Grammy Award for Album of the Year

The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer. In 1962, the award name was extended to Album of the Year (other than classical) but, in 1965, the shorter name returned. It was not until 1968, 1969, and 1999 that the award was won by a rock album, country album, or a hip hop album respectively. The main reason for its prestige is because the award goes to everyone who was involved in the making of the album, the artist, producer, engineer, and songwriter.

Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon are the biggest winners in this category with 3 victories each. Paul McCartney leads all performers with nine nominations: five as a member of The Beatles, three for solo albums, and one as a member of Wings. Frank Sinatra leads solo performers with eight nominations, seven for solo albums and one for a duet album. Paul McCartney and Paul Simon are the only artists with nominations in every decade the awards have been in existence (not counting the inaugural ceremony in 1959), if counting the nominations from the 1960s as part of their respective groups, The Beatles, and Simon & Garfunkel. They've only competed against each other once: in 1969, when The Beatles were nominated for Magical Mystery Tour and Simon & Garfunkel were up for Bookends. They both lost to Glen Campbell and his album By the Time I Get to Phoenix.

Taylor Swift is the category's youngest winner, winning for her album Fearless at age 20. The youngest person to make an appearance on an Album of the Year is Stevie Wonder's daughter Aisha Wonder who, at age 2, appeared on "Isn't She Lovely?" off the album Songs in the Key of Life.

The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was the first album by a rock 'n' roll artist to win the award. In fact, until 1970, The Beatles were the only rock artists to even be nominated. Other Beatles' albums to be nominated for this award were Help!, Revolver, Magical Mystery Tour and Abbey Road.

Only two artists have ever been awarded the Grammy for "Album of the Year" in two consecutive years, and nobody has ever won for three or more years in a row. Sinatra had wins in 1966 and 1967, and Wonder followed with wins in 1974 and 1975. Wonder also won the most Grammys for Album of the Year within a decade, with three in the 1970s. Another notable musician with respect to "Album of the Year" Grammys won within one decade is Alison Krauss. Krauss has won two of the aforementioned awards, although neither as a solo artist; she was one of the artists featured on the 2000 O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack and in 2009 she won with Robert Plant for their Raising Sand collaboration.

The award could be considered a marker of significance as some of the modern music world's most successful albums have been awarded the honor. Among those include (from lowest to greatest sales figures): Come Away With Me by Norah Jones, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill, Faith by George Michael, The Joshua Tree by U2, Tapestry by Carole King, Supernatural by Santana, Falling Into You by Celine Dion, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles, Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette (the highest selling international debut album of all time) , Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track by the Bee Gees and Various Artists, The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album by Whitney Houston and Various Artists (the highest selling soundtrack of all time, internationally), and the most commercially successful album of all time, Thriller by Michael Jackson.

To date, there have been two "live" albums to take this top honor: Judy At Carnegie Hall and The Concert For Bangladesh, though two "MTV Unplugged" albums (Eric Clapton's and Tony Bennett's) have won the award as well, which were performed in front of an intimate, live audience. One television soundtrack recording was also the very first recipient: The Music from Peter Gunn. Two comedy albums have also triumphed in this same category: The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart and The First Family. There has been three soundtrack compilation albums that have been successful, as well: Saturday Night Fever, The Bodyguard and O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were awarded, for music released in the previous year.

Many wonder what the difference is between Record of the Year and Album of the Year. Record of the Year is awarded for a single or for one track from an album. This award goes to the performing artist, the producer, recording engineer, and/or mixer for that song. Album of the Year is awarded for a whole album, and the award is presented to the artist, producer, recording engineer, and mastering engineer for that album. So, in this context, "record" means one song and "album" means the whole collection of songs on a CD or LP. In essence, "record" really just means single.

