The Grammy Award for Best Album Notes has been presented since 1964. From 1973 to 1976, a separate award was presented for Best Album Notes - Classical. Those awards are listed under those years below. The award recognizes albums with excellent liner notes. It is presented to the liner notes author(s), not to the artists or performers on the winning work, except if the artist is also the liner notes author.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
Contents |
| Year | Winner | Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | To be determined in February 2012 | Neil Diamond for The Bang Years 1966-1968 (performer: Neil Diamond) Ted Olson & Tony Russell for The Bristol Sessions 1927-1928: The Big Bang of Country Music (Various performers) Ken Shipley for Complete Mythology (performer: Syl Johnson) Adam Machado for Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s (Various performers) Alec Palao for The Music City Story: Street Corner Doo Wop, Raw R&B and Soulful Sounds From Berkely, California 1950-75 (Various performers) |
| 2011 | Robert Gordon for Keep an Eye on the Sky, performed by Big Star | |
| 2008 | Bruce Nemerov for John Work, III: Recording Black Culture performed by Various Artists | Patrick Feaster & David Giovannoni for Actionable Offenses: Indecent Phonograph Recordings From The 1890s performed by Various Artists Loren Schoenberg for Classic Chu Berry Columbia And Victor Sessions performed by Chu Berry David Sager for Off The Record: The Complete 1923 Jazz Band Recordings performed by King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band Ricky Jay for Ricky Jay Plays Poker performed by Various Artists |
| 2007 | Dan Morgenstern for If You Got To Ask, You Ain't Got It! performed by Fats Waller | Marshall Wyatt for Good For What Ails You: Music Of The Medicine Shows, 1926-1937 performed by Various Artists Tim Brooks for Lost Sounds: Blacks And The Birth Of The Recording Industry 1891-1922 performed by Various Artists David Ritz & Ben Edmonds for Pirate Radio performed by The Pretenders David Fricke for There Is a Season performed by The Byrds |
| 2006 | Alan Lomax, John Szwed for The Complete Library of Congress Recordings performed by Jelly Roll Morton | Adam White for Heaven Must Have Sent You: The Holland/Dozier/Holland Story performed by Various Artists Patrick Car for The Legend performed by Johnny Cash David Ritz for Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959) performed by Ray Charles Henry Sapoznik for You Ain't Talkin' To Me - Charlie Poole And The Roots Of Country Music performed by Charlie Poole with Various Artists |
| 2005 | Loren Schoenberg for The Complete Columbia Recordings of Woody Herman and His Orchestra & Woodchoppers (1945-1947) performed by Woody Herman and His Orchestra | Sean Wilentz for The Bootleg Series Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall performed by Bob Dylan Barry Alfonso for Carry It On performed by Peter, Paul and Mary Paul Krassner for Let the Buyer Beware performed by Lenny Bruce Chris Morris for No Thanks! The 70's Punk Rebellion performed by Various Artists |
| 2004 | Tom Piazza for Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey performed by Various Artists | Loren Schoenberg for America's #1 Band!: The Columbia Years performed by Count Basie and his Orchestra Ashley Kahn for Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings performed by Nina Simone Will Friedwald for The Singles Collection performed by Peggy Lee Daniel Wolff for The Complete Specialty Records Recordings performed by Sam Cooke with The Soul Stirrers |
| 2003 | David Evans for Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton performed by Charlie Patton | Artie Shaw for Artie Shaw: Self Portrait performed by Artie Shaw Dennis McNally for The Golden Road (1965-1973) performed by the Grateful Dead Will Friedwald for Frank Sinatra in Hollywood 1940-1964 performed by Frank Sinatra Tim Page for A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 & 1981 performed by Glenn Gould |
