Recognizing the need to inform the public about newly issued folk recordings and audio tapes, the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress initiates this annual list of selected titles, chosen by a panel of distinguished experts from a compilation of 1983 releases prepared by the Center staff. Although not a comprehensive list, it is intended to provide a usable guide to important resources for educators, librarians, and all those interested in currently available sound recordings of American Folk music and traditional verbal arts. The titles listed here feature cultural traditions found within the United States, emphasize "root traditions" over popular adaptations of traditional materials, are conveniently available to American purchasers, and are generally well annotated with liner notes or accompanying booklets relating the recordings to their performers, their communities, genres, styles, and other pertinent information. Publishers' names and addresses of listed recordings are given, as well as major mail-order sources for folk recordings. (BZ)