Video

Stevie Wonder To Adele: Album Of The Year GRAMMY Rewind

Take a trip through GRAMMY history and look back at some of the incredible artists and albums that have been recognized for the Album Of The Year

Nate Hertweck

GRAMMYs

Jan 19, 2018 - 3:54 pm

For recording artists, the GRAMMY for Album Of The Year represents one of the highest honors for a collection of songs. One look at the storied list of previous winners reminds us of the historic weight the award carries. From seminal albums by Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Raitt and Lauryn Hill to artists with multiple wins such as Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift, the GRAMMY for Album Of The Year is the ultimate honor.

While hit singles throughout recorded music's history have always lit up radio's airwaves, electrified DJ sets or racked up massive streaming metrics, the holistic experience of listening to an album has remained meaningful — even essential — for the many passionate music fans. On the artist's side, ever since vinyl-cutting technology introduced the long-playing 33-1/3 format, true artists have labored over crafting a collection of songs that is cohesive, dynamic, inspired, and rich.

Over the years, the album format has yielded masterpieces in many forms, from concept albums to film and TV soundtracks to hit-packed track lists. A great album can come in many shapes and sizes. So what makes an album great? Simply put, when the whole of its collection becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

The first artist to win Album Of The Year at the inaugural GRAMMYs was Henry Mancini for The Music From Peter Gunn, and notable winners in the first three decades of GRAMMY history include three-time winner Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, the Beatles, Carole King, and Michael Jackson.

More recently, the Album Of The Year has been awarded to artists spanning many genres and styles, such as U2, Whitney Houston, Bob Dylan, Alanis Morissette, Norah Jones, OutKast, Dixie Chicks, and Daft Punk.

In 2016 Swift became the first female artist to win Album Of The Year twice for her solo recordings when her landmark pop album 1989 took home top honors at the 58th GRAMMY Awards, closely followed by Adele's second Album Of The Year win for 25 at the 59th GRAMMYs.

Who will be prevail on Music's Biggest Night as this year's Album Of The Year? Tune in to the 60th GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Jan. 28 to find out.

Here Are This Year's Contenders For Album Of The Year | 60th GRAMMY Awards

News

Album Of The Year GRAMMY Winners: '80s

Michael Jackson, Bonnie Raitt and U2 are among the artists who took home music's biggest album prize

THE GRAMMYs

GRAMMYs

May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am

An incalculable number of albums have been released in music history, but only 58 have earned the coveted distinction of Album Of The Year GRAMMY winner so far. From Henry Mancini's The Music From Peter Gunn to Taylor Swift's 1989, some of these elite albums have arguably surprised, some were seemingly consensus choices and still others have fostered lasting debate. In part three of Album Of The Year GRAMMY Winners, explore the albums that won — and were runners-up for — music's biggest prize for the 1980s.

1980 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross

Christopher Cross is the only artist in GRAMMY history to land "the big four" — Album Of The Year, Best New Artist, Record Of The Year, and Song Of The Year — in a single year. Cross took flight this year on the wings of his debut solo album and its lilting hit single "Sailing," which also won for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for Cross and producer Michael Omartian. Cross penned nine pop gems, and Omartian lined up top-flight session men and notable backing contributions from Michael McDonald, Don Henley and Eric Johnson, among others. Within the next year, Cross would win a Best Original Song Oscar for "Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do)" (co-written with Peter Allen, Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager) for the Dudley Moore comedy, but future efforts would not attain similar commercial success.

Other Nominees:
Glass Houses, Billy Joel
The Wall, Pink Floyd
Trilogy: Past, Present, Future, Frank Sinatra
Guilty, Barbra Streisand

1981 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Double Fantasy
John Lennon & Yoko Ono

This year's Album Of The Year winner was a favorite driven by both an artistic and emotional resonance: John Lennon's "comeback" album, recorded with wife Yoko Ono, was his first since taking five years off to raise his son Sean. For fans, the fact that Double Fantasy was released less than a month before Lennon was murdered outside his New York City apartment building makes some of its more impressionable songs ("Beautiful Boy [Darling Boy]," "[Just Like] Starting Over," "I'm Losing You," "Watching The Wheels") that much more precious. Some critics took issue with the album's slickness — it was the '80s, after all — but it was hard to challenge songs radiating such buoyant happiness and peaceful self-content.

