn why rock stars ranging from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen have embraced Guthrie's legacy.

Parliament, Gold (2005)

Okay, so this is even more of a reach. But Congress is sort of like Parliament, and Parliament is perhaps the greatest funk band ever. And who wouldn't rather listen to the mad genius of George Clinton and his band of merry men than the, um, memorable music created by actual members of the legislative branch? (That's ex-US Senator John Ashcroft singing his own original composition, "Let the Eagle Soar," in 2002. Didn't we warn you that Parliament was better?)