| 2002 | Walter Mosley for ...And It's Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968-1992) performed by Richard Pryor Elijah Wald for Arhoolie Records 40th Anniversary Collection: 1960-2000 The Journey of Chris Strachwitz performed by Various Artists |
Mari Evans for The Long Road Back To Freedom: An Anthology of Black Music performed by Various Artists Gerald Early for Rhapsodies in Black: Music and Words from The Harlem Renaissance performed by Various Artists Rob Bowman for The Stax Story performed by Various Artists |
| 2001 | Bob Blumenthal for The Complete Columbia Recordings 1955-1961 performed by Miles Davis & John Coltrane | Jeff Place for The Best of Broadside 1962-1988: Anthems of the American Underground from the Pages of Broadside Magazine performed by Various Artists John Chilton for The Complete Lester Young Studio Sessions on Verve performed by Lester Young Bud Scoppa for Hotcakes & Outtakes: 30 Years of Little Feat performed by Little Feat Dr. Demento for The Remains of Tom Lehrer performed by Tom Lehrer Gerald Early for Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis Jr. Story performed by Sammy Davis, Jr. |
| 2000 | Bob Blumenthal for The Classic Quartet: The Complete Impulse! Recordings performed by John Coltrane | Rick Bragg for Live At The Grand Ole Opry performed by Hank Williams Rob Bowman for The Last Soul Company performed by Various Artists Daniel Cooper for The Complete Country & Western Recordings (1959-1986) performed by Ray Charles Marc Kirkeby for Sony Music 100 Years: Soundtrack for a Century performed by Various Artists |
| Year | Winner | Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Bob Belden, Todd Coolman & Michael Cuscuna for Miles Davis Quintet 1965-1968 performed by the Miles Davis Quintet | Joel Dorn, Tom Dowd, Andrew Homzy, Patrick Milligan, Sue Mingus, Tina Marisa Rocchio & Stefano Zenni for Passions of a Man: The Complete Atlantic Recordings 1956-1961 performed by Charles Mingus Daniel Cooper & Colin Escott for The Complete Hank Williams performed by Hank Williams Bill Ivey, Bill C. Malone, Claudia Perry, John W. Rumble & Ron Wynn for From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music performed by Various Artists Sedgwick Clark, Barbara Haws, Kurt Masur, Alan Rich, Robert Sherman & Steven Smolian for The Historic Broadcasts 1923 to 1987 performed by the New York Philharmonic |
| 1998 | John Fahey, Luis Kemnitzer, Jon Pankake, Chuck Pirtle, Jeff Place, Neil V. Rosenberg, Luc Sante, Peter Stampfel & Eric Von Schmidt for Anthology of American Folk Music performed by Various Artists | Robert Gordon for Anthology performed by Al Green Ben Edmonds, Mark Kemp, Meegan Lee Ochs & Michael Ventura for Farewells & Fantasies performed by Phil Ochs Dave Alvin, James Austin, Bill Dahl, Ahmet Ertegün, David Ritz, Billy Vera & Jerry Wexler for Ray Charles Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection performed by Ray Charles Ian Whitcomb for Titanic - Music As Heard on the Fateful Voyage performed by Various Artists |
| 1997 | George Avakian, Bob Belden, Bill Kirchner & Phil Schaap for Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings performed by Miles Davis & Gil Evans | Will Friedwald, Dave Kapp & Mel Tormé for The Mel Tormé Collection: 1944 - 1985 performed by Mel Tormé Lawrence Hoffman for Mean Old World: The Blues from 1940 to 1994 performed by Various Artists Will Friedwald for The Complete Capitol Singles Collection performed by Frank Sinatra Chris Albertson for The Complete Recordings, Vol. 5 performed by Bessie Smith |
| 1996 | Rob Bowman for The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 3: 1972-1975 performed by Various Artists | Geoffrey Mark Fidelman & James Gavin for Ella: The Legendary Decca Recordings performed by Ella Fitzgerald John Fricke for 25th Anniversary: Retrospective performed by Judy Garland Dan Morgenstern for I'll Be Seeing You: A Tribute to Carmen McRae performed by Carmen McRae Dan Morgenstern for Let's Do It: Best of the Verve Years performed by Louis Armstrong |
