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Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Adele: Record Of The Year GRAMMY Rewind

Time travel through GRAMMY history and revisit the impressive lineage of Record Of The Year winners

Tim McPhate

GRAMMYs

Jan 4, 2018 - 5:17 pm

Numerically speaking, it's the first category on the GRAMMY Awards nominations list. Conversely, it is typically one of the final categories announced on the annual GRAMMY telecast. And its winners have spanned jazz, pop, rock, R&B, and Latin, among other genres.

Rewind The Record Of The Year GRAMMY Winners

What's the category? It's Record Of The Year, which is an award that goes to a track's artist, producer, engineer, mixer, and mastering engineer.

The Record Of The Year category's 59-year history offers a unique aural tour through the annals popular music — one that certainly has the makings for one powerfully diverse playlist.

Record Of The Year: Full List Of Winners And Nominees

There's Bobby Darin's swingin' "Mack The Knife" (1959), Henry Mancini's exquisite "Days Of Wine And Roses" (1963), Frank Sinatra's velvety "Strangers In The Night" (1966), Simon And Garfunkel's inspired "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Roberta Flack's radiant "Killing Me Softly With His Song" (1973), and Captain & Tennille's breezy "Love Will Keep Us Together" (1975).

In the '80s, radio-friendly hits such as Toto's "Rosanna" (1982), Michael Jackson's "Beat It" (1983) and Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It" (1984) were among the winning recordings.

The '90s netted the likes of Eric Clapton's moving "Tears In Heaven" (1992), Whitney Houston's ubiquitous "I Will Always Love You" (1993) and Santana featuring Rob Thomas' infectious "Smooth" (1999).

The Record Of The Year lineage continued into the 2000s and beyond with unforgettable hits such as U2's "Beautiful Day" (2000), Green Day's "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" (2005), Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" (2007), Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers' "Get Lucky" (2013), and most recently, Adele's "Hello" (2016).

Which recording will become the 60th Record Of The Year GRAMMY winner? Tune in to the 60th GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 28 to find out.

What's The Difference? GRAMMY Record Of The Year Vs. Song Of The Year

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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.

Rewind: Album Of The Year GRAMMY Winners

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

Bruno Mars

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News

15 songs to make you swoon on Valentine's Day

GRAMMYs

May 15, 2017 - 2:08 am

Roses are red, violets are blue, we've got a list of 15 GRAMMY-winning love songs just for you.

"Just The Way You Are"
Bruno Mars, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, 2010

Dating advice from Bruno Mars: If you think someone is beautiful, you should tell him/her every day. We don't know if it got Mars a date for Valentine's Day, but it did get him a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Need You Now"
Lady Antebellum, Record Of The Year, 2010

It's not so much an "I love you" song as it is an "I want you" song. But really, is there a difference?

"Fool For You"
Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona, Best Traditional R&B Performance, 2011

It's a far cry from his previous GRAMMY-winning song, "F*** You," but "Fool For You" had us yearning for "that deep, that burning/That amazing unconditional, inseparable love."

"My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From Titanic)"
Celine Dion, Record Of The Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, 1998

This omnipresent theme song from the 1997 film Titanic was propelled to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 as the story of Jack and Rose (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and GRAMMY winner Kate Winslet) swept the country.

"Always On My Mind"
Willie Nelson, Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, 1982

On this cover, Nelson sings to the woman in his life, lamenting over those small things he should have said and done, but never took the time. Don't find yourself in the same position this Valentine's Day.

"My Boo"
Usher & Alicia Keys, Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, 2004

"There's always that one person that will always have your heart," sings Usher in this duet with Keys, taking the listener back to that special first love.

"If You Leave Me Now"
Chicago, Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus, 1976

On their first single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Chicago vocalist Peter Cetera pleads for a love that is incomparable, singing, with nearly impossibly high-pitched urgency, "A love like ours is love that's hard to find."

GRAMMY-Winning Love Songs

"Truly"
Lionel Richie, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, 1982

A song embodying true dedication to a loved one, delivered with sincerity from the king of '80s romantic pop who gave life to the timeless love-song classics "Endless Love," "Still" and "Three Times A Lady."

