[1987 Grammy Awards] – Complete List of Winners and Nominees (29th) ♪
[1987 Grammy Awards] – Complete List of Winners and Nominees (29th) ♪
Held on February 24, 1987, the 29th Annual Grammy Awards celebrated music from October 1, 1985, to September 30, 1986. Paul Simon's groundbreaking Graceland was a major winner, taking Album of the Year.
It was celebrated for its innovative fusion of pop with South African musical styles, demonstrating artistic daring and cultural exploration. Steve Winwood's uplifting and soulful "Higher Love" won Record of the Year.
Bruce Hornsby & The Range, with their piano-driven folk-rock sound, were named Best New Artist. Other prominent winners included Barbra Streisand and Janet Jackson.
This ceremony recognized artistic innovation and the successful integration of global sounds into popular music, signaling a growing openness to diverse musical influences at the Grammys.
Record Of The Year
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Steve Winwood | Higher Love |
| Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder | That's What Friends Are For | |
| Peter Gabriel | Sledgehammer | |
| Whitney Houston | Greatest Love Of All | |
| Robert Palmer | Addicted To Love |
Album Of The Year
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Paul Simon | Graceland |
| Barbra Streisand | The Broadway Album | |
| Peter Gabriel | So | |
| Janet Jackson | Control | |
| Steve Winwood | Back In The High Life |
Song Of The Year
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder | That's What Friends Are For |
| Peter Gabriel | Sledgehammer | |
| Steve Winwood | Higher Love | |
| Paul Simon | Graceland | |
| Robert Palmer | Addicted To Love |
Best New Artist
| Artist | |
|---|---|
| 🏆 | Bruce Hornsby & The Range |
| Glass Tiger | |
| Timbuk 3 | |
| Simply Red | |
| Nu Shooz |
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Barbra Streisand | The Broadway Album |
| Tina Turner | Typical Male | |
| Cyndi Lauper | True Colors | |
| Madonna | Papa Don't Preach | |
| Dionne Warwick | Friends |
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Steve Winwood | Higher Love |
| Michael McDonald | Sweet Freedom (Theme From Running Scared) | |
| Paul Simon | Graceland | |
| Peter Cetera | Glory Of Love (Theme From The Karate Kid Part II) | |
| Kenny Loggins | Danger Zone |
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder | That's What Friends Are For |
| Peter Cetera And Amy Grant | The Next Time I Fall | |
| Michael McDonald And Patti LaBelle | On My Own | |
| Simply Red | Holding Back The Years | |
| Mike And The Mechanics | All I Need Is A Miracle |
Best Pop Instrumental Performance, (Orchestra, Group Or Soloist)
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens | Top Gun Anthem |
| Genesis | The Brazilian | |
| Stanley Clarke | Overjoyed | |
| Doc Severinsen | Johnny's Theme (The Tonight Show Theme) | |
| David Foster | David Foster |
Best New Age Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Andreas Vollenweider | Down To The Moon |
| (Various Artists) | Windham Hill Records Sampler '86 | |
| Jean-Michel Jarre | Rendez-Vous | |
| Paul Winter | Canyon | |
| (Various Artists) | A Winter's Solstice |
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Tina Turner | Back Where You Started |
| Stevie Nicks | Talk To Me | |
| Pat Benatar | Sex As A Weapon | |
| Bonnie Raitt | No Way To Treat A Lady | |
| Cyndi Lauper | 911 |
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Robert Palmer | Addicted To Love |
| Billy Idol | To Be A Lover | |
| Eddie Money | Take Me Home Tonight | |
| Peter Gabriel | Sledgehammer | |
| John Fogerty | Eye Of The Zombie |
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | The Eurythmics | Missionary Man |
| The Fabulous Thunderbirds | Tuff Enuff | |
| Artists United Against Apartheid | Sun City | |
| The Rolling Stones | Harlem Shuffle | |
| ZZ Top | Afterburner |
Best Rock Instrumental Performance, (Orchestra, Group Or Soloist)
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | The Art Of Noise Featuring Duane Eddy | Peter Gunn |
