1979 Grammy Awards (21st) – Complete List of Winners and Nominees
Held on February 15, 1979, the 21st Annual Grammy Awards acknowledged recordings from October 1, 1977, to September 30, 1978. The Bee Gees' record-breaking Saturday Night Fever soundtrack was a dominant force, winning Album of the Year and unequivocally cementing disco's massive cultural and commercial impact on mainstream music.
Billy Joel's poignant and melodious "Just the Way You Are" won Record of the Year, showcasing his strength as a songwriter and performer. The soulful duo A Taste of Honey was named Best New Artist.
Other significant honors went to Donna Summer and Earth, Wind & Fire. This ceremony provided a vivid snapshot of disco's peak popularity and its pervasive influence on the music industry, demonstrating the Grammys' responsiveness to prevailing trends in popular culture.
Record Of The Year
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Billy Joel | Just The Way You Are |
| Nominee | Anne Murray | You Needed Me |
| Nominee | Bee Gees | Stayin' Alive |
| Nominee | Chuck Mangione | Feels So Good |
| Nominee | Gerry Rafferty | Baker Street |
Album Of The Year
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | (Various Artists) | Saturday Night Fever - Soundtrack |
| Nominee | The Rolling Stones | Some Girls |
| Nominee | Jackson Browne | Running On Empty |
| Nominee | (Various Artists) | Grease (Original Soundtrack) |
| Nominee | Barry Manilow | Even Now |
Song Of The Year
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Billy Joel | Just The Way You Are |
| Nominee | Anne Murray | You Needed Me |
| Nominee | Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond | You Don't Bring Me Flowers |
| Nominee | Commodores | Three Times A Lady |
| Nominee | Bee Gees | Stayin' Alive |
Best New Artist
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | A Taste Of Honey | - |
| Nominee | Elvis Costello | - |
| Nominee | The Cars | - |
| Nominee | Toto | - |
| Nominee | Chris Rea | - |
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Anne Murray | You Needed Me |
| Nominee | Barbra Streisand | You Don't Bring Me Flowers (Solo Version) |
| Nominee | Carly Simon | You Belong To Me |
| Nominee | Donna Summer | Mac Arthur Park |
| Nominee | Olivia Newton-John | Hopelessly Devoted To You |
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Barry Manilow | Copacabana (At The Copa) |
| Nominee | Dan Hill | Sometimes When We Touch |
| Nominee | Jackson Browne | Running On Empty |
| Nominee | Gino Vannelli | I Just Wanna Stop |
| Nominee | Gerry Rafferty | Baker Street |
Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Bee Gees | Saturday Night Fever |
| Nominee | Commodores | Three Times A Lady |
| Nominee | Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway | The Closer I Get To You |
| Nominee | Earth, Wind & Fire | Got To Get You Into My Life |
| Nominee | Steely Dan | FM (No Static At All) |
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Chuck Mangione | Children Of Sanchez |
| Nominee | Henry Mancini | The Pink Panther Theme ('78) |
| Nominee | Zubin Mehta, Conducting The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra | Star Wars And Close Encounters Of The Third Kind |
| Nominee | Chet Atkins, Les Paul | Guitar Monsters |
| Nominee | John Williams | Close Encounters Of The Third Kind |
Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Donna Summer | Last Dance |
| Nominee | Natalie Cole | Our Love |
| Nominee | Chaka Khan | I'm Every Woman |
| Nominee | Alicia Bridges | I Love The Nightlife (Disco Round) |
| Nominee | Aretha Franklin | Almighty Fire |
Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | George Benson | On Broadway |
| Nominee | Lou Rawls | When You Hear Lou, You've Heard It All |
| Nominee | Ray Charles | I Can See Clearly Now |
| Nominee | Peter Brown | Dance With Me |
| Nominee | Teddy Pendergrass | Close The Door |
Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Earth, Wind & Fire | All 'n All |
| Nominee | The O'Jays | Use Ta Be My Girl |
| Nominee | Commodores | Natural High |
| Nominee | Diana Ross And Michael Jackson | Ease On Down The Road |
| Nominee | A Taste Of Honey | Boogie Oogie Oogie |
Best R&B Instrumental Performance
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Earth, Wind & Fire | Runnin' |
| Nominee | Average White Band | Sweet And Sour |
| Nominee | Brothers Johnson | Streetwave |
| Nominee | Stanley Clarke | Modern Man |
| Nominee | Crusaders | Images |
Best Rhythm & Blues Song
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Donna Summer | Last Dance |
| Nominee | O'Jays | Use Ta Be My Girl |
| Nominee | Earth, Wind & Fire | Fantasy |
| Nominee | Chic | Dance Dance Dance |
| Nominee | A Taste Of Honey | Boogie Oogie Oogie |
Best Country Vocal Performance, Female
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Dolly Parton | Here You Come Again |
| Nominee | Anne Murray | Walk Right Back |
| Nominee | Crystal Gayle | Talkin' In Your Sleep |
| Nominee | Barbara Mandrell | Sleeping Single In A Double Bed |
| Nominee | Emmylou Harris | Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town |
Best Country Vocal Performance, Male
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Willie Nelson | Georgia On My Mind |
| Nominee | Johnny Paycheck | Take This Job And Shove It |
| Nominee | Elvis Presley | Softly, As I Leave You |
| Nominee | Kenny Rogers | Love Or Something Like It |
| Nominee | Ronnie Milsap | Let's Take The Long Way Around The World |
| Nominee | Waylon Jennings | I've Always Been Crazy |
Best Country Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson | Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys |
| Nominee | Charlie Rich With Janie Fricke | On My Knees |
| Nominee | Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius | If The World Ran Out Of Love Tonight |
| Nominee | The Statler Brothers | Do You Know You Are My Sunshine |
| Nominee | The Oak Ridge Boys | Cryin' Again |
| Nominee | Kenny Rogers And Dottie West | Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight |
Best Country Instrumental Performance
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Asleep At The Wheel | One O'Clock Jump |
| Nominee | Doc Watson And Merle Watson | Under The Double Eagle |
| Nominee | Roy Clark | Steel Guitar Rag |
| Nominee | Nashville Brass With Danny Davis | Cookin' Country |
| Nominee | Roy Clark And Buck Trent | Banjo Bandits |
Best Country Song
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Kenny Rogers | The Gambler |
| Nominee | Johnny Paycheck | Take This Job And Shove It |
| Nominee | Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson | Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys |
| Nominee | Ronnie Milsap | Let's Take The Long Way Around The World |
| Nominee | Kenny Rogers & Dottie West | Every Time Two Fools Collide |
Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary Or Inspirational
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Larry Hart | What A Friend |
| Nominee | The Imperials | Imperials Live |
| Nominee | The McGuires | Destined To Be Yours |
| Nominee | Barry McGuire | Cosmic Cowboy |
| Nominee | Evie Tornquist | Come On, Ring Those Bells |
| Nominee | Reba Rambo | The Lady Is A Child |
Best Gospel Performance, Traditional
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | The Happy Goodman Family | Refreshing |
| Nominee | George Beverly Shea | The Old Rugged Cross |
| Nominee | Cathedral Quartet | Sunshine And Roses |
| Nominee | Blackwood Brothers | His Amazing Love |
| Nominee | J.D. Sumner And The Stamps Quartet | Elvis' Favorite Gospel Songs |
Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Andrae Crouch & The Disciples | Live In London |
| Nominee | Loleatta Holloway | You Light Up My Life |
| Nominee | Shirley Caesar | Reach Out And Touch |
| Nominee | Walter Hawkins And The Hawkins Family | Love Alive II |
| Nominee | Danniebelle And The Choralerna | Danniebelle Live In Sweden With Choralerna |
| Nominee | Willie Walker, David Futch | Because He's Jesus |
Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Mighty Clouds Of Joy | Live And Direct |
| Nominee | James Cleveland AndThe Charles Fold Singers | Tomorrow |
| Nominee | Isaac Douglas | Special Appearance |
| Nominee | James Cleveland And The Salem Inspirational Choir, Directed By Doretha Wade | I Don't Feel Noways Tired |
| Nominee | Gladys McFadden And The Loving Sisters | Amazing Grace |
Best Inspirational Performance
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | B.J. Thomas | Happy Man |
| Nominee | Anita Kerr | Precious Memories |
| Nominee | Tennessee Ernie Ford | He Touched Me |
| Nominee | Larry Hart | Goin' Up In Smoke |
| Nominee | The Boones | First Class |
| Nominee | Billy Preston | Behold |
Best Ethnic Or Traditional Recording
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Muddy Waters | I'm Ready |
| Nominee | Memphis Slim And His House Rockers, Featuring Matt Guitar Murphy | U.S.A. |
| Nominee | Fenton Robinson | I Hear Some Blues Downstairs |
| Nominee | Clifton Chenier | Clifton Chenier And His Red Hot Louisiana Band In New Orleans |
| Nominee | (Various Artists) | Chicago Blues At Home |
Best Latin Recording
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Tito Puente | Homenaje a Beny More |
| Nominee | Mongo Santamaria | Mongo A La Carte |
| Nominee | Eddie Palmieri | Lucumi, Macumba, Voodoo |
| Nominee | Laurindo Almeida Trio | Laurindo Almeida Trio |
| Nominee | Larry Harlow conducting Orchestra Harlow | La Raza Latina |
| Nominee | Fania All-Stars | Coro Miyare |
Best Recording For Children
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | (The Muppets) | The Muppet Show |
| Nominee | Orson Bean, John Huston, Hans Conreid | The Hobbit (Soundtrack) |
| Nominee | Robin Gibb And The Muppets | Sesame Street Fever |
| Nominee | David Bowie And Eugene Ormandy | Peter And The Wolf |
| Nominee | Charlie Brown's All-Stars | Charlie Brown's All-Stars (TV Special) |
Best Comedy Recording
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Steve Martin | A Wild And Crazy Guy |
| Nominee | Richard Pryor | The Wizard Of Comedy |
| Nominee | The Rutles | The Rutles (All You Need Is Cash) |
| Nominee | Martin Mull | Sex And Violins |
| Nominee | Lily Tomlin | On Stage |
Best Spoken Word Recording
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Orson Welles | Citizen Kane |
| Nominee | Judith Anderson, Claire Bloom, James Mason, George Rose, Gordon Gould | Wuthering Heights |
| Nominee | Richard Nixon; Interviewed by David Frost | The Nixon Interviews With David Frost |
| Nominee | Original Sound Track For TV | Roots |
| Nominee | Henry Fonda | John Steinbeck: The Grapes Of Wrath (Excerpts) |
Best Instrumental Composition
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | John Williams, composer (John Williams) | Theme From Close Encounters Of The Third Kind |
| Nominee | Lee Ritenour, composer (Lee Ritenour) | The Captain's Journey |
| Nominee | Chick Corea, composer (Chick Corea) | Friends |
| Nominee | Nick Ashford, Quincy Jones & Valerie Simpson, composers (Ashford And Simpson) | End Of The Yellow Brick Road |
| Nominee | Chuck Mangione, composer (Chuck Mangione Group) | Consuelo's Love Theme |
Best Album Of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | John Williams, composer (John Williams) | Close Encounters Of The Third Kind |
| Nominee | Leslie Bricusse & Henry Mancini, composers (Henry Mancini) | Revenge Of The Pink Panther |