1950s

Year	Winner	Nominations
1959	The Music from Peter Gunn performed by Henry Mancini	Come Fly with Me performed by Frank Sinatra Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook performed by Ella Fitzgerald Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely performed by Frank Sinatra Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor, Op. 23 performed by Van Cliburn

1960s

Year	Winner	Nominations
1960	Come Dance with Me! performed by Frank Sinatra	Belafonte at Carnegie Hall performed by Harry Belafonte More Music From Peter Gunn performed by Henry Mancini Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 performed by Van Cliburn Victory at Sea, Vol. 1 performed by Robert Russell Bennett
1961	The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart performed by Bob Newhart	Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall performed by Harry Belafonte Brahms: Concert No. 2 in B-Flat performed by Sviatoslav Richter Nice 'n' Easy performed by Frank Sinatra Puccini: Turandot performed by Erich Leinsdorf Wild Is Love performed by Nat King Cole
1962	Judy at Carnegie Hall performed by Judy Garland	Breakfast at Tiffany's Soundtrack performed by Henry Mancini Genius+Soul=Jazz performed by Ray Charles Great Band with Great Voices performed by Si Zentner & the Johnny Mann Singers The Nat King Cole Story performed by Nat King Cole West Side Story Soundtrack performed by Various Artists
1963	The First Family performed by Vaughn Meader	I Left My Heart in San Francisco performed by Tony Bennett Jazz Samba performed by Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music performed by Ray Charles My Son, the Folk Singer performed by Allan Sherman
1964	The Barbra Streisand Album performed by Barbra Streisand	Bach's Greatest Hits performed by The Swingle Singers The Days of Wine and Roses Soundtrack performed by Henry Mancini Honey in the Horn performed by Al Hirt The Singing Nun performed by The Singing Nun
1965	Getz/Gilberto performed by Stan Getz & João Gilberto	Cotton Candy performed by Al Hirt Funny Girl: Original Broadway Cast performed by Various Artists People performed by Barbra Streisand The Pink Panther performed by Henry Mancini
1966	September of My Years performed by Frank Sinatra, produced by Sonny Burke	Help! performed by The Beatles My Name Is Barbra performed by Barbra Streisand My World performed by Eddy Arnold The Sound of Music Soundtrack performed by Various Artists
1967	A Man and His Music performed by Frank Sinatra, produced by Sonny Burke	Color Me Barbra performed by Barbra Streisand Dr. Zhivago Soundtrack performed by Maurice Jarre Revolver performed by The Beatles What Now My Love performed by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
1968	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band performed by The Beatles, produced by George Martin	Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim performed by Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim It Must Be Him performed by Vikki Carr My Cup Runneth Over performed by Ed Ames Ode to Billie Joe performed by Bobbie Gentry
1969	By the Time I Get to Phoenix performed by Glen Campbell, produced by Al De Lory	Bookends performed by Simon & Garfunkel Feliciano! performed by José Feliciano Magical Mystery Tour performed by The Beatles A Tramp Shining performed by Richard Harris

1970s

Year	Winner	Nominations
1970	Blood, Sweat & Tears performed by Blood, Sweat & Tears, produced by James William Guercio	Abbey Road performed by The Beatles The Age of Aquarius performed by The 5th Dimension Crosby, Stills & Nash performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash At San Quentin performed by Johnny Cash
1971	Bridge over Troubled Water performed by Simon & Garfunkel; produced by Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon & Roy Halee	Chicago performed by Chicago Close to You performed by The Carpenters Déjà Vu performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young Elton John performed by Elton John Sweet Baby James performed by James Taylor
1972	Tapestry performed by Carole King, produced by Lou Adler	All Things Must Pass performed by George Harrison The Carpenters performed by The Carpenters Jesus Christ Superstar (London Production) performed by Various Artists Shaft performed by Isaac Hayes
1973	The Concert for Bangla Desh performed by George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Eric Clapton & Klaus Voormann; produced by George Harrison & Phil Spector	American Pie performed by Don McLean Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Broadway Cast Recording) performed by Various Artists Moods performed by Neil Diamond Nilsson Schmilsson performed by Nilsson
1974	Innervisions performed by Stevie Wonder, produced by Stevie Wonder	Behind Closed Doors performed by Charlie Rich The Divine Miss M performed by Bette Midler Killing Me Softly performed by Roberta Flack There Goes Rhymin' Simon performed by Paul Simon
1975	Fulfillingness' First Finale performed by Stevie Wonder, produced by Stevie Wonder	Back Home Again performed by John Denver Band on the Run performed by Paul McCartney & Wings Caribou performed by Elton John Court and Spark performed by Joni Mitchell
1976	Still Crazy After All These Years performed by Paul Simon, produced by Paul Simon & Phil Ramone	Between the Lines performed by Janis Ian Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy performed by Elton John Heart Like a Wheel performed by Linda Ronstadt One of These Nights performed by The Eagles
1977	Songs in the Key of Life performed by Stevie Wonder, produced by Stevie Wonder	Breezin' performed by George Benson Chicago X performed by Chicago Frampton Comes Alive! performed by Peter Frampton Silk Degrees performed by Boz Scaggs
1978	Rumours performed by Fleetwood Mac; produced by Fleetwood Mac, Ken Caillat & Richard Dashut	Aja performed by Steely Dan Hotel California performed by The Eagles JT performed by James Taylor Star Wars Soundtrack performed by John Williams conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
1979	Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track performed by Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, Kool & the Gang, MFSB, Ralph MacDonald, Tavares, The Trammps, Walter Murphy & Yvonne Elliman; produced by Albhy Galuten, Arif Mardin, Bee Gees, Bill Oakes, Bobby Martin, Broadway Eddie, David Shire, Freddie Perren, Harry Wayne Casey, K.G. Productions, Karl Richardson, Ralph MacDonald, Richard Finch, Ron Kersey, Thomas J. Valentino & William Salter	Even Now performed by Barry Manilow Grease Original Soundtrack Album performed by Various Artists Running on Empty performed by Jackson Browne Some Girls performed by The Rolling Stones