Other Nominees:
Mistaken Identity, Kim Carnes
Breakin' Away, Al Jarreau
The Dude, Quincy Jones
Gaucho, Steely Dan

1982 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Toto IV
Toto

It was a very good year for Toto, the group comprised of some of the busiest on-call musicians on the Los Angeles studio scene. In addition to Album Of The Year, Toto took home Record Of The Year for the catchy cut "Rosanna," named for (but not about) keyboardist Steve Porcaro's then-girlfriend, actress Rosanna Arquette. The group was named Producer Of The Year and Toto IV was also named Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical. To top it off, keyboarist David Paich was honored with a GRAMMY for Best Vocal Arrangement For Two Or More Voices, and Paich, Jerry Hey and Jeff Porcaro were honored for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s), in both cases for "Rosanna." Like groups such as Booker T. & The MG's before them, Toto proved the depth of talent in America's finest session musicians.

Toto - Rosanna

Other Nominees:
The Nightfly, Donald Fagen
The Nylon Curtain, Billy Joel
Tug Of War, Paul McCartney
American Fool, John Cougar Mellencamp

1983 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Thriller
Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's Thriller, and its endless string of hits, dominated the charts with a 37-week run at No. 1. Nominated for 12 GRAMMYs, it won eight, including Record Of The Year ("Beat It") and Album Of The Year. For his work on the album, Quincy Jones joined Jackson as Producer Of The Year (Non-Classical). With exposure heightened by constant rotation on MTV, many of Thriller's songs were approached as visual pieces of pop art — there's no doubt they forever changed the way we see music. Guests such as Paul McCartney ("The Girl Is Mine") and Eddie Van Halen ("Beat It") got much of the attention, but the album also featured important musical contributions from the members of Toto and the likes of David Foster, Paul Jackson Jr. and Rod Temperton (writer of the frightening title track).

Michael Jackson - Beat It (Official Video)

Other Nominees:
Let's Dance, David Bowie
An Innocent Man, Billy Joel
Synchronicity, the Police
Flashdance — Motion Picture Soundtrack, Various Artists

1984 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Can't Slow Down
Lionel Richie

In 1984 the Reagan administration was firmly entrenched in the White House, MTV was soaring as a worldwide phenomenon and the Commodores had just two years earlier made top rank. Following a successful run as the group's lead singer, Lionel Richie began to branch out and write for other artists. His No. 1 hit duet with Diana Ross, "Endless Love," from the film of the same name, preceded his work as a solo artist. Can't Slow Down was Richie's second album, driven by the party anthem "All Night Long (All Night)" as well as "Hello" and "Penny Lover," among other standout tracks. It would go on to sell 10 million copies.

Lionel Richie - All Night Long (All Night)

Other Nominees:
She's So Unusual, Cyndi Lauper
Purple Rain — Motion Picture Soundtrack, Prince And The Revolution
Born In The U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen
Private Dancer, Tina Turner

1985 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

No Jacket Required
Phil Collins

The charity single "We Are The World," written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson — and performed by a slew of pop stars of all stripes — brought home Record and Song Of The Year, but Phil Collins' No Jacket Required was anointed Album Of The Year. Filled with colorful hits such as "Sussudio," "Take Me Home" and "One More Night," No Jacket Required was stylistically miles away from Collins' experimental, prog-rock days in Genesis. But its combination of synthesized undertones and pop sensibilities would help charter the sound of a new era. Appropriately, Collins and the album's co-producer Hugh Padgham shared the award for Producer Of The Year (Non-Classical).