| Eric Johnson | Zap | |
| The Alan Parsons Project | Where's The Walrus? | |
| The Fabulous Thunderbirds | Down At Antones | |
| Yes | Amazing Grace |
Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Anita Baker | Rapture |
| Patti LaBelle | Winner In You | |
| Aretha Franklin | Jumpin' Jack Flash | |
| Chaka Khan | Destiny | |
| Janet Jackson | Control |
Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | James Brown | Living In America |
| Oran Juice Jones | The Rain | |
| Al Jarreau | Since I Fell For You | |
| Billy Ocean | Love Zone | |
| Luther Vandross | Give Me The Reason |
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Prince & The Revolution | Kiss |
| Cameo | Word Up | |
| The Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew | The Super Bowl Shuffle | |
| Ashford And Simpson | Real Love | |
| Run-D.M.C. | Raising Hell | |
| Sade | Promise |
Best R&B Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group Or Soloist)
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Yellowjackets | And You Know That |
| Billy Cobham | Zanzibar Breeze | |
| Stanley Clarke | The Boys Of Johnson Street | |
| Kashif | Movie Song | |
| Kenny G | Duotones |
Best Rhythm & Blues Song
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Anita Baker | Sweet Love |
| Janet Jackson | What Have You Done For Me Lately | |
| James Brown | Living In America | |
| Prince And The Revolution | Kiss | |
| Luther Vandross | Give Me The Reason |
Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal Or Instrumental
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | David Sanborn & Bob James | Double Vision |
| Chick Corea | The Chick Corea Elektric Band | |
| Lyle Mays | Lyle Mays | |
| Clare Fischer And His Latin Jazz Sextet | Free Fall | |
| Lee Ritenour | Earth Run |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Diane Schuur | Timeless |
| Maxine Sullivan | Uptown | |
| Sue Raney | Flight Of Fancy | |
| Flor Purim And Airto | Esquinas | |
| Etta James And Eddie Cleanhead Vinson | Blues In The Night |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Bobby McFerrin | 'Round Midnight |
| Grady Tate | She's Out Of My Life | |
| Jimmy Witherspoon | Midnight Lady Called The Blues | |
| Joe Williams | I Just Want To Sing | |
| The Mel Tormé & George Shearing Group | An Elegant Evening |
Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo Or Group
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | 22 Plus | Free Fall |
| Betty Joplin And Arthur Prysock | Teach Me Tonight | |
| L.A. Jazz Choir, Gerald Eskelin, Choir Director | From All Sides | |
| The Four Freshmen | Fresh! | |
| Jackie And Roy | Bogie |
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Miles Davis, soloist | Tutu |
| Branford Marsalis, soloist | Royal Garden Blues | |
| Wynton Marsalis, soloist | Insane Asylum | |
| Dizzy Gillespie, soloist | Closer To The Source | |
| Eddie Daniels, soloist | Breakthrough |
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Wynton Marsalis | J Mood |
| Louis Bellson, Teddy Wilson, Benny Carter, Red Norvo, Remo Palmier, Freddie Green, George Duvivier | Swing Reunion | |
| Jack De Johnette, Keith Jarrett And Gary Peacock | Standards Live | |
| Scott Hamilton And Gerry Mulligan | Soft Lights And Sweet Music | |
| Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers | Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers Live At Sweet Basil |
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | The Tonight Show Band With Doc Severinsen | The Tonight Show Band With Doc Severinsen |
| Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra | Sentimental Journey | |
| Benny Goodman And His Orchestra | Let's Dance | |
| Woody Herman And His Band | 50th Anniversary Tour | |
| Mel Lewis, leader | 20 Years At The Village Vanguard |
Best Country Vocal Performance, Female
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Reba McEntire | Whoever's In New England |
| Emmylou Harris | Today I Started Loving You Again | |