"I Will Always Love You"
Whitney Houston, Record Of The Year, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, 1993

Houston passionately delivers a message of love, remembrance and forgiveness on her version of this song, which was written by country sweetheart Dolly Parton and nominated for a GRAMMY in 1982.

"Strangers In The Night"
Frank Sinatra, Record Of The Year, Best Vocal Performance, Male, 1966

Ol' blue eyes offers but a glimmer of hope for the single crowd on Valentine's Day, gently ruminating about exchanging glances with a stranger and sharing love before the night is through.

"You're Still The One"
Shania Twain, Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song, 1998

Co-written with producer and then-husband Mutt Lange, Twain speaks of beating the odds with love and perseverance in lyrics such as, "I'm so glad we made it/Look how far we've come my baby," offering a fresh coat of optimism for couples of all ages.

"Oh, Pretty Woman"
Roy Orbison, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, 1990

Orbison captures the essence of encountering a lovely woman for the first time, and offers helpful one-liners such as "No one could look as good as you" and "I couldn't help but see … you look as lovely as can be." Single men, take notes.

"Pusher Love Girl"
Justin Timberlake, Best R&B Song, 2013

Timberlake is so high on the love drug he's "on the ceiling, baby." Timberlake co-wrote the track with James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon and Timbaland, and it's featured on his 2013 album The 20/20 Experience, which flew high to No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

"My Valentine"
Paul McCartney, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Kisses On The Bottom, 2013

Whether you have a Valentine or not this year, you can find comfort in McCartney's lyrics: "I know that someday soon the sun is gonna shine/And she'll be there/This love of mine/My Valentine."

"Get Lucky"
Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers, Record Of The Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, 2013

Voted by multiple publications as one of the best summer songs of 2013, "Get Lucky" revels in a late-night hookup less shallow than those typically found in No. 1 singles. "Getting lucky is not just sleeping with her, but meeting someone for the first time and it just clicking," said Williams in an interview last year. We hope you get lucky this Valentine's Day.

Alicia Keys

Photo: Stringer/Getty Images

Feature

Alicia Keys To Amy Winehouse: 7 Happenings At The 50th GRAMMY Awards

Take a look back at the GRAMMY Awards' 50th anniversary celebration and see who made headlines and history

Brian Haack

GRAMMYs

Jan 19, 2018 - 12:30 pm

Held at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 2008, the 50th GRAMMY Awards was a celebration worthy of Music's Biggest Night's golden anniversary.

One of several editions in GRAMMY Awards history where there was no single host playing the role of primary MC during the main Awards telecast, the 50th GRAMMY Awards were perhaps most notable — even more so than in years past — for the stunning collection of performers who took to the GRAMMY stage throughout the evening.

Whether it was the Foo Fighters taking over L.A. Live's outdoor plaza just outside the telecast venue, Kanye West blowing minds alongside French dance pioneers Daft Punk or Andrea Bocelli delivering a heart-wrenching swan song for the late Luciano Pavarotti, the GRAMMYs' golden anniversary was packed with unforgettable moments.

Take a look back at just a handful of music's most memorable moments from the 50th GRAMMYs.

Past Meets Present: Alicia Keys Backs Up Frank Sinatra

The night opened with a restatement of the Recording Academy's mission statement: "We honor our past, we celebrate the present and we always look toward the future." Thereafter, Alicia Keys took to the GRAMMY Stage to demonstrate that statement in an inspirational marriage of performance and technology through a commanding "duet" with a nearly 50-year-old black-and-white recording of Frank Sinatra singing "Learnin' The Blues."

Morris Day And The Time Bring The House Down

Prince contemporaries and influential pioneers of the Minneapolis Sound Morris Day And The Time brought the funk to the GRAMMY Stage for their first live performance in 15 years. They were joined in top form by Rihanna and Time member Jimmy Jam, coming together to rip through a medley of the Time's "Jungle Love" and Rihanna's GRAMMY-winning and GRAMMY-nominated (respectively) hits "Umbrella" and "Don't Stop The Music." Following Rihanna's transition to center stage, the Time returned to reprise "Jungle Love" and close out the unforgettable set.