Other Nominees:
Brothers In Arms, Dire Straits
Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston
The Dream Of The Blue Turtles, Sting
We Are The World: USA For Africa, Various Artists

1986 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Graceland
Paul Simon

One of pop's most successful forays into world music, Graceland was an experiment stemming from Paul Simon's longtime fascination with South African culture. Coupled with a diverse collection of guests (including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Los Lobos, Linda Ronstadt, and the Everly Brothers), it stood out from the pack. A majority of the songs also uniquely incorporate elements of the slinky South African mbaqanga style, and a few of the lyrics touch upon the subject of apartheid (part of the album was recorded in Johannesburg). But Graceland is less a message album than it is a shining example of the spiritual and rhythmic connection linking music around the globe. The title track would also garner a Record Of The Year GRAMMY for 1987.

Other Nominees:
So, Peter Gabriel
Control, Janet Jackson
The Broadway Album, Barbra Streisand
Back In The High Life, Steve Winwood

1987 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

The Joshua Tree
U2

No longer post-punk indie darlings by 1987, U2 had become full-fledged rock stars. The Joshua Tree, co-produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois (who first came onboard with the band's previous release, The Unforgettable Fire), is a big reason why. Standout tracks such as "Where The Streets Have No Name," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and the haunting "With Or Without You" are pure and heartfelt, and found U2 coming into their own as a voice of their generation. By further embracing American influences like folk and blues they first touched upon with The Unforgettable Fire — and addressing political and religious themes with conviction — U2 created their most popular and critically acclaimed album to date.

Content Not Available

U2 - With Or Without You

Other Nominees:
Whitney, Whitney Houston
Bad, Michael Jackson
Trio, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt
Sign 'O' The Times, Prince

1988 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Faith
George Michael

At the 31st Annual GRAMMYs, Bobby McFerrin's optimistic "Don't Worry, Be Happy" was crowned Song and Record Of The Year, and neo-folkie Tracy Chapman was named Best New Artist, but Faith had the substance to stand alone as Album Of The Year. George Michael's debut solo release after parting with the British duo Wham! is pure pop escapism, replete with a rich mix of beat-heavy dance club jewels ("Faith"), slow burns ("Father Figure"), jazzy torch songs ("Kissing A Fool"), and risqué romps ("I Want Your Sex"). Tightly produced by Michael (who wrote or co-wrote all the songs), the album is recognized as a pop classic and has earned RIAA diamond certification for sales in excess of 10 million copies.

Content Not Available

George Michael - Faith (US Version)

Other Nominees:
Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman
Simple Pleasures, Bobby McFerrin
… Nothing Like The Sun, Sting
Roll With It, Steve Winwood

1989 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt

Eighteen long years after her self-titled debut, Bonnie Raitt became a mainstream success with Nick Of Time. In addition to Album Of The Year, the Don Was-produced disc brought Raitt two other GRAMMYs; to cap off the night, she was also awarded a Best Traditional Blues Recording GRAMMY for "I'm In The Mood" for her pairing with bluesman John Lee Hooker on his album The Healer. On Nick Of Time, Raitt — known for her keen ability to swing from traditional blues to rock and back — created her most consistent collection of songs evidenced by John Hiatt's "Thing Called Love," "Have A Heart" and the GRAMMY-winning self-penned title track. Nick Of Time's wins remain a defining illustration of how GRAMMY night can become a star-making evening.

