The awards’ sometimes dizzying list of categories – which currently stands at 78, having been cut from 109 in 2012 – means artists in all sorts of more minor high-profile genres (jazz, comedy, children’s) get their nods alongside the usual red-carpet favourites. For instance, Elmo the Muppet has won a Grammy three times – for Best Musical Album for Children in 1998 (Elmopalooza!), 1999 (The Adventures Of Elmo In Grouchland), and 2001 (Elmo And The Orchestra).
But at the heart of the Grammy problem is often a dilemma – whether to recognise the uncompromisingly artistic or plump for the safer bet. No category bears that out better than Album of the Year. This time around, the panel seems to have done a decent job, balancing Arianna Grande and Billie Eilish’s pop likes with critical darlings such as Bon Iver and Lana Del Ray. But BBC Music looks at some of the times the Grammy panel got it noticeably wrong. [Note: the years cited are those in which the albums were released and were awarded for, not the year the ceremony took place, which is the following year.]
1969
Won: Blood, Sweat & Tears, Blood, Sweat & Tears
Should have won: The Beatles, Abbey Road
1980
Won: Christopher Cross, Christopher Cross
Should have won: AC/DC, Back In Black, or The Clash, London Calling
1984
Won: Lionel Richie, Can’t Slow Down
Should have won: Bruce Springsteen, Born In The USA
1989
Won: Bonnie Raitt, Nick Of Time
Should have won: Tom Petty, Full Moon Fever
1992
Won: Eric Clapton, MTV… Unplugged
Should have won: Nirvana, Nevermind
1996
Won: Celine Dion, Falling Into You
Should have won: Beck, Odelay
1997
Won: Bob Dylan, Time Out Of Mind
Should have won: Radiohead, OK Computer
2000
Won: Steely Dan, Two Against Nature
Should have won: Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP, or Radiohead, Kid A
2004
Won: Ray Charles and Friends, Genius Loves Company
Should have won: Kanye West – The College Dropout, or Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand
2007
Won: Herbie Hancock, River: The Joni Letters
Should have won: Amy Winehouse, Back To Black