| Kathy Mattea | Love At The Five And Dime | |
| Holly Dunn | Daddy's Hands | |
| Crystal Gayle | Cry |
Best Country Vocal Solo Performance, Male
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Ronnie Milsap | Lost In The Fifties Tonight |
| Dwight Yoakam | Guitars, Cadillacs | |
| Steve Earle | Guitar Town | |
| Randy Travis | Diggin' Up Bones | |
| Hank Williams Jr. | Ain't Misbehavin' |
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | The Judds | Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days) |
| Larry Gatlin And The Gatlin Brothers | She Used To Be Somebody's Baby | |
| Alabama | She And I | |
| Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison | Class Of '55 | |
| Everly Brothers | Born Yesterday |
Best Country Instrumental Performance, (Orchestra, Group Or Soloist)
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Ricky Skaggs | Raisin' The Dickins |
| Jerry Douglas | Under The Wire | |
| Albert Lee | Speechless | |
| New Grass Revival | Seven By Seven | |
| Mark O'Connor | Meanings Of |
Best Country Song
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | The Judds | Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days) |
| Reba McEntire | Whoever's In New England | |
| Dwight Yoakam | Guitars, Cadillacs | |
| Steve Earle | Guitar Town | |
| Holly Dunn | Daddy's Hands |
Best Gospel Performance, Female
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Sandi Patti | Morning Like This |
| Teri DeSario | Voices In The Wind | |
| Deniece Williams | So Glad I Know | |
| Sheila Walsh | Shadowlands | |
| Cynthia Clawson | Immortal |
Best Gospel Performance, Male
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Philip Bailey | Triumph |
| Michael W. Smith | The Big Picture | |
| Bebe Winans | It's Only Natural | |
| Larnelle Harris | From A Servant's Heart | |
| Steve Green | For God And God Alone |
Best Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group, Choir Or Chorus
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Sandi Patti & Deniece Williams | They Say |
| First Call | Undivided | |
| DeGarmo And Key | Street Light | |
| Carman And CeCe Winans | Our Blessed Savior Has Come | |
| Petra | Back To The Street |
Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Deniece Williams | I Surrender All |
| Tramaine Hawkins | The Search Is Over | |
| Albertina Walker | Spirit | |
| Candi Staton | Sing A Song | |
| Shirley Caesar | Celebration |
Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Al Green | Going Away |
| Rodney Friend | Worthy | |
| Howard Smith | Totally Committed | |
| Daryl Coley | Just Daryl | |
| Derrick Brinkley | Glorious Day |
Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo, Group, Choir Or Chorus
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | The Winans | Let My People Go |
| Shirley Caesar And Albertina Walker | Jesus Is Mine | |
| James Cleveland And The Southern California Community Choir | James Cleveland And The Southern California Community Choir | |
| F.C. Barnes, Dorothy Norwood, Janice Brown, Albertina Walker, James Cleveland | Dorothy Norwood And Friends | |
| The Winans With Vanessa Bell Armstrong | Choose Ye |
Best Latin Pop Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Jose Feliciano | Le Lo Lai |
| Yuri | Yo Te Pido Amor | |
| Jose Jose | Pruebame | |
| Danny Rivera | Inolvidable Tito... A Mi Me Pasa Lo Mismo Que A Usted | |
| Pandora | Como Te Va Mi Amor |
Best Tropical Latin Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Rubén Blades | Escenas |
| Willie Rosario | Nueva Cosecha | |
| Celia Cruz And Tito Puente | Homenaje A Beny More - Vol. III | |
| Willie Colon | Especial No. 5 | |
| Mario Bauza And Graciela | Afro-Cuban Jazz |
Best Mexican-American Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Flaco Jimenez | Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio |
| Rafael Buendia | Y...Zas! | |
| Salvador Torres | Unidos Cantemos | |
| Steve Jordan | Turn Me Loose | |
| Juan Valentin | Juan Valentin | |
| Los Tigres Del Norte | El Otro Mexico | |
| Los Yonics | Corazon Vacio |