Bonnie Raitt - Thing Called Love

Other Nominees:
The Raw And The Cooked, Fine Young Cannibals
The End Of The Innocence, Don Henley
Full Moon Fever, Tom Petty
Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1, Traveling Wilburys

News

Great GRAMMY Acceptance Speeches

Interactive infographic explores 40 years of GRAMMY acceptances, including Metallica's Jethro Tull quip, Kanye West's powerful sermon, the "Hamilton" rap, and Selena and Whitney Houston's first GRAMMY wins

THE GRAMMYs

GRAMMYs

May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am

https://www.thinglink.com/scene/855214059107123200

News

Album Of The Year GRAMMY Winners: '00s And '10s

Adele, Beck, Dixie Chicks, OutKast, and Taylor Swift are among the artists who won music's biggest album prize

THE GRAMMYs

GRAMMYs

May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am

An incalculable number of albums have been released in music history, but only 58 have earned the coveted distinction of Album Of The Year GRAMMY winner so far. From Henry Mancini's The Music From Peter Gunn to Taylor Swift's 1989, some of these elite albums have arguably surprised, some were seemingly consensus choices and still others have fostered lasting debate. In part five of Album Of The Year GRAMMY Winners, explore the albums that won — and were runners-up for — music's biggest prize for 2000–2015.

2000 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Two Against Nature
Steely Dan

Almost 30 years after their debut Can't Buy A Thrill (and 20 years after their last studio recording, Gaucho) Walter Becker and Donald Fagen returned to the spotlight with Two Against Nature. The pair went on an extended hiatus after Gaucho until Becker produced Fagen's 1993 effort, Kamikiriad. This project led to an unexpected tour together, which ultimately sparked a full-fledged collaboration on Two Against Nature. Heady, jazzy, sleek, and lyrically sardonic, it's Steely Dan at their meticulous best. Up against the odds-on favorite in Eminem's controversial The Marshall Mathers LP — and one of the more ambitious alternative releases in years, Radiohead's Kid A — Two Against Nature won out for 2000, proving you can go back to your old school and still make the top grade.

Other Nominees:
Midnite Vultures, Beck
The Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem
Kid A, Radiohead
You're The One, Paul Simon

2001 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

O Brother, Where Art Thou? — Motion Picture Soundtrack
Various Artists

In a high-profile nod to traditional music, the soundtrack for Ethan and Joel Coen's quirky Depression-era movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? was awarded Album Of The Year for 2001. Producer T Bone Burnett crafted an authentic soundscape rich with gospel, bluegrass, folk, and blues music and a stellar cast of artists, including Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss, and the Fairfield Four. "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys (aka Union Station's Dan Tyminski, songwriter Harley Allen and Pat Enright of the Nashville Bluegrass Band) is not only a highlight of the album, but it plays a pivotal role in the movie. Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, at the age of 75, brought home his first two GRAMMYs ever, including Best Male Country Vocal Performance for a truly bone-chilling version of "O Death."

Other Nominees:
Love And Theft, Bob Dylan
Acoustic Soul, India.Arie
Stankonia, OutKast
All That You Can't Leave Behind, U2

2002 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Come Away With Me
Norah Jones

After dropping out of college in the late '90s, Norah Jones spent time finding herself and honing her sound on the lounge/coffeehouse scene in New York City. But her profile would drastically change in 2002. A sultry combination of pop, soft-soul, jazz, and country, Jones' debut Come Away With Me won four GRAMMYs and she took home the coveted Best New Artist award. Produced by Arif Mardin, the album pairs Jones with a slew of jazz musicians, including Bill Frisell, Tony Scherr and Brian Blade — which made sense considering she spent time recording and playing live with jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter the previous year. Other collaborators on the album include Jesse Harris and Lee Alexander, friends from her New York underground days. In fact, it was Harris who penned "Don't Know Why," Jones' breakthrough GRAMMY-winning single.

Norah Jones - Don't Know Why

Other Nominees:
Home, Dixie Chicks
The Eminem Show, Eminem
Nellyville, Nelly
The Rising, Bruce Springsteen

2003 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast

André Benjamin and Antwan Patton — better known as André 3000 and Big Boi — spent almost 10 years working together in their hometown of Atlanta before breaking big with their fourth release, Stankonia (named Best Rap Album for 2001). But it was the eclectic, imaginative double-disc Speakerboxxx/The Love Below that placed them, and the distinctive strains of Southern hip-hop, in the coveted Album Of The Year spotlight. The album is creatively split: Big Boi's songs are on Speakerboxxx, while André 3000's are featured on The Love Below. The former is more hard-driving; the latter a more eccentric brand of psychedelic hip-hop. Still, each had more than its share of exceptional moments: "Hey Ya!" (from The Love Below) and "The Way You Move" (from Speakerboxxx) were two of the most pervasive, infectious hits of the year.