1980s

Year	Winner	Nominations
1980	52nd Street performed by Billy Joel, produced by Phil Ramone	Minute by Minute performed by The Doobie Brothers The Gambler performed by Kenny Rogers Bad Girls performed by Donna Summer Breakfast in America performed by Supertramp
1981	Christopher Cross performed by Christopher Cross; produced by Michael Omartian	Glass Houses performed by Billy Joel The Wall performed by Pink Floyd Trilogy: Past Present Future performed by Frank Sinatra Guilty performed by Barbra Streisand
1982	Double Fantasy performed by John Lennon & Yoko Ono; produced by Jack Douglas, John Lennon & Yoko Ono	Mistaken Identity performed by Kim Carnes Breakin' Away performed by Al Jarreau The Dude performed by Quincy Jones Gaucho performed by Steely Dan
1983	Toto IV performed by Toto, produced by Toto	American Fool performed by John Mellencamp The Nightfly performed by Donald Fagen The Nylon Curtain performed by Billy Joel Tug of War performed by Paul McCartney
1984	Thriller performed by Michael Jackson, produced by Michael Jackson & Quincy Jones	Let's Dance performed by David Bowie An Innocent Man performed by Billy Joel Synchronicity performed by The Police Flashdance Soundtrack performed by Various Artists
1985	Can't Slow Down performed by Lionel Richie, produced by James Anthony Carmichel & Lionel Richie	She's So Unusual performed by Cyndi Lauper Purple Rain performed by Prince & The Revolution Born in the U.S.A. performed by Bruce Springsteen Private Dancer performed by Tina Turner
1986	No Jacket Required performed by Phil Collins, produced by Hugh Padgham & Phil Collins	Brothers in Arms performed by Dire Straits Whitney Houston performed by Whitney Houston The Dream of the Blue Turtles performed by Sting We Are the World performed by USA for Africa
1987	Graceland performed by Paul Simon, produced by Roy Halee & Paul Simon	So performed by Peter Gabriel Control performed by Janet Jackson The Broadway Album performed by Barbra Streisand Back in the High Life performed by Steve Winwood
1988	The Joshua Tree performed by U2, produced by Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois	Whitney performed by Whitney Houston Bad performed by Michael Jackson Trio performed by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, & Emmylou Harris Sign o' the Times performed by Prince
1989	Faith performed by George Michael, produced by George Michael	Tracy Chapman performed by Tracy Chapman Simple Pleasures performed by Bobby McFerrin ...Nothing Like the Sun performed by Sting Roll with It performed by Steve Winwood