A Touching Sendoff For Pavarotti

Five-time GRAMMY winner and GRAMMY Legend honoree Luciano Pavarotti died tragically in 2007. Following the annual In Memoriam segment honoring the musicians the community lost during the previous year, Andrea Bocelli took the stage alongside Josh Groban to sing Bocelli's "The Prayer." Prior to beginning the elegiac ballad, Bocelli announced, "I am here to honor the memory of one of the greatest artists of our time, Luciano Pavarotti."

Kanye West Parties With The Robots

Coming into the night as the artist with the most overall nominations — and leaving as one of the night's biggest winners after taking home four GRAMMY wins for his successful third album Graduation — Kanye West ascended the GRAMMY stage amid surging pyrotechnics to stand at the foot of French techno legends Daft Punk's signature pyramid-shaped DJ booth for a show-stopping performance of West's Best Rap Solo Performance-winning hit "Stronger." Aside from being one of the most anticipated performances of the evening, the set marked first-ever televised performance of Daft Punk's career.

Foo Fighters And John Paul Jones Are Too Big To Contain

Spurred in part by the social media campaign My GRAMMY Moment, built around activating young musicians who were frequent users of the still-nascent video sharing platform YouTube, GRAMMY-winning perennial arena rockers Foo Fighters, joined by none other than Led Zepplin's very own John Paul Jones, held court at a huge outdoor stage in the Nokia Plaza just outside Staples Center. A group of My GRAMMY Moment finalists were included in the open-air performance, and together they ripped through the Foos' Best Hard Rock Performance GRAMMY-winning "The Pretender."

A Homerun For Amy Winehouse

Watch: Amy Winehouse wins Record Of The Year

Surely the biggest story of the night was the string of GRAMMY successes earned by R&B singer Amy Winehouse. Though nominated for a total of six awards that night — and also scheduled to perform — Winehouse, fresh out of a rehabilitation treatment program, was denied a visa to fly to the U.S. Though the decision was ultimately reversed, it was too late to make it to Los Angeles. Instead, her stunning performances of "You Know I'm No Good" and megahit "Rehab," as well as her five GRAMMY acceptance speeches for Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best New Artist, Record Of The Year, and Song Of The Year, were all broadcast via satellite.

Icons Of Rock Close The Show

Forming an impromptu rock supergroup, and reminding the gathered celebrants that sometimes the old ways are still the best ways, rock and roll legends John Fogerty, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard took the GRAMMY stage as Icons of Rock to close the night out with a no-holds-barred set of Fogerty's "Comin' Down The Road," Lewis' "Great Balls Of Fire" and Richard's " Good Golly Miss Molly." What better way to cap off a historic evening?

Sean "Puffy" Combs and Will Smith

Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

What Happened? 40th GRAMMY Awards Flashback

Daft Punk

Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage.com

Feature

Daft Punk, 'Random Access Memories': For The Record

Look back at how the French electronic duo hit it big with their fourth studio album at the 56th GRAMMY Awards

Renée Fabian

GRAMMYs

Jan 4, 2018 - 12:42 pm

If Daft Punk's "Get Lucky," featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, seemed ubiquitous in 2013, you weren't imagining things.

Daft Punk For The Record: 'Random Access Memories'

The hit reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Daft Punk's first-ever Top 10 hit. It came from the French electronic duo's fourth studio album, Random Access Memories, an ambitious LP that brought in sound and production influences from classic albums such as the Eagles' Hotel California, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours and Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon.

These creative inspirations paid off for the robotic team at the 56th GRAMMY Awards. Random Access Memories took home not only Best Dance/Electronic Album but also the coveted gramophone for Album Of The Year. In addition, "Get Lucky" earned Record Of The Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance honors.

"Back when I was drinking and using, I used to imagine things that weren't there that were frightening," album producer Paul Williams said during the group's acceptance speech for Album Of The Year. "Then I got sober and two robots called me and asked me to make an album."