| Nominee | Chris Bennett, David Castle, William Hayes, Giorgio Moroder & Oliver Stone, composers (Original Score - Various Artist) | Midnight Express |
| Nominee | Morton Gould, composer (Morton Gould) | Holocaust: The Story Of The Family Weiss |
| Nominee | Sue Collins, Glen Larson, Stu Phillips & John Tartaglia, composers (Original Score - Various Artists) | Battlestar Galactica |
Best Cast Show Album
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Thomas Z. Shepard, producer (Various Artists) | Ain't Misbehavin' |
| Nominee | Thomas Z. Shepard, producer (Yul Brynner, Constance Towers) | The King And I |
| Nominee | Cy Coleman, Betty Comden & Adolph Green, composers; Cy Coleman, producer (Kevin Kline, Madeline Kahn, John Cullum, Imogene Coca) | On The Twentieth Century |
| Nominee | Carol Hall, composer; John Simon, producer (Various Artists) | Best Little Whorehouse In Texas |
| Nominee | Kenny Laguna & Sandy Yaguda, producers (Various Artists) | Beatlemania - Original Cast |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Al Jarreau | All Fly Home |
| Nominee | Ray Charles | True To Life |
| Nominee | Mel Tormé | Together Again - For The First Time |
| Nominee | Eddie Jefferson | The Main Man |
| Nominee | Sarah Vaughan | How Long Has This Been Going On |
| Nominee | Irene Kral | Gentle Rain |
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Oscar Peterson, soloist | Montreaux '77 - Oscar Peterson Jam |
| Nominee | Stan Getz, soloist | Stan Getz Gold |
| Nominee | Dexter Gordon, soloist | Sophisticated Giant |
| Nominee | Woody Shaw, soloist | Rosewood |
| Nominee | - | Heavy Love |
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Chick Corea | Friends |
| Nominee | Stan Getz And Jimmy Rowles | The Peacocks |
| Nominee | Phil Woods Quintet | Song For Sisyphus |
| Nominee | Woody Shaw Concert Ensemble | Rosewood |
| Nominee | Al Cohn And Jimmy Rowles | Heavy Love |
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Thad Jones & Mel Lewis | Live In Munich |
| Nominee | Thad Jones | Thad Jones Greetings And Salutations |
| Nominee | Dexter Gordon | Sophisticated Giant |
| Nominee | Toshiko Akiyoshi And Lew Tabackin Big Band | Insights |
| Nominee | Rob McConnell And The Boss Brass | Big Band Jazz |
Best Instrumental Arrangement
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Robert (Bob) Freedman & Quincy Jones, arrangers (Various Artists) | The Wiz Main Title - Overture Part One |
| Nominee | Tom Tom 84, arrangers (Earth, Wind And Fire) | Runnin' |
| Nominee | Chick Corea, arranger (Chick Corea) | Mad Hatter Rhapsody |
| Nominee | Joe Roccisano, arranger (Woody Herman Band) | Green Earrings |
| Nominee | Alan Broadbent, arranger (Woody Herman Band) | Aja |
Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Maurice White, arranger (Earth, Wind & Fire) | Got To Get You Into My Life |
| Nominee | William Pursell, arranger (Christmas Festival Chorale And Orchestra) | We Three Kings |
| Nominee | Robert (Bob) Freedman, arranger (Andrea Marcovicci) | It Happens Very Softly |
| Nominee | Tom Tom 84, arrangers (Earth, Wind And Fire) | Fantasy |
| Nominee | Chick Corea, arranger (Chick Corea) | Falling Alice |
Best Arrangement For Voices
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | (Bee Gees) | Stayin' Alive |
| Nominee | Nick Ashford, Quincy Jones & Valerie Simpson, arrangers (Quincy Jones) | Stuff Like That |
| Nominee | McCoy Tyner, arranger (McCoy Tyner) | Rotunda |
| Nominee | Mira Shankman, arranger (Vocal Jazz Incorporated) | High Clouds |
| Nominee | Gene Puerling, arranger (The Singers Unlimited) | Cry Me A River |
Best Album Package
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Tony Lane & Johnny B. Lee, art directors (Carly Simon) | Boys In The Trees |