1990s

Year	Winner	Nominations
1990	Nick of Time performed by Bonnie Raitt, produced by Don Was	The End of the Innocence performed by Don Henley The Raw and the Cooked performed by Fine Young Cannibals Full Moon Fever performed by Tom Petty Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 performed by Traveling Wilburys
1991	Back on the Block performed by Quincy Jones and Various Artists, produced by Quincy Jones	Mariah Carey performed by Mariah Carey …But Seriously performed by Phil Collins Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em performed by MC Hammer Wilson Phillips performed by Wilson Phillips
1992	Unforgettable... with Love performed by Natalie Cole; produced by Andre Fischer, David Foster & Tommy LiPuma	Heart in Motion performed by Amy Grant Luck of the Draw performed by Bonnie Raitt Out of Time performed by R.E.M. The Rhythm of the Saints performed by Paul Simon
1993	Unplugged performed by Eric Clapton, produced by Russ Titelman	Ingenue performed by k.d. lang Diva performed by Annie Lennox Achtung Baby performed by U2 Beauty and the Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack performed by Various Artists
1994	The Bodyguard Soundtrack performed by Whitney Houston; produced by Babyface, BeBe Winans, David Cole, David Foster, L.A. Reid, Narada Michael Walden & Robert Clivilles	Kamakiriad performed by Donald Fagen River of Dreams performed by Billy Joel Automatic for the People performed by R.E.M. Ten Summoner's Tales performed by Sting
1995	MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett performed by Tony Bennett, produced by David Kahne	The 3 Tenors In Concert 1994 performed by José Carreras, Plácido Domingo & Luciano Pavarotti with Zubin Mehta From the Cradle performed by Eric Clapton Longing in Their Hearts performed by Bonnie Raitt Seal performed by Seal
1996	Jagged Little Pill performed by Alanis Morissette, produced by Glen Ballard	Daydream performed by Mariah Carey HIStory Past Present & Future performed by Michael Jackson Relish performed by Joan Osborne Vitalogy performed by Pearl Jam
1997	Falling into You performed by Celine Dion; produced by Aldo Nova, Billy Steinberg, Dan Hill, David Foster, Humberto Gatica, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Jeff Bova, Jim Steinman, John Jones, Ric Wake, Rick Hahn, Rick Nowels, Roy Bittan & Steven Rinkoff	Odelay performed by Beck The Score performed by The Fugees Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness performed by The Smashing Pumpkins Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album performed by Various Artists
1998	Time out of Mind performed by Bob Dylan, produced by Daniel Lanois	The Day performed by Babyface This Fire performed by Paula Cole Flaming Pie performed by Paul McCartney OK Computer performed by Radiohead
1999	The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill performed by Lauryn Hill; engineered/mixed by Chris Theis, Commissioner Gordon, Johnny Wydrycz, Ken Johnston, Matt Howe, Storm Jefferson, Tony Prendatt & Warren Riker; produced by Lauryn Hill	Ray of Light performed by Madonna The Globe Sessions performed by Sheryl Crow Version 2.0 performed by Garbage Come on Over performed by Shania Twain