OutKast - Hey Ya!

Other Nominees:
Under Construction, Missy Elliott
Fallen, Evanescence
Justified, Justin Timberlake
Elephant, the White Stripes

2004 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Genius Loves Company
Ray Charles & Various Artists

Genius Loves Company was a classy project featuring Ray Charles duetting with various guests such as Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, B.B. King, and James Taylor. The material was just as diverse, ranging from "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" with Elton John to the Frank Sinatra standard "It Was A Very Good Year" with Willie Nelson. Beyond being remembered as the final recording from an iconic legend, Genius Loves Company holds another distinction: It was one of the first albums of original music released on Hear Music (in partnership with Concord Records) after being acquired by the Starbucks Corporation. The album's profile was greatly enhanced through exposure in Starbucks outlets around the world and its noteworthy success marked an eye-opening change in the way music was marketed at the time.

Other Nominees:
American Idiot, Green Day
The Diary Of Alicia Keys, Alicia Keys
Confessions, Usher
The College Dropout, Kanye West

2005 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
U2

Much like their 2000 release, All That You Can't Leave Behind, on How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb U2 mined an even rootsier, stripped-down rock approach. And there's a reason why the Irish lads' first collection of post-Sept. 11 work reverberated so deeply with listeners: More than ever, topics of peace ("City Of Blinding Lights"), love ("A Man And A Woman"), death ("Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"), and the divine ("Yahweh") seemed more relevant and comforting than any salve offered by political leaders or Sunday morning sermons. Including three 2004 GRAMMYs for the album's first single "Vertigo," How To … was graced with a total of eight GRAMMYs.

U2 - City Of Blinding Lights

Other Nominees:
The Emancipation Of Mimi, Mariah Carey
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard, Paul McCartney
Love.Angel.Music.Baby., Gwen Stefani
Late Registration, Kanye West

2006 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Taking The Long Way
Dixie Chicks

In 2003 the outspoken Dixie Chicks stood their ground after fans and country radio stations reacted negatively to lead singer Natalie Maines' comments in opposition of the Iraq War and President George W. Bush. If anything, it spurred the band to dig their high heels in even deeper. Some of the most stirring lyrics on their subsequent album ("It's a sad, sad story when a mother will teach her daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger" from "Not Ready To Make Nice") were a steely response to a threatening letter the band received in the wake of Maines' political comments. The Rick Rubin-produced album, which won a clean sweep of all five awards it was nominated for, features the rock and roots contributions of Gary Louris, Benmont Tench, John Mayer, Keb' Mo', Sheryl Crow, and Linda Perry.

Dixie Chicks - Not Ready To Make Nice

Other Nominees:
St. Elsewhere, Gnarls Barkley
Continuum, John Mayer
Stadium Arcadium, Red Hot Chili Peppers
FutureSex/LoveSounds, Justin Timberlake

2007 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

River: The Joni Letters
Herbie Hancock

Only two other jazz artists (Stan Getz and João Gilberto for their 1964 self-titled album) have managed to garner the Album Of The Year GRAMMY. But in gracefully connecting jazz with pop, R&B and folk, Herbie Hancock did just that with River: The Joni Letters, an elegant homage to longtime creative collaborator and eight-time GRAMMY-winning songstress Joni Mitchell. Partnering with relative new schoolers such as Corinne Bailey Rae, Norah Jones and Luciana Souza, as well as legends including Leonard Cohen and Tina Turner, Hancock crafted fitting interpretations of some of Mitchell's most moving songs, including "Court And Spark," "River," "Both Sides Now," and "The Tea Leaf Prophecy." The album — backed by the stellar lineup of guitarist Lionel Loueke, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and bassist Dave Holland — is not only an imaginative tribute to Mitchell, it is yet another artistic milestone in Hancock's vibrant career.

Other Nominees
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, Foo Fighters
These Days, Vince Gill
Graduation, Kanye West
Back To Black, Amy Winehouse

2008 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Raising Sand
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

At first glance, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant seemed an unlikely duo, but their musical résumé made them a formidable pair. By the time they linked for 2007's Raising Sand, Krauss had already earned 21 GRAMMYs, the most by a female artist, while Plant's career included platinum records, a 2005 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Led Zeppelin. Add acclaimed producer T Bone Burnett to the mix and Raising Sand was bound to be a hit. The album spans blues, folk, country, and pop with "Rich Woman," and the Everly Brothers' "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" winning Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. Raising Sand netted five GRAMMYs, including Record Of The Year for "Please Read The Letter," proving that a rock god and bluegrass queen can create sweet harmony.

Robert Plant, Alison Krauss - Please Read The Letter

Other Nominees:
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, Coldplay
Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
Year Of The Gentleman, Ne-Yo
In Rainbows, Radiohead

2009 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Fearless
Taylor Swift

If the sophomore jinx is real, Taylor Swift knows nothing about it. Her second album, 2008's Fearless, generated eight GRAMMY nominations and was the best-selling album of 2009 in the U.S. On her first collection as an adult, Swift sounds like a woman beyond her years with songs such as "Fifteen" ("I wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now") and the GRAMMY-winning "White Horse" ("I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale"). She wrote or co-wrote every track on the album, including her first Top 5 crossover hit, "Love Story." Though the album won an additional three GRAMMYs in the Country Field, including Best Country Album, the power ballad "Breathe" (with Colbie Caillat) and yearning "You Belong With Me" foretold the pop sounds of subsequent Swift offerings.

Taylor Swift - White Horse

Other Nominees:
I Am … Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé
The End, the Black Eyed Peas
Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band
The Fame, Lady Gaga

2010 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

The Suburbs
Arcade Fire

Upon accepting Arcade Fire's GRAMMY for Album Of The Year, Win Butler incredulously asked, "What the hell?" The indie rockers had just triumphed over pop stars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, Lady Antebellum's country smash Need You Now, and Eminem's Recovery, which it previously pushed out of the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. Despite Butler's surprise, fans had taken to the band's brand of alt-rock, which was steered by Butler and his wife Régine Chassagne, brother William Butler, and Richard Reed Parry on vocals in addition to a multitude of instruments. Drummer Jeremy Gara, bassist Tim Kingsbury and violinist Sarah Neufeld also contributed. Together they created a sound Win Butler described as "a mix of Depeche Mode and Neil Young." Standout tracks such as "Month Of May" and "Ready To Start," which they performed on the 53rd GRAMMY Awards, helped the group earn their sole GRAMMY win to date.

Arcade Fire - Ready to Start

Other Nominees:
Recovery, Eminem
Need You Now, Lady Antebellum
The Fame Monster, Lady Gaga
Teenage Dream, Katy Perry

2011 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

21
Adele

After Adele's 2008 debut album, 19 (recorded when she was 19), earned her two GRAMMYs, including Best New Artist, the British singer's sophomore album had some big shoes to fill. 21 (recorded when she was 21) continued the themes of her first album: There was scorn (Record Of The Year-winning "Rolling In The Deep"), mourning ("Someone Like You" and "Set Fire To The Rain"), love ("One And Only" and "Lovesong" produced by Rick Rubin), and her trademark wittiness ("Rumour Has It" co-written by Ryan Tedder). The smash album firmly rooted Adele's place in music and GRAMMY history — 21 was the best-selling album in the United States in 2011 and "Someone Like You" became the first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 to feature solely voice and piano. She won six awards at the 54th GRAMMY Awards, matching Beyoncé's record for the most GRAMMYs won in one night by a female artist and Eric Clapton's record for most GRAMMYs won in one night by a British artist.