Best Traditional Blues Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Robert Cray, Albert Collins & Johnny Copeland | Showdown! |
| Clarence Gatemouth Brown | Pressure Cooker | |
| Willie Dixon | Live! Backstage Access | |
| James Cotton | Live From Chicago - Mr. Superharp Himself! | |
| John Lee Hooker | Jealous |
Best Traditional Folk Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Doc Watson | Riding The Midnight Train |
| Buckwheat Zydeco | Waitin' For My Ya Ya | |
| Rockin' Sidney | Hot Steppin' With Rockin' Sidney | |
| Queen Ida | Caught In The Act | |
| New Lost City Ramblers With Elizabeth Cotten, Pete Seeger And The Highwood String Band | 20th Anniversary Concert |
Best Contemporary Folk Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Al Bunetta, Dan Einstein & Hank Neuberger, producers; (Arlo Guthrie, John Hartford, Richie Havens, Bonnie Koloc, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Prine and Others) | Tribute To Steve Goodman |
| Peter, Paul And Mary | No Easy Walk To Freedom | |
| Nanci Griffith | Last Of The True Believers | |
| Loudon Wainwright III | I'm Alright | |
| John Prine | German Afternoons |
Best Polka Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra | I Remember Warsaw |
| 🏆 | Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones | Another Polka Celebration |
| Hank Haller Ensemble | Thank You Dear And Give Her Roses | |
| Walter Ostanek And His Band | By Special Request | |
| Frank Yankovic | America's Favorites |
Best Reggae Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Steel Pulse | Babylon The Bandit |
| The Itals | Rasta Philosophy | |
| Linton Kwesi Johnson | Linton Kwesi Johnson In Concert With The Dub Band | |
| Jimmy Cliff | Club Paradise | |
| Black Uhuru | Brutal |
Best Recording For Children
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | (The Sesame Street Muppets) | The Alphabet |
| Shari Lewis | One-Minute Bedtime Stories | |
| Carly Simon | Itsy Bitsy Spider | |
| Shel Silverstein | A Light In The Attic | |
| Tanya Goodman | A Child's Gift Of Lullabye's |
Best Comedy Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Bill Cosby | Those Of You With Or Without Children, You'll Understand |
| Rodney Dangerfield | Twist And Shout | |
| George Carlin | Playin' With Your Head | |
| Bette Midler | Mud Will Be Flung Tonight! | |
| Steven Wright | I Have A Pony | |
| Bob And Ray | Bob And Ray: A Night Of Two Stars Recorded Live At Carnegie Hall |
Best Spoken Word Or Non-Musical Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Sam Phillips, Rick Nelson & Chips Moman | Interviews From The Class Of '55 Recording Sessions |
| Ray Bradbury | The Stories Of Ray Bradbury | |
| F. Murray Abraham | Interview With The Vampire | |
| Bill Cosby Featuring Double Force | Hardheaded Boys | |
| John Gielgud | Gulliver |
Best Musical Cast Show Album
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Thomas Z. Shepard, producer (Original 1986 Cast) | Follies In Concert |
| Rupert Holmes, composer (Original Broadway Cast) | The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | |
| Mike Berniker & Cy Coleman, producers (Original Broadway Cast) | Sweet Charity (Original Broadway Cast) | |
| Don Black & Richard Maltby Jr., composers; Thomas Z. Shepard, producer (Bernadette Peters And Broadway Cast) | Song And Dance | |
| Norman Newell, producer (Original Cast) | Me And My Girl (Original Cast Album) |
Best Instrumental Composition
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | John Barry, composer (John Barry) | Out Of Africa |
| Bruce Broughton, composer (Bruce Broughton Conducting The Sinfonia Of London) | Young Sherlock Holmes (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack) | |
| Harold Faltermeyer, composer (Harold Faltermeyer And Steve Stevens) | Top Gun Anthem | |
| Wynton Marsalis, composer (Wynton Marsalis) | J Mood | |
| Chick Corea, composer (Chick Corea) | Elektric City | |
| Dave Grusin & Lee Ritenour, composers (Lee Ritenour) | Earth Run | |
| James Horner, composer (James Horner, conductor) | Aliens (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
Best Music Video, Short Form
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Dire Straits | Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms |
| The Pointer Sisters | So Excited (Video) | |
| Paul McCartney | Rupert And The Frog Song (Video) | |
| Luis Cardenas | Runaway (Video) | |
| Supertramp | Brother Where You Bound (Video) |
Best Music Video, Long Form
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Sting | Bring On The Night |
| Artists United Against Apartheid | Sun City | |
| Pete Townshend | Pete Townshend: White City - The Music Movie (Video) | |
| Frank Sinatra | Frank Sinatra: Portrait Of An Album (Video) | |
| Yes | 9012 Live (Video) |
Best Arrangement On An Instrumental
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Pat Williams, arranger (Bill Watrous & Patrick Williams) | Suite Memories |
| Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Dick Hazard, conductor) | The First Letter | |
| Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Eddie Daniels) | Solfeggietto Metamorphosis | |
| Don Sebesky, arranger (Don Sebesky) | Cherokee | |
| Bill Meyers, arranger (Bill Meyers) | Am/Pm |
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | David Foster, arranger (Barbra Streisand) | Somewhere |
| Clare Fischer, arranger (Clare Fischer And His Latin Jazz Sextet) | Free Fall | |
| Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett) | Forget The Woman | |
| Jeremy Lubbock, arranger (Diane Schuur) | A Time For Love |
Best Album Package
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Eiko Ishioka, art director (Miles Davis) | Tutu |
| Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff & Michael Hodgson, art directors (Talking Heads) | True Stories | |
| John Berg, art director (Frank Sinatra) | The Voice, The Columbia Years 1943-1952 | |
| Colin Chambers & Andrew Ellis, art directors (The Alan Parsons Project) | Stereotomy | |
| Buddy Jackson, art director (Douglas Trowbridge) | Songs Unspoken |
Best Album Notes
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Frank Conroy, Gary Giddins, Stephen Holden, Murray Kempton, Andrew Sarris, Jonathan Schwartz & Wilfrid Sheed, album notes writers (Frank Sinatra) | The Voice - The Columbia Years 1943-1952 |
| Richard Freed & Peter Eliot Stone, album notes writers (Pabloe Casals, Artur Rubenstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Rudolf Serkin, Jascha Heifetz And Others) | Virtuosi | |
| David Hall, David Hamilton, Tom Owen, John Stratton & Robert Tuggle, album notes writers (Various Metropolitan Opera Artists) | The Mapleson Cylinders | |
| Lenny Kaye, album notes writer (Various Artists) | Elektrock The Sixties | |
| Cameron Crowe, album notes writer (Bob Dylan) | Biograph |
Best Historical Album
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | (Brook Benton, Ray Charles, The Coasters, The Drifters, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding & Others) | Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974, Vols. 1-7 |
| (Frank Sinatra) | The Voice, The Columbia Years 1943-1952 | |
| (Various Metropolitan Opera Artists) | The Mapleson Cylinders | |
| (Various Artists) | The Complete Keynote Collection | |
| (Bob Dylan) | Biograph |
Best Engineered Recording - Non-Classical
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Jason Corsaro & Tom Lord-Alge, engineers (Steve Winwood) | Back In The High Life |
| Jason Corsaro & Eric ET Thorngren, engineers (Robert Palmer) | Riptide | |
| Don Murray, engineer (Diane Schuur, Dave Valentin, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, And Others) | GRP Live In Session | |
| Mike Shipley, engineer (Joni Mitchell) | Dog Eat Dog | |
| Humberto Gatica, engineer (David Foster) | David Foster |
Producer Of The Year (Non-Classical)
| Artist | |
|---|---|
| 🏆 | Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis |
| David Foster (producer) | |
| Russ Titelman, Steve Winwood (producers) | |
| Paul Simon (producer) | |
| Michael Omartian (producer) |
Best Classical Album
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Vladimir Horowitz, artist; Thomas Frost, producer | Horowitz - The Studio Recordings, New York 1985 |
| Kathleen Battle & Christopher Parkening, artists; Patti Laursen, producer | Pleasures Of Their Company (Bach, Gounod, Villa-Lobos) | |
| Georg Solti, artist; Andrew Cornall, producer | Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 In A Minor (Scottish) And No. 4 In A (Italian) | |
| Leonard Slatkin, artist; Marc Aubort & Joanna Nickrenz, producers | Copland: Billy The Kid And Rodeo (Complete Ballets) | |
| James Billings, Joyce Castle, Maris Clement, David Eisler, Jack Harrold, John Lankston, John Mauceri, Erie Mills & Scott Reeve, artists; Elizabeth Ostrow, producer | Bernstein: Candide | |
| Robert Shaw, artist; Thomas Frost, producer | Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor (Choral) | |
| Emanuel Ax & Yo-Yo Ma, artists; James Mallinson, producer | Beethoven: Cello And Piano Sonata No. 4 In C/And Variations |
Best Classical Orchestral Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Georg Solti, conductor (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) | Liszt: A Faust Symphony |
| (London Philharmonic) | Vaughan-Williams: Sinfonia Antartica | |
| (Philadelphia Orchestra) | Respighi: The Pines Of Rome, The Fountains Of Rome, Roman Festivals | |
| (Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra) | Copland: Billy The Kid And Rodeo | |
| (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra) | Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor /Choral/ |
Best Opera Recording
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | James Billings, Joyce Castle, Maris Clement, David Eisler, Jack Harrold, John Lankston, Erie Mills & Scott Reeve; John Mauceri, conductor; Elizabeth Ostrow, producer (New York City Opera Orchestra) | Bernstein: Candide |
| Kathleen Battle, Renato Bruson, Christa Ludwig, Luciano Pavarotti, Margaret Price & Georg Solti; Christopher Raeburn, producer (National Philharmonic Orchestra) | Verdi: Un Ballo In Maschera (The Masked Ball) | |
| Justino Diaz, Placido Domingo, Lorin Maazel & Katia Ricciarelli; David Groves & James Mallinson, producers (La Scala Opera Chorus; La Scala Opera Orchestra) | Verdi: Otello | |
| Claudio Abbado, Placido Domingo, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Leo Nucci, Ruggero Raimondi, Katia Ricciarelli & Lucia Valentini Terrani; Rainer Brock, producer (La Scala Opera Chorus; La Scala Opera Orchestra) | Verdi: Don Carlos | |
| Aldo Baldin, Agnes Baltsa, Barbara Hendricks, Robert Lloyd, Neville Marriner, Felicity Palmer, Lucia Popp, Ruggero Raimondi & Jose Van Dam; Erik Smith, producer (Academy Of St. Martin-In-The-Fields) | Mozart: The Marriage Of Figaro |
Best Choral Performance (Other Than Opera)
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | James Levine, conductor (Chicago Symphony Chorus; Chicago Symphony Orchestra) | Orff: Carmina Burana |
| (Atlanta Symphony Chorus; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra) | Choral Masterpieces: (Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Handel, Berlioz, Haydn, Brahms, Etc.) | |
| (Westminster Choir; Philadelphia Orchestra) | Berlioz: Romeo Et Juliette | |
| (Vienna Singverein; Wiener Philharmoniker) | Beethoven: Missa Solemnis | |
| (Monteverdi Choir; English Baroque Soloists) | Bach: Mass In B Minor |
Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist Or Soloists (With Or Without Orchestra)
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | NOMINEES | Horowitz - The Studio Recordings, New York 1985 |
| Dale Clevenger | Tomasi: Concerto For Trumpet And Orchestra/Jolivet: Concerto No. 2 For Trumpet; Concertino For Trumpet, String Orchestra And Piano | |
| (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) | Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 3 | |
| (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) | Haydn: Trumpet Concerto In E Flat | |
| (Dresden State Orchestra) | