The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959. The honorees through its history have been:
- 1959-1965: Artist only.
- 1966-1998: Artist and producer.
- 1999-present: Artist, producer, and engineer and/or mixer.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for music released in the previous year.
Many wonder what the difference is between Record of the Year, Song 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. In this sense, "record" means a recording of one song, not the composition or an album of songs.
- Song of the Year is also awarded for a single or individual track, but the recipient of this award is the songwriter who actually created the song in the first place. Thus, "song" in this context means the song as written, not its recording.
- 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, "album" means a recorded collection of songs (a multi-track LP, CD, or download package), not the individual songs or their compositions.
Roberta Flack was the first artist to win Record of the Year in two consecutive years for the years 1972 (The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face) and 1973 (Killing Me Softly With His Song). This would happen again when the group U2 would win for the years 2000 (Beautiful Day) and 2001 (Walk On).
Other artists to receive 2 Grammys for Record of the Year are Henry Mancini ("Moon River", "Days Of Wine And Roses"), Simon and Garfunkel ("Mrs. Robinson", "Bridge Over Troubled Water"), The 5th Dimension ("Up, Up And Away", "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In"), and Eric Clapton ("Tears In Heaven", "Change The World").
The Beatles were nominated for Record of the Year on 4 different occasions ("I Want To Hold Your Hand", "Yesterday", "Hey Jude", "Let It Be"). Although they did not take this award, they did receive each of the other 3 top honors (Best New Artist; Song of the Year, "Michelle"; Album of the Year, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band").
During the first 50 years of the Grammys, only 5 artists have taken the Record of the Year and Best New Artist awards during the same ceremony; Bobby Darin ("Mack The Knife"), Christopher Cross ("Sailing"), Sheryl Crow ("All I Wanna Do"), Norah Jones ("Don't Know Why") and Amy Winehouse ("Rehab").
2000s
| Year
| Winner
| Nominations
|
| 2008
| Rehab* performed by Amy Winehouse; engineered/mixed by Tom Elmhirst, Vaughan Merrick, Dom Morley, Mark Ronson & Gabriel Roth; produced by Mark Ronson
| Irreplaceable performed by Beyoncé Knowles, The Pretender performed by the Foo Fighters, Umbrella performed by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z, What Goes Around.../...Comes Around performed by Justin Timberlake |
| 2007
| Not Ready to Make Nice* performed by Dixie Chicks; engineered/mixed by Chris Testa, Jim Scott & Richard Dodd; produced by Rick Rubin
| Be Without You performed by Mary J. Blige, You're Beautiful performed by James Blunt, Crazy performed by Gnarls Barkley, Put Your Records On performed by Corinne Bailey Rae |
| 2006
| Boulevard of Broken Dreams performed by Green Day; engineered/mixed by Chris Lord-Alge & Doug McKean, produced by Green Day & Rob Cavallo
| We Belong Together performed by Mariah Carey, Feel Good Inc. performed by Gorillaz, Hollaback Girl performed by Gwen Stefani, Gold Digger performed by Kanye West |
| 2005
| Here We Go Again performed by Ray Charles and Norah Jones; engineered/mixed by Al Schmitt, Mark Fleming, & Terry Howard; produced by John R. Burk
| Let's Get It Started performed by Black Eyed Peas, American Idiot performed by Green Day, Heaven performed by Los Lonely Boys, Yeah! performed by Usher featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris |
| 2004
| Clocks performed by Coldplay; engineered/mixed by Coldplay, Ken Nelson & Mark Phythian; produced by Coldplay & Ken Nelson
| Crazy in Love performed by Beyoncé Knowles & Jay-Z, Where Is the Love? performed by Black Eyed Peas & Justin Timberlake, Lose Yourself performed by Eminem, Hey Ya! performed by OutKast |
| 2003
| Don't Know Why* performed by Norah Jones; engineered/mixed by Jay Newland; produced by Arif Mardin, Jay Newland & Norah Jones