| 1995 | Dan Morgenstern & Loren Schoenberg for Louis Armstrong: Portrait of the Artists as a Young Man, 1923-1934 performed by Louis Armstrong | Yves Beauvais, Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman & Robert Palmer for Beauty Is A Rare Thing: The Complete Atlantic Recordings performed by Ornette Coleman Francis Pandras, Celia Powell, Peter Pullman, Sonny Rollins & Horace Silver for The Complete Bud Powell on Verve performed by Bud Powell Carol Cooper, Steven Greenberg & Jaime Wolf for Otis! The Definitive performed by Otis Redding Peter Guralnick for Sam Cooke's SAR Records Story 1959-1965 performed by Various Artists |
| 1994 | Buck Clayton, Phil Schaap & Joel E. Siegel for The Complete Billie Holliday on Verve 1945-1959 performed by Billie Holiday | Colin Escott for King of the Blues performed by B. B. King Orrin Keepnews & Jim Ferguson for The Complete Riverside Recordings performed by Wes Montgomery Peter Guralnick for From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential 60s Masters performed by Elvis Presley Alan Lomax & Robert Palmer for Songs of the South: A Musical Journey from the Georgia Sea Islands to the Mississippi Delta Recorded in the Field by Alan Lomax performed by Various Artists |
| 1993 | Dave Marsh, Jerry Wexler, David Ritz, Thulani Davis, Ahmet Ertegün, Tom Down & Arif Mardin for Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings performed by Aretha Franklin | Will Friedwald & Dick Katz for The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio performed by the Nat King Cole Trio Peter Guralnick for The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50s Masters performed by Elvis Presley Pete Welding & Lawrence Cohn for Roots n' Blues the Retrospective (1925-1950) performed by Various Artists Robert Kimball & Richard Sudhalter for You're the Top: Cole Porter in the 1930s performed by Various Artists |
| 1992 | James Brown, Cliff White, Harry Weinger, Nelson George & Alan M. Leeds for Star Time performed by James Brown | John Bauldie for The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961–1991 performed by Bob Dylan Rob Bowman for The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1959-1968 performed by Various Artists Colin Escott for The Original Singles Collection ...Plus performed by Hank Williams Robert Palmer for The Birth of Soul performed by Ray Charles |
| 1991 | Dan Morgenstern for Brownie: The Complete Emarcy Recordings of Clifford Brown performed by Clifford Brown | Mary Katherine Aldin & Robert Palmer for Muddy Waters: The Chess Box performed by Muddy Waters Gary Giddons for Art Pepper: The Complete Galaxy Recordings performed by Art Pepper Robert Palmer for Bo Diddley: The Chess Box performed by Bo Diddley David Perry for The Jack Kerouac Collection performed by Jack Kerouac |
| 1990 | Phil Schaap for Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve performed by Charlie Parker | Dwight Blocker Bowers for American Musical Theatre: Shows, Songs and Stars performed by Various Artists Gene Lees for The Complete Fantasy Recordings performed by Bill Evans Howard Wright Marshall, Amy E. Skillman & Charles Walden for Now That's a Good Tune performed by Masters of Traditional Missouri Fiddling Martin Williams, Dick Katz & Francis Davis for Jazz Piano 1898-1964 performed by Various Artists |
| Year | Winner | Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Anthony DeCurtis for Crossroads performed by Eric Clapton | John Edward Hasse for The Classic Hoagy Carmichael performed by Hoagy Carmichael Mike Kreuger for Show Boat performed by Frederica von Stade, Jerry Hadley, Teresa Stratas, Nancy Culp & Lillian Gish with John McGlinn conducting the London Sinfonietta Dan Morgenstern for The Complete Commodore Jazz Recordings, Volume 1 performed by Various Artists Vaughn Webb for Virginia Tradition: Southwest Virginia Blues performed by Various Artists |
| 1988 | Orrin Keepnews for The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings performed by Thelonious Monk | Peter Guralnick for The Complete Sun Sessions performed by Elvis Presley Nolan Porterfield for Jimmie Rodgers on Record: America's Blue Yodeler performed by Jimmie Rodgers Mark Tucker for Singers and Soloists of the Swing Bands performed by Various Artists Charles K. Wolfe for The Bristol Sessions performed by Various Artists |
| 1987 | Gary Giddins, Wilfrid Sheed, Jonathan Schwartz, Murray Kempton, Andrew Sarris, Stephen Holden & Frank Conroy for The Voice: The Columbia Years 1943–1952 performed by Frank Sinatra | Cameron Crowe for Biograph performed by Bob Dylan Richard Freed & Peter Eliot Stone for Virtuosi (Smithsonian Productions) performed by Various Artists David Hall, John Stratton, Tom Owen, Robert Tuggle & David Hamilton for The Mapleson Cylinders performed by the Metropolitan Opera Lenny Kaye for Elektrock: The Sixties performed by Various Artists |
| 1986 | Peter Guralnick for Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club performed by Sam Cooke | Lenny Kaye for Bleecker and McDougal: The Folk Scene of the 1960s performed by Various Artists Lenny Kaye for Crossroads: White Blues in the 1960s performed by Various Artists James R. Morris, J.R. Taylor & Dwight Blocker Bowers for American Popular Song performed by Various Artists Neil Tesser for The Girl from Ipanema: The Bossa Nova Years performed by Stan Getz |
| 1985 | Gunther Schuller & Martin Williams for Big Band Jazz performed by Various Artists | Glenn Hinson for Virginia Traditions Work Songs performed by Various Artists Grover Sales for Amadeus (Original soundtrack album) performed by [[Neville Neville Marriner]] conducting the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields James Sundquist for An Anthology of Sacred Carols for Classical Guitar performed by James Sundquist Z Factor & Lorene Lortie for A Golden Celebration performed by Elvis Presley |
| 1984 | Orrin Keepnews for The "Interplay" Sessions performed by Bill Evans | Lester Bangs for The Fugs Greatest Hits, Volume 1 performed by The Fugs Peter Guralnick for The Okeh Sessions performed by Big Maybelle Richard B. Hadlock for Giants of Jazz: Joe Sullivan performed by Joe Sullivan John McDonough for Seven Come Eleven performed by Benny Goodman |
| 1983 | John Chilton & Richard Sudhalter for Giants of Jazz: Bunny Berigan performed by Bunny Berigan | Gary Giddins for Duke Ellington 1941 performed by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Thornton Hagert for An Experiment in Modern Music: Paul Whiteman at Aeolian Hall performed by Paul Whiteman William Ivey for The Greatest Country Music Recordings of All Time performed by Various Artists William Ivey & Bob Pinson for 60 Years of Country Music performed by Various Artists Robert Palmer for Young Blood performed by The Coasters |
| 1982 | Dan Morgenstern for Erroll Garner: Master of the Keyboard performed by Erroll Garner | C.P. Crumpacker for The Mario Lanza Collection performed by Mario Lanza John McDonough for Giants of Jazz: Pee Wee Russell performed by Pee Wee Russell David Thompson & Philip W. Payne for Giants of Jazz: Fats Waller performed by Fats Waller Dick Wellstood, Willa Rouder & Frank Kappler for Giants of Jazz: James P. Johnson performed by James P. Johnson |
| 1981 | David McClintock for Trilogy: Past Present Future performed by Frank Sinatra | David Evans & Bruce Bastin for Atlanta Blues: 1933 performed by Blind Willie McTell, Curley Weaver & Buddy Moss Lauren Lortie for Elvis Aron Presley performed by Elvis Presley John McDonough & Richard M. Sudhalter for Giants of Jazz: Lester Young performed by Lester Young Dan Morgenstern for Chicago Concert 1956 performed by Louis Armstrong |
| 1980 | Bob Porter & James Patrick for Charlie Parker: The Complete Savoy Sessions performed by Charlie Parker | Melvin Maddocks for Giants of Jazz: Billie Holiday performed by Billie Holiday Dan Morgenstern & Stanley Dance for Giants of Jazz: Duke Ellington performed by Duke Ellington Dick Schory for The Magical Music of Walt Disney by Various Artists Richard M. Sudhalter for Hoagy Carmichael: A Legendary Performer and Composer performed by Hoagy Carmichael |
| Year | Winner | Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Michael Brooks for A Bing Crosby Collection, Volumes 1 and 2 performed by Bing Crosby | Irving Kolodin & Bill Bender for Beethoven: Symphonies (9) performed by Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Leonard Feather for Ellington at Carnegie Hall – 1943 performed by Duke Ellington Alan Lomax for Georgia Sea Island Songs performed by Various Artists Dan Morgenstern for The Individualism of Pee Wee Russell performed by Pee Wee Russell Phil David Baker & R.D. Darell for Works of Carpenter/Gilbert/Adolph Weiss/Powell performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic |
| 1978 | George T. Simon for Bing Crosby: A Legendary Performer performed by Bing Crosby | Chris Albertson for Stormy Blues performed by Billie Holiday Michael Brooks for The Lester Young Story, Volume 1 performed by Lester Young George T. Simon for Guy Lombardo: A Legendary Performer performed by Guy Lombardo Patrick Snyder for Flight Log performed by Jefferson Airplane |
| 1977 | Dan Morgenstern for The Changing Face of Harlem: Savoy Sessions performed by Various Artists | George R. Marek for Beethoven: The Five Piano Concertos performed by Daniel Barenboim conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra with a solo by Arthur Rubinstein Douglas B. Green for The Blue Sky Boys performed by The Blue Sky Boys Francis Robinson for Caruso: A Legendary Performer performed by Enrico Caruso Mort Goode for The Complete Tommy Dorsey, Volume 1 – 1935 performed by Tommy Dorsey |
| 1976 (Classical) | Gunther Schuller for Footlifters: A Century of American Marches performed by Gunther Schuller conducting the All-Star Band | Rudi Blesh for Joplin: The Complete Works of Scott Joplin performed by Dick Hyman Laszlo Eosze for Kodály: Orchestral Works performed by Antal Doráti conducting the Philharmonia Hungarica Rory Guy & Itzhak Perlman for Joplin: The Easy Winners with solos by Itzhak Perlman & André Previn Rory Guy for Gershwin: Gershwin's Wonderful with solos by Ralph Grierson & Artie Kane James H. Moore for Gagliano: La Dafne performed by Paul Vorwerk conducting the Musica Pacifica Christopher Palmer for Korngold: Die Tote Stadt performed by Erich Leinsdorf conducting the Munich Radio Orchestra with solos by René Kollo, Carol Neblett, Hermann Prey & Benjamin Luxon Judith Robison for The English Harpsichord performed by William Byrd, Giles Farnaby and others with a solo by Igor Kipnis H.C. Robbins Landon for Haydn: Symphonies 93–104 performed by Antal Doráti conducting the Philharmonia Hungarica |
| 1976 (Non-Classical) | Pete Hamill for Blood on the Tracks performed by Bob Dylan | Ralph J. Gleason for The Real Lenny Bruce performed by Lenny Bruce, Benny Green for The Tatum Solo Masterpieces performed by Art Tatum, Tom T. Hall for Greatest Hits, Volume 2 performed by Tom T. Hall, George T. Simon for Glenn Miller: A Legendary Performer performed by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra |
| 1975 (Classical) | Rory Guy for The Classic Erich Wolfgang Korngold conducted by Willy Mattes with a solo by Ulf Hoelscher | David Cairns for Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust performed by Colin Davis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra Deryck Cooke for Mahler: Symphony No. 10 performed by Wyn Morris conducting the New Philharmonic Orchestra Donald Garvelmann for Scriabin: Piano Music (Complete), Volume 2 performed by Various Artists George Jellinek for Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel performed by Kurt Eichhorn conducting the Bavarian Radio Orchestra with solos by Anna Moffo & Helen Donath Irving Kolodin for Verdi: I Vespri Siciliani performed by James Levine conducting the New Philharmonia Orchestra Christopher Palmer for Herrmann: Citizen Kane performed by Charles Gerhardt conducting the National Philharmonic Orchestra Wolfram Schwinger for Weber: Der Freischütz conducted by Erich Kleiber Erik Smith for Mozart: Don Giovanni performed by Colin Davis conducting the Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra Clair W. Van Ausdall for Rachmaninov: The Bells and 3 Russian Songs performed by Eugene Ormandy conducting the Temple University Choirs |
| 1975 (Non-Classical) | Charles R. Townsend, For The Last Time performed by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys Dan Morgenstern for The Hawk Flies performed by Coleman Hawkins |
Rudy Behlmer for 50 Years of Film Music performed by Various Artists Ralph J. Gleason for The Pianist performed by Duke Ellington J.R. Young for The World is Still Waiting for the Sunrise performed by Les Paul & Mary Ford |
| 1974 (Classical) | Glenn Gould for Hindemith: Sonatas for Piano Complete performed by the Villa Musica Ensemble | Misha Donat for Berio: Recital 1 ("For Cathy") performed by Luciano Berio conducting the London Sinfonietta with a solo by Cathy Berberian Tom Eastwood for The Woods So Wild performed by Julian Bream Irving Kolodin for Dvořák: Piano Quartet in E Flat Major, Op. 87 performed by the Guarneri Quartet with a solo by Arthur Rubinstein Harvey Phillips for Bizet: Carmen performed by Leonard Bernstein conducting the Metropolitan Opera with solos by Marilyn Horne, James McCracken, Andriana Maliponte & Tom Krause Alan Rich for Rachmaninov: Concerto No. 2 in C Minor for Piano performed by Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra with a solo by Arthur Rubinstein H.C. Robbins Landon for Haydn: Symphony No. 36 & Symphony No. 48 performed by Antal Doráti conducting the Philharmonia Hungarica H.C. Robbins Landon for Haydn: Symphony No. 20 in C Major and Symphony No. 35 in B Flat Major performed by Antal Doráti conducting the Philharmonia Hungarica Erik Smith for Bach: Brandenburg Concertos performed by Neville Marriner conducting the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Clair Van Ausdall for Debussy: La mer/Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2 performed by Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra |
| 1974 (Non-Classical) | Dan Morgenstern for God Is in the House performed by Art Tatum | Stan Cornyn for Ol’ Blue Eyes Is Back performed by Frank Sinatra Chet Flippo for Lonesome, On'ry and Mean performed by Waylon Jennings William Ivey for This Is Jimmie Rodgers performed by Jimmie Rodgers Lionel Newman for Remember Marilyn performed by Marilyn Monroe |
| 1973 (Classical) | James Lyons for Vaughn Williams: Symphony No. 2 ("A London Symphony") performed by André Previn conducting the London Symphony Orchestra | David Cairns for Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini performed by Colin Davis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra Tom Eastwood for Julian and John performed by Julian Bream & John Williams Karolynne Gee for Michael Rabin: in Memoriam performed by Michael Rabin H.C. Robbins Landon for Haydn: Symphonies (Complete), Volumes 4 and 5 performed by Antal Doráti conducting the Philharmonia Hungarica Sacheverell Sitwell for John Ogdon Plays Alkan performed by John Ogdon Ursula Von Rauchhaupt for String Quartets of the New Viennesse School performed by La Salle Quartet |
| 1973 (Non-Classical) | Tom T. Hall for Tom T. Hall's Greatest Hits performed by the Tom T. Hall | Michael Brooks for Super Chief performed by Count Basie Albert Goldman for Lenny Bruce: Carnegie Hall performed by Lenny Bruce Charles Mingus for Let My Children Hear Music performed by Charles Mingus Dan Morgenstern for Bunny Berigan, His Trumpet and His Orchestra, Volume 1 performed by Bunny Berigan |
| 1972 | Sam Samudio for Sam, Hard and Heavy performed by Sam the Sham | Colman Andrews for Miles Davis performed by Miles Davis Don Demichael for The Genius of Louis Armstrong performed by Louis Armstrong Nat Hentoff for Louis Armstrong: July 4, 1900 – July 6, 1971 performed by Louis Armstrong James Lyons for Music of Varese performed by Konstantin Simonovitch conducting the Paris Instrumental Ensemble Joshua Rifkin for Piano Rags by Scott Joplin performed by Rifkin George T. Simon for This is Benny Goodman performed by Benny Goodman Tom West for Honky Tonkin' with Charlie Walker performed by Charlie Walker |
| 1971 | Chris Albertson for The World's Greatest Blues Singer performed by Bessie Smith | Billy Edd Wheeler for As I See It performed by Jack Moran Ralph J. Gleason for Bitches Brew performed by Miles Davis Rod McKuen for Hold Back the World performed by Alexander's Greyhound Bass, Anthony d'Oberoff for I Do Not Play No Rock and Roll performed by Mississippi Fred McDowell Rex Reed for Judy. London. 1969. performed by Judy Garland James Goodfriend for Sixteen All Time Greatest Hits performed by Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys Arthur Knight for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? performed by the John Green Orchestra |
| 1970 | Johnny Cash for Nashville Skyline performed by Bob Dylan | Joan Baez for David's Album performed by Joan Baez John Dodds II for Chicago Mess Around performed by Johnny Dodds John Hartford for John Hartford performed by John Hartford Rex Reed for At Town Hall performed by Mabel Mercer & Bobby Short |
| Year | Winner | Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Johnny Cash for At Folsom Prison performed by Johnny Cash | Stan Cornyn for Francis A. and Edward K. performed by Frank Sinatra & Duke Ellington Miles Kreuger for Ethel Waters on Stage and Screen performed by Ethel Waters Richard Oliver for Anthology of Indian Music, Volume 1 performed by Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Kahn & Sundaram Balachander Pete Seeger for Pete Seeger's Greatest Hits performed by Pete Seeger |
| 1968 | John D. Loudermilk for Suburban Attitudes in Country Verse performed by John D. Loudermilk | Stan Cornyn for Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim performed by Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim Stanley Dance for The Far East Suite performed by Duke Ellington Rory Guy for Extra Special performed by Peggy Lee Rod McKuen for The Earth performed by Rod McKuen with music by Anita Kerr Richard Oliver for Listen! performed by Gary Lewis & the Playboys |
| 1967 | Stan Cornyn for Sinatra at the Sands performed by Frank Sinatra | Harvey Cowen for Ben Colder Strikes Again performed by Ben Colder Stanley Dance & Ralph J. Gleason for The Ellington Era, Volume 2 performed by Duke Ellington Fred W. Friendly for Edward R. Murrow - A Reporter Remembers, Vol. I The War Years Nelson Lyon for Dr. Zhivago performed by Maurice Jarre |
| 1966 | Stan Cornyn for September of My Years performed by Frank Sinatra | Dom Cerulli for The Voice of the Uncommon Man performed by Adlai Stevenson Stanley Dance for Grand Terrace Band performed by Earl Hines Charles Lamb for Father and Son performed by Hank Williams & Hank Williams Jr. Gustav Rudolf Sellner & Otto Gerdes for Berg: Wozzeck performed by Karl Böhm conducting the German Opera |
| 1965 | Stanton Catlin & Carleton Beals for Mexico (Legacy Collection) performed by Carlos Chávez | Neville Cardus for Mahler: Symphony No. 5 Berg: Wozzeck Excerpts with a solo by Phyllis Curtin performed by Erich Leinsdorf conducting the Boston Symphony Alexander Cohen for Beyond the Fringe '64 performed by the original cast Stan Getz, João Gilberto & Gene Leess for Getz/Gilberto performed by Stan Getz & João Gilberto Rory Guy for The Definitive Piaf performed by Édith Piaf George Sponholtz for The Young Chevalier performed by Maurice Chevalier Jack Tracy for Quincy Jones Explores the Music of Henry Mancini performed by Quincy Jones |
| 1964 | Leonard Feather & Stanley Dance for The Ellington Era performed by Duke Ellington | Edward Albee & Harold Clurman for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? performed by the original cast Harold Arlen for The Barbra Streisand Album performed by Barbra Streisand Sidney Bock for An Evening of Elizabethan Music performed by the Julian Bream Consort Bob Ballard for The Amazing Amanda Ambrose performed by Amanda Ambrose Benjamin A. Botkin, Sylvester Vigilante, Harold Preece & James Horan for The Badmen performed by Pete Seeger and others |