Adele - Someone Like You

Other Nominees:
Wasting Light, Foo Fighters
Born This Way, Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Bruno Mars
Loud, Rihanna

2012 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Babel
Mumford & Sons

If Mumford & Sons' mantra while recording Babel happened to be "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," who could blame them? Their debut album Sigh No More garnered them a Best New Artist nomination and a nod for Record Of The Year for their first Top 30 hit "The Cave." For Babel, the band — comprising multi-instrumentalists Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Winston Marshall, and Marcus Mumford — reteamed with GRAMMY-winning producer Markus Dravs, who produced Sigh No More and previously scored an Album Of The Year GRAMMY as co-producer for Arcade Fire's The Suburbs. The folksy sound of their debut carried over onto Babel, especially on the album's breakthrough hits "I Will Wait" and "Lover Of The Light." With their double bass, banjo, mandolin, and resonator guitar, the quartet spun a spirited and soulful tale, earning their first No. 1 album, among other accolades.

Mumford & Sons - Lover Of The Light

Other Nominees:
El Camino, the Black Keys
Some Nights, Fun.
Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
Blunderbuss, Jack White

2013 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Random Access Memories
Daft Punk

French duo Daft Punk (Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo) came onto the house music scene with their 1997 debut, Homework. At the 56th GRAMMY Awards, however, the pair took their star status to the next level when they collected four awards for Random Access Memories, including Best Dance/Electronica Album and Record Of The Year for "Get Lucky" (with Pharrell Williams on vocals and Nile Rodgers on guitar). The enigmatic robots went all out on Random Access Memories, tapping not only Williams and Rodgers, but disco legend Giorgio Moroder ("Giorgio By Moroder") and songwriter Paul Williams ("Touch" and "Beyond"). The album features extensive live instrumentation, including Rodgers' funky guitar ("Lose Yourself To Dance") and beats created with drumsticks instead of loops ("Contact"), warming up the album's electronic backbone.

Daft Punk - Get Lucky (Official Audio) ft. Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers

Other Nominees:
The Blessed Unrest, Sara Bareilles
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Kendrick Lamar
The Heist, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Red, Taylor Swift

2014 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Morning Phase
Beck

Morning Phase came as a delayed follow-up to Beck's 2002 heartbreak-inspired Sea Change. The album is an acoustic tour de force of melancholy, perhaps inspired by the severe back injury Beck suffered in 2005. Beck's poetry and folk-rock mastery reach from "Morning" ("Looked up this morning, saw the roses full of thorns") to "Heart Is A Drum" ("Why does it hurt this way, to come so far to find they've closed the gates"). The album earned four 57th GRAMMY nominations, including Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance for the ode to loneliness, "Blue Moon," and won for Best Rock Album. Beck's triumph wasn't without a little controversy: Kanye West jokingly stormed the stage before Beck's acceptance speech. The amiable Beck took it in stride, inviting West to come back and "help" before finishing his thank yous.

Beck - Heart Is A Drum

Other Nominees:
Beyoncé, Beyoncé
X, Ed Sheeran
In The Lonely Hour, Sam Smith
Girl, Pharrell Williams

2015 ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1989
Taylor Swift

Despite being born in 1989, 2015 was a very good year for Taylor Swift. Released in late 2014, Swift's fifth studio album, 1989, saw the singer/songwriter release an all-pop collection co-produced with GRAMMY winner Max Martin. The album yielded two No. 1 singles, "Shake It Off" and "Blank Space" — the latter her witty response to the media's obsession with her love life — and peaked at No. 1 in more than 10 countries. Inarguably a successful crossover to pop, 1989 garnered seven 58th GRAMMY nominations. At the end of the night, Swift took home three statues, including Best Music Video for her star-studded "Bad Blood" video in collaboration with fellow GRAMMY winner Kendrick Lamar. Notably, Swift's win earned her the distinction of being the first female solo artist to win Album Of The Year twice, an achievement Swift punctuated in her acceptance speech.

Taylor Swift - Blank Space

Other Nominees:
Sound & Color, Alabama Shakes
Really Love, D'Angelo And The Vanguard
To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar
Traveller, Chris Stapleton
Beauty Behind The Madness, The Weeknd

Neil Portnow

Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

News

Neil Portnow Champions MusiCares, Recording Academy Advocacy, GRAMMY Museum | 2018 GRAMMYs

Recording Academy President/CEO takes a moment to reflect on 60 years of music excellence and look forward to a bright future for the organization's pillars

Tim McPhate

GRAMMYs

Jan 28, 2018 - 7:46 pm

The 60th GRAMMY Awards proved to be a show for the ages. The show not only featured a variety of colorful performances, it took place in the backdrop of the Big Apple, marking a return to New York for the first time in 15 years. The monumental evening represented a full-circle moment of sorts for Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow, who championed themes of celebration and excellence during his telecast remarks.

Watch Neil Portnow's 60th GRAMMY Speech

"How do you top the milestone of a 60th anniversary? Well, you celebrate it in New York City," said Portnow. "It was a big night for me 15 years ago, right here on this stage, as I began my first year as President of the Recording Academy."

Delving back to the organization's beginning, Portnow raised a toast to the thousands of recipients who have earned a GRAMMY Award.

"So what do 60 years of excellence look like? We have awarded more than 9,600 GRAMMYs, music's highest accolade, and we are the most-watched music event in the world," said Portnow.

The Recording Academy's work year-round extends into health and human services. Through its affiliated charity, MusiCares, the Academy helps musicians who are in dire need of financial, medical and emergency assistance. MusiCares is also there in the face of terrible tragedy in providing relief to victims of natural disasters.

"Our MusiCares charity has provided nearly $58 million dollars in aid and served more than 125,000 people in our community," said Portnow. "And this includes saving lives with addiction recovery and sober living help.

"We're in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and now California helping music people recover from devastating hurricanes and fires. And as a nation, we must help all of our brothers and sisters until they are back on their feet."

From midterm elections to music licensing and funding for the arts, there are many advocacy storylines music creators should keep their eye on in 2018. The Recording Academy keeps a constant pulse on any new policy developments affecting the livelihood of music creators, a point Portnow underscored.

"The Academy's work on Capitol Hill improves the lives of music creators, and thousands participate in all 50 states in the largest grassroots movement for music in history," he said. "The time is right, and we are working closely with Congress to pass comprehensive music licensing reform, which began with a GRAMMY-timed congressional hearing where I had the privilege to testify, right here in New York, just two days ago."

More than just a museum with amazing exhibits, the GRAMMY Museum raises the flag for music education. Millions have gone through the Museum's collective turnstiles and received a taste of the rich programming offered 365 days a year. Portnow took a moment to reference the incredible work the Museum undertakes to ensure music remains a vital part of our nation's education system.

"The GRAMMY Museum has welcomed more than 5 million visitors to our locations in Los Angeles, Mississippi, Nashville, and New Jersey, and traveling exhibits in 29 cities and 8 countries," said Portnow. "And we've provided over $10 million for our music education programs and opportunities for students.

"The recently launched GRAMMY Music Education Coalition is dedicated to building universal music participation in schools nationwide. Just imagine every student in America having access to music programs; with your help and support, we can make that dream a reality."

Before signing off, Portnow punctuated his remarks with a reminder that music — now, more so than ever — has the power to serve as a uniting force.

"Our music community stands strong and committed to providing hope and inspiration in difficult and divisive times. You can count on our music to soothe our souls, or issue a clarion call to action, as our voices will remain an indelible part of our culture and future."