| Nominee | Ron Coro, art director (The Cars) | The Cars |
| Nominee | Ron Coro & Johnny B. Lee, art directors (Oregon) | Out Ot The Woods |
| Nominee | Barbara Wojirsch, art director (Steve Kuhn) | Non-Fiction |
| Nominee | Tim (Gribbitt) Bryant, art director (Fandango) | Last Kiss |
| Nominee | John Berg & Paula Scher, art directors (Bob James) | Heads |
| Nominee | Junie Osaki, art director (Chuck Mangione) | Children Of Sanchez |
| Nominee | Tony Lane, art director (Bruce Roberts) | Bruce Roberts |
Best Album Notes
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Michael Brooks, album notes writer (Bing Crosby) | A Bing Crosby Collection, Vols. I & II |
| Nominee | David Baker & R. D. Darrell, album notes writers (Calvin Simmons & Lawrence Foster conductors; Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra) | Works Of Carpenter/Gilbert/Weiss/Powell |
| Nominee | Dan Morgenstern, album notes writer (Pee Wee Russell) | The Individualism Of Pee Wee Russell |
| Nominee | Alan Lomax, album notes writer (Various Artists) | Georgia Sea Island Songs |
| Nominee | Leonard Feather, album notes writer (Duke Ellington) | Ellington At Carnegie Hall 1943 |
| Nominee | Bill Bender & Irving Kolodin, album notes writers (Herber von Karajan, conductor) | Beethoven: 9 Symphonies |
Best Historical Repackage Album
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | (Lester Young) | The Lester Young Story, Vol. 3 |
| Nominee | (The Ravens) | The Greatest Group Of Them All |
| Nominee | (Thomas A. Edison And Various Others) | The First Recorded Sounds 1888 To 1929 |
| Nominee | (Maria Callas) | La Divina |
| Nominee | (Bing Crosby) | A Bing Crosby Collection, Vols. I And II |
Best Engineered Recording - Non-Classical
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Roger Nichols & Al Schmitt, engineers (Steely Dan) | FM (No Static At All) |
| Nominee | Bruce Swedien, engineer (Quincy Jones) | Sounds...And Stuff Like That |
| Nominee | Alan Parsons, engineer (The Alan Parsons Project) | Pyramid |
| Nominee | John Neal, engineer (John Williams) | Close Encounters Of The Third Kind |
| Nominee | George Massenburg, engineer (Earth Wind And Fire) | All 'N All |
| Nominee | John Neal & Alan Sides, engineers (Diahann Carroll) | A Tribute To Ethel Waters |
Producer Of The Year
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Bee Gees, Albhy Galuten & Karl Richardson | - |
| Nominee | Quincy Jones (producer) | - |
| Nominee | Peter Asher (producer) | - |
| Nominee | Phil Ramone (producer) | - |
| Nominee | Alan Parsons (producer) | - |
Album Of the Year
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Carlo Maria Giulini & Itzhak Perlman, artists; Christopher Bishop, producer | Brahms: Concerto For Violin In D |
| Nominee | Colin Davis, artist; Vittorio Negri, producer | Sibelius: Symphonies (Complete) |
| Nominee | Vladimir Horowitz & Eugene Ormandy, artists; John Pfeiffer, producer | Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 In D Minor For Piano (Horowitz Golden Jubilee) |
| Nominee | John Frandsen, artist; Peter Willemoes, producer | Nielsen: Maskarade |
| Nominee | Claudio Abbado, artist; Rainer Brock, producer | Mahler: Symphony No. 4 In G Major |
| Nominee | Carlo Maria Giulini, artist; Gunther Breest, producer | Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 In E Minor (/New World/) |
| Nominee | Herbert von Karajan, artist; Michel Glotz, producer | Beethoven: Symphonies (9) Complete |
| Nominee | Neville Marriner, artist; Vittorio Negri, producer | Bach: Mass In B Minor |
Best Classical Orchestral Performance
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Herbert von Karajan, conductor (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) | Beethoven: Symphonies (9) (Complete) |
| Nominee | (New York Philharmonic) | Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring |
| Nominee | (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) | Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 |
| Nominee | (St. Louis Symphony) | Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1 In D Minor |
| Nominee | (London Symphony Orchestra) | Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony |
| Nominee | (Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra) | Mendelssohn: Symphonies (5) Complete |
| Nominee | (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) | Mahler: Symphony No. 4 In G Major |
| Nominee | (Concertgebouw Orchestra) | Holst: The Planets |
| Nominee | (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) | Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor |
| Nominee | (New York Philharmonic) | Varese: Ameriques/ Arcana/ Ionisation (Boulez Conducts Varese) |
Best Opera Recording
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Julius Rudel, conductor; John Coveney & George Sponhaltz, producers (New York City Opera Orchestra) | Lehar: The Merry Widow |
| Nominee | Carlos Kleiber; Hans Hirsch, producer (Bavarian State Opera Chorus; Bavarian State Opera Orchestra) | Verdi: La Traviata |
| Nominee | Gennady Rozhdestvensky; Severin Pazukhin, producer (Moscow Chamber Opera Chorus; Moscow Chamber Opera Orchestra) | Shostakovich: The Nose |
| Nominee | Zubin Mehta; Gunther Breest, producer (Royal Opera House Chorus; Royal Opera House Orchestra) | Puccini: La Fanciulla Del West |
| Nominee | John Frandsen; Peter Willemoes, producer (Danish Radio Symphony Chorus; Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra) | Nielsen: Maskarade |
| Nominee | Colin Davis; Erik Smith, producer (Royal Opera House Chorus Of Covent Garden; Royal Opera House Orchestra - Covent Garden) | Mozart: La Clemenza Di Tito |
| Nominee | Julius Rudel; Christopher Bishop, producer (Chorus Of Paris Opera; Orchestra Of Paris Opera) | Charpentier: Louise |
| Nominee | Herbert von Karajan, conductor; Michel Glotz, producer (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) | (R.) Strauss: Salome |
Best Choral Performance, Classical (Other Than Opera)
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Georg Solti, conductor (Chicago Symphony Chorus; Chicago Symphony Orchestra) | Beethoven: Missa Solemnis |
| Nominee | (London Philharmonic Choir; London Philharmonic) | Walton: Belshazzar's Feast |
| Nominee | (New Philharmonia Chorus; New Philharmonia Orchestra) | Vivaldi: Gloria In D Major And Magnificat |
| Nominee | (English Bach Festival Chorus & Trinity Boy's Choir; English Bach Festival Orchestra) | Stravinsky: Les Noces And Mass |
| Nominee | (Saint Louis Symphony Chorus; Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra) | Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky |
| Nominee | (Westminster Choir; New York Philharmonic) | Haydn: Mass No. 9 In D Minor (/Lord Nelson Mass/) |
| Nominee | (Utah Chorale; Utah Symphony Orchestra) | Bloch: Sacred Service |
| Nominee | (Chorus of St. Martin-In-The-Fields; Academy Of St. Martin-In-The-Fields) | Bach: Mass In B Minor |
Best Chamber Music Performance
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Vladimir Ashkenazy & Itzhak Perlman, artists | Beethoven: Sonatas For Violin And Piano |
| Nominee | David Munrow, artist | The Art Of The Recorder |
| Nominee | Melos Quartet & Mstislav Rostropovich, artists | Schubert: Quintet In C Major For Strings |
| Nominee | Guarneri Quartet (John Dalley, David Soyer, Arnold Steinhardt & Michael Tree), artists | Mozart: Quartets For Piano And Strings |
| Nominee | Carlos Bonell, Brian Gascoigne, Keith Marjoram, Morris Pert & John Christopher Williams, artists | John Williams And Friends |
| Nominee | Itzhak Perlman & Pinchas Zukerman, artists | Duets For Two Violins |