| A Thousand Miles performed by Vanessa Carlton, Without Me performed by Eminem, Dilemma performed by Nelly & Kelly Rowland, How You Remind Me performed by Nickelback |
| 2002
| Walk On performed by U2, engineered/mixed by Richard Rainey & Steve Lillywhite; produced by Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois
| Video performed by India.Arie, Fallin' performed by Alicia Keys, Ms. Jackson performed by OutKast, Drops of Jupiter performed by Train |
| 2001
| Beautiful Day* performed by U2, engineered/mixed by Richard Rainey & Steve Lillywhite; produced by Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois
| Say My Name performed by Destiny's Child, I Try performed by Macy Gray, Music performed by Madonna, Bye Bye Bye performed by 'N Sync |
| 2000
| Smooth* performed by Santana featuring Rob Thomas, engineered/mixed by David Thoener, produced by Matt Serletic
| I Want It That Way performed by Backstreet Boys, Believe performed by Cher, Livin' la Vida Loca performed by Ricky Martin, No Scrubs performed by TLC |
1990s
| Year
| Winner
| Nominations
|
| 1999
| My Heart Will Go On* performed by Celine Dion; engineered/mixed by David Gleeson, Humberto Gatica & Simon Franglen; produced by James Horner, Simon Franglen & Walter Afanasieff
| The Boy Is Mine performed by Brandy & Monica, Iris performed by The Goo Goo Dolls, Ray of Light performed by Madonna, You're Still the One performed by Shania Twain |
| 1998
| Sunny Came Home* performed by Shawn Colvin, produced by John Leventhal
| Where Have All the Cowboys Gone performed by Paula Cole, Everyday Is a Winding Road performed by Sheryl Crow, MMMBop performed by Hanson, I Believe I Can Fly performed by R. Kelly |
| 1997
| Change the World* performed by Eric Clapton, produced by Babyface
| Give Me One Reason performed by Tracy Chapman, Because You Loved Me performed by Celine Dion, Ironic performed by Alanis Morissette, 1979 performed by The Smashing Pumpkins |
| 1996
| Kiss from a Rose* performed by Seal, produced by Trevor Horn
| One Sweet Day performed by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, Gangsta's Paradise performed by Coolio, One of Us performed by Joan Osborne, Waterfalls performed by TLC |
| 1995
| All I Wanna Do performed by Sheryl Crow, produced by Bill Bottrell
| I'll Make Love to You by Boyz II Men, He Thinks He'll Keep Her performed by Mary Chapin Carpenter; Love Sneakin' Up On You performed by Bonnie Raitt; Streets of Philadelphia performed by Bruce Springsteen |
| 1994
| I Will Always Love You performed by Whitney Houston, produced by David Foster
| A Whole New World performed by Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle, The River of Dreams performed by Billy Joel, If I Ever Lose My Faith in You performed by Sting, Harvest Moon performed by Neil Young |
| 1993
| Tears in Heaven* performed by Eric Clapton, produced by Russ Titelman
| Achy Breaky Heart performed by Billy Ray Cyrus, Beauty and the Beast performed by Celine Dion & Peabo Bryson, Constant Craving performed by k.d. lang, Save the Best for Last performed by Vanessa Williams |
| 1992
| Unforgettable* performed by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole, produced by David Foster
| (Everything I Do) I Do It for You performed by Bryan Adams, Baby Baby performed by Amy Grant, Something to Talk About performed by Bonnie Raitt, Losing My Religion performed by R.E.M. |
| 1991
| Another Day in Paradise performed by Phil Collins, produced by Hugh Padgham & Phil Collins
| Vision of Love performed by Mariah Carey, U Can't Touch This performed by MC Hammer, From a Distance performed by Bette Midler, Nothing Compares 2 U performed by Sinéad O'Connor |
| 1990
| Wind Beneath My Wings* performed by Bette Midler, produced by Arif Mardin
| The End of the Innocence performed by Don Henley, She Drives Me Crazy performed by Fine Young Cannibals, We Didn't Start the Fire performed by Billy Joel, The Living Years performed by Mike + The Mechanics |
1980s
| Year
| Winner
| Nominations
|
| 1989
| Don't Worry, Be Happy* performed by Bobby McFerrin, produced by Linda Goldstein
| Giving You the Best That I Got performed by Anita Baker, Fast Car performed by Tracy Chapman, Man in the Mirror performed by Michael Jackson, Roll With It performed by Steve Winwood |
| 1988