2000s

Year	Winner	Nominations
2000	Supernatural performed by Santana; engineered/mixed by Alvaro Villagra, Andy Grassi, Anton Pukshansky, Benny Faccone, Chris Theis, Commissioner Gordon, David Frazer, David Thoener, Glenn Kolotkin, Jeff Poe, Jim Gaines, Jim Scott, John Gamble, John Karpowich, John Seymour, Matty Spindel, Mike Couzzi, Steve Farrone, Steve Fontano, T-Ray, Tom Lord-Alge, Tony Prendatt & Warren Riker; produced by Alex Gonzales, Art Hodge, Charles Goodan, Clive Davis, Dante Ross, Dust Brothers, Fher Olvera, Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis, K. C. Porter, Lauryn Hill, Matt Serletic, Stephen M. Harris & Wyclef Jean	Millennium performed by Backstreet Boys Fly performed by Dixie Chicks When I Look in Your Eyes performed by Diana Krall FanMail performed by TLC
2001	Two Against Nature performed by Steely Dan; engineered/mixed by Dave Russell, Elliot Scheiner, Phil Burnett & Roger Nichols; produced by Donald Fagen & Walter Becker	Midnite Vultures performed by Beck The Marshall Mathers LP performed by Eminem Kid A performed by Radiohead You're the One performed by Paul Simon
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack performed by Alison Krauss & Union Station, Chris Sharp, Chris Thomas King, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Harley Allen, John Hartford, Mike Compton, Norman Blake, Pat Enright, Peasall Sisters, Ralph Stanley, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, The Cox Family, The Fairfield Four, The Whites & Tim Blake Nelson; engineered/mixed by Mike Piersante & Peter Kurland; master engineered by Gavin Lurssen; produced by T-Bone Burnett	Acoustic Soul performed by India.Arie "Love and Theft" performed by Bob Dylan Stankonia performed by OutKast All That You Can't Leave Behind performed by U2
2003	Come Away with Me performed by Norah Jones; engineered/mixed by Jay Newland & S. Husky Höskulds; master engineered by Ted Jensen; produced by Arif Mardin, Craig Street, Jay Newland & Norah Jones	Home performed by Dixie Chicks The Eminem Show performed by Eminem Nellyville performed by Nelly The Rising performed by Bruce Springsteen
2004	Speakerboxxx/The Love Below performed by OutKast; engineered/mixed by Brian Paturalski, Chris Carmouche, Darrell Thorp, Dexter Simmons, John Frye, Kevin Davis, Matt Still, Moka Nagatani, Neal H. Pogue, Padraic Kernin, Pete Novak, Reggie Dozier, Robert Hannon, Terrence Cash & Vincent Alexander; master engineered by Bernie Grundman & Brian Gardner; produced by André 3000, Big Boi & Carl Mo	Under Construction performed by Missy Elliott Fallen performed by Evanescence Justified performed by Justin Timberlake Elephant performed by The White Stripes
2005	Genius Loves Company performed by Ray Charles and Various Artists; engineered/mixed by Al Schmitt, Ed Thacker, Joel W. Moss, John Harris, Mark Fleming, Pete Karam, Robert Fernandez, Seth Presant & Terry Howard; master engineered by Doug Sax & Robert Hadley; produced by Don Mizell, Herbert Waltl, John R. Burk, Phil Ramone & Terry Howard	American Idiot performed by Green Day The Diary of Alicia Keys performed by Alicia Keys Confessions performed by Usher The College Dropout performed by Kanye West
2006	How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb performed by U2; engineered/mixed by Carl Glanville, Flood, Greg Collins, Jacknife Lee, Nellee Hooper, Simon Gogerly & Steve Lillywhite; master engineered by Arnie Acosta; produced by Brian Eno, Chris Thomas, Daniel Lanois, Flood, Jacknife Lee & Steve Lillywhite	The Emancipation of Mimi performed by Mariah Carey Chaos and Creation in the Backyard performed by Paul McCartney Love. Angel. Music. Baby. performed by Gwen Stefani Late Registration performed by Kanye West
2007	Taking the Long Way performed by Dixie Chicks; engineered/mixed by Chris Testa, Jim Scott & Richard Dodd; master engineered by Richard Dodd; produced by Rick Rubin	St. Elsewhere performed by Gnarls Barkley Continuum performed by John Mayer Stadium Arcadium performed by Red Hot Chili Peppers FutureSex/LoveSounds performed by Justin Timberlake
2008	River: The Joni Letters performed by Herbie Hancock; featuring Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, Corinne Bailey Rae , Tina Turner ; produced by Herbie Hancock & Larry Klein; engineered/mixed by Helik Hadar; master engeineered by Bernie Grundman	Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace performed by Foo Fighters These Days performed by Vince Gill Graduation performed by Kanye West Back to Black performed by Amy Winehouse
2009	Raising Sand performed by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss; produced by T Bone Burnett; engineered/mixed by Mike Piersante; master engeineered by Gavin Lurssen	Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends performed by Coldplay Year of the Gentleman performed by Ne-Yo In Rainbows performed by Radiohead Tha Carter III performed by Lil Wayne

2010s

Year	Winner	Nominations
2010	Fearless performed by Taylor Swift; Colbie Caillat, featured artist; Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift, producers; Chad Carlson, Nathan Chapman & Justin Neibank, engineers/mixers; Hank Williams, mastering engineer	The Fame performed by Lady Gaga Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King performed by the Dave Matthews Band The E.N.D. performed by The Black Eyed Peas I Am... Sasha Fierce performed by Beyoncé
2011	TBA	The Suburbs performed by Arcade Fire Recovery performed by Eminem Need You Now performed by Lady Antebellum The Fame Monster performed by Lady Gaga Teenage Dream performed by Katy Perry

External links

• Official site