| Nominee | Pierre Boulez, artist | Berg: Chamber Concerto For Piano And Violin/ Four Pieces For Clarinet And Piano |
| Nominee | Martha Argerich & Stephen Kovacevich, artists | Bartók: Sonata For 2 Pianos And Percussion/ Mozart: Andante With 5 Variations For Piano, 4 Hands/ Debussy: En Blanc Et Noir For 2 Pianos |
| Nominee | Tokyo String Quartet (Sadao Harada, Kikuei Ikeda, Kazuhide Isomura & Peter Oundjian), artists | Bartók: Quartet No. 2 For Strings, Op. 17 And Quartet No. 6 |
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (With Orchestra)
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Vladimir Horowitz, artist (New York Philharmonic) | Rachmaninoff: Con. No. 3 In D Minor For Piano (Horowitz Golden Jubilee) |
| Nominee | Arnold Jacobs, artist | Vaughan Williams: Concerto For Tuba |
| Nominee | Murray Perahia, artist | Mozart: Concertos For Piano Nos. 21 In C Major And 9 In E Flat |
| Nominee | Mstislav Rostropovich, artist | Dvorák: Concerto For Cello in B Minor/ Saint-Saens: Concerto For Cello No. 1 In A Minor |
| Nominee | Emanuel Ax, artist | Chopin: Concerto No. 2 In F Minor For Piano |
| Nominee | Itzhak Perlman, artist | Brahms: Concerto For Violin In D Major |
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (Without Orchestra)
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Vladimir Horowitz, artist | The Horowitz Concerts 1977/78 |
| Nominee | Rudolf Serkin, artist | Rudolf Serkin On Television |
| Nominee | Claudio Arrau, artist | Liszt: 12 Transcendental Etudes And 3 Etudes De Concert |
| Nominee | Paul Jacobs, artist | Debussy: Preludes For Piano, Books I and II |
| Nominee | Charles Rosen, artist | Beethoven: Variations On A Waltz By Diabelli |
| Nominee | Maurizio Pollini, artist | Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas |
| Nominee | Alfred Brendel, artist | Bach: Italian Concerto/Choral Prelude/Prelude S922 /Chromatic Fantasy And Fugue/Fantasy And Fugue |
Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | NOMINEES | Luciano Pavarotti - Hits From Lincoln Center |
| Nominee | (Bavarian Radio Orchestra) | Wagner: Arias |
| Nominee | Marilyn Horne | Teresa Berganza - Favorite Zarzuela Arias |
| Nominee | (Orchestre National De France) | Ravel: Sheherazade |
| Nominee | (London Philharmonic) | Mussorgsky: Songs And Dances |
| Nominee | Christa Ludwig | Maria Callas/The Legend, The Unreleased Recordings |
| Nominee | (Vienna Philharmonic) | Brahms: Alto Rhapsody |
Best Engineered Recording, Classical
| Result | Artist | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Edward (Bud) T. Graham, Arthur Kendy & Ray Moore, engineers (Pierre Boulez, conductor) | Varese: Ameriques/Arcana/Ionisation (Boulez Conducts Varese) |
| Nominee | Marc Aubort, engineer (Leonard Slatkin, conductor) | Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky |
| Nominee | Chris Parker, engineer (Andre Previn, conductor) | Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony |
| Nominee | Vittorio Negri, engineer (Neville Marriner, conductor) | Holst: The Planets |
| Nominee | Jack Renner, engineer (Frederick Fennell, conductor) | Frederick Fennell - Cleveland Symphonic Winds |
| Nominee | Gunter Hermanns, engineer (Herbert von Karajan, conductor) | Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 In B Flat Major |
| Nominee | Paul Goodman, engineer (Eugene Ormandy, conductor) | Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique |
| Nominee | Gunter Hermanns, engineer (Herbert von Karajan, conductor) | Beethoven: Symphonies (9) complete |
| Nominee | Vittorio Negri, engineer (Neville Marriner, conductor) | Bach: Mass In B Minor |
| Nominee | Doug Sax & Bud Wyatt, engineers (Erich Leinsdorf conductor) | Wagner: Ride Of The Valkyries/ Tristan: Prelude Act I/ Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Funeral Music/ Siegfried:Forest Mumurs |