| Graceland performed by Paul Simon, produced by Paul Simon
| La Bamba performed by Los Lobos, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For performed by U2, Luka performed by Suzanne Vega, Back in the High Life Again performed by Steve Winwood |
| 1987
| Higher Love performed by Steve Winwood, produced by Russ Titelman & Steve Winwood
| Sledgehammer performed by Peter Gabriel, Greatest Love of All performed by Whitney Houston, Addicted to Love performed by Robert Palmer, That's What Friends Are For performed by Dionne Warwick & Friends |
| 1986
| We Are the World* performed by USA for Africa, produced by Quincy Jones
| Money for Nothing performed by Dire Straits, The Boys of Summer performed by Don Henley, The Power of Love performed by Huey Lewis and the News, Born in the U.S.A. performed by Bruce Springsteen |
| 1985
| What's Love Got to Do with It* performed by Tina Turner, produced by Terry Britten
| Hard Habit to Break performed by Chicago, Girls Just Want to Have Fun performed by Cyndi Lauper, The Heart of Rock & Roll performed by Huey Lewis and the News, Dancing in the Dark performed by Bruce Springsteen |
| 1984
| Beat It performed by Michael Jackson, produced by Michael Jackson & Quincy Jones
| Flashdance... What a Feeling performed by Irene Cara, Every Breath You Take performed by The Police, All Night Long (All Night) performed by Lionel Richie, Maniac performed by Michael Sembello |
| 1983
| Rosanna performed by Toto, produced by Toto
| Steppin' Out performed by Joe Jackson, Ebony and Ivory performed by Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder, Always on My Mind performed by Willie Nelson, Chariots of Fire performed by Vangelis |
| 1982
| Bette Davis Eyes* performed by Kim Carnes, produced by Val Garay
| Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) performed by Christopher Cross, (Just Like) Starting Over performed by John Lennon, Endless Love performed by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, Just the Two of Us performed by Bill Withers & Grover Washington, Jr. |
| 1981
| Sailing* performed by Christopher Cross, produced by Michael Omartian
| The Rose performed by Bette Midler, Lady performed by Kenny Rogers, Theme from New York, New York performed by Frank Sinatra, Woman in Love performed by Barbra Streisand |
| 1980
| What a Fool Believes* performed by The Doobie Brothers, produced by Ted Templeman
| After the Love Has Gone performed by Earth, Wind & Fire, I Will Survive performed by Gloria Gaynor, The Gambler performed by Kenny Rogers, You Don't Bring Me Flowers performed by Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond |
1970s
| Year
| Winner
| Nominations
|
| 1979
| Just the Way You Are*performed by Billy Joel, produced by Phil Ramone
| Baker Street performed by Gerry Rafferty, Feels So Good performed by Chuck Mangione, Stayin' Alive performed by Bee Gees, You Needed Me performed by Anne Murray |
| 1978
| Hotel California performed by The Eagles, produced by Bill Szymczyk
| Blue Bayou performed by Linda Ronstadt, Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue performed by Crystal Gayle, Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born) performed by Barbra Streisand, You Light Up My Life performed by Debby Boone |
| 1977
| This Masquerade performed by George Benson, produced by Tommy LiPuma
| Afternoon Delight performed by Starland Vocal Band, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover performed by Paul Simon, I Write the Songs performed by Barry Manilow, If You Leave Me Now performed by Chicago |
| 1976
| Love Will Keep Us Together performed by Captain & Tennille, produced by Daryl Dragon
| At Seventeen performed by Janis Ian, Lyin' Eyes performed by The Eagles, Mandy performed by Barry Manilow, Rhinestone Cowboy performed by Glen Campbell |
| 1975
| I Honestly Love You performed by Olivia Newton-John, produced by John Farrar
| Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me performed by Elton John, Feel Like Makin' Love performed by Roberta Flack, Help Me performed by Joni Mitchell, Midnight at the Oasis performed by Maria Muldaur |
| 1974
| Killing Me Softly with His Song* performed by Roberta Flack, produced by Joel Dorn
| Bad, Bad Leroy Brown performed by Jim Croce, Behind Closed Doors performed by Charlie Rich, You Are the Sunshine of My Life performed by Stevie Wonder, You're So Vain performed by Carly Simon |
| 1973
| The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face* performed by Roberta Flack, produced by Joel Dorn
| Alone Again (Naturally) performed by Gilbert O'Sullivan, American Pie performed by Don McLean, Song Sung Blue performed by Neil Diamond, Without You performed by Nilsson |
| 1972
| It's Too Late performed by Carole King, produced by Lou Adler
| Joy to the World performed by Three Dog Night, My Sweet Lord performed by George Harrison, Theme from Shaft performed by Isaac Hayes, You've Got a Friend performed by James Taylor |
| 1971
| Bridge over Troubled Water* performed by Simon and Garfunkel; produced by Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon & Roy Halee
| (They Long to Be) Close to You performed by The Carpenters, Everything Is Beautiful performed by Ray Stevens, Fire and Rain performed by James Taylor, Let it Be performed by The Beatles |
| 1970
| Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In performed by The Fifth Dimension, produced by Bones Howe
| A Boy Named Sue performed by Johnny Cash, Is That All There Is? performed by Peggy Lee, A Time For Us performed by Henry Mancini, Spinning Wheel performed by Blood, Sweat & Tears |
1960s
| Year
| Winner
| Nominations
|
| 1969
| Mrs. Robinson performed by Simon and Garfunkel; produced by Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon & Roy Halee
| Harper Valley PTA performed by Jeannie C. Riley, Hey Jude performed by The Beatles, Honey performed by Bobby Goldsboro, Wichita Lineman performed by Glen Campbell |
| 1968
| Up, Up and Away* performed by The Fifth Dimension, produced by Johnny Rivers & Marc Gordon
| By the Time I Get to Phoenix performed by Glen Campbell, My Cup Runneth Over performed by Ed Ames, Ode to Billie Joe performed by Bobbie Gentry, Somethin' Stupid performed by Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra |
| 1967
| Strangers in the Night performed by Frank Sinatra, produced by Tommy LiPuma
| Almost Persuaded performed by David Houston, Monday, Monday performed by The Mamas & the Papas, What Now My Love performed by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Winchester Cathedral performed by The New Vaudeville Band |
| 1966
| A Taste of Honey performed by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, produced by Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss
| Yesterday performed by The Beatles, The 'In' Crowd performed by The Ramsey Lewis Trio, King of the Road performed by Roger Miller, The Shadow of Your Smile performed by Tony Bennett |
| 1965
| The Girl from Ipanema performed by Stan Getz & João Gilberto
| Downtown performed by Petula Clark, Hello, Dolly! performed by Louis Armstrong, I Want to Hold Your Hand performed by The Beatles, People performed by Barbra Streisand |
| 1964
| Days of Wine and Roses* performed by Henry Mancini
| Dominique performed by The Singing Nun, Happy Days Are Here Again performed by Barbra Streisand, I Wanna Be Around performed by Tony Bennett, Wives and Lovers performed by Jack Jones |
| 1963
| I Left My Heart in San Francisco performed by Tony Bennett
| Desafinado performed by Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd, Fly Me to the Moon Bossa Nova performed by Joe Harnell and His Orchestra, I Can't Stop Loving You performed by Ray Charles, What Kind of Fool Am I? performed by Sammy Davis, Jr. |
| 1962
| Moon River* performed by Henry Mancini
| Big Bad John performed by Jimmy Dean, The Second Time Around performed by Frank Sinatra, Take Five performed by Dave Brubeck, (Up a) Lazy River performed by Si Zentner |
| 1961
| Theme from A Summer Place performed by Percy Faith
| Are You Lonesome Tonight? performed by Elvis Presley, Georgia On My Mind performed by Ray Charles, Mack the Knife performed by Ella Fitzgerald, Nice 'n' Easy performed by Frank Sinatra |
| 1960
| Mack the Knife performed by Bobby Darin
| A Fool Such as I performed by Elvis Presley, High Hopes performed by Frank Sinatra, Like Young performed by Andre Previn, The Three Bells performed by The Browns |
1950s
*indicates this recording also won Song of the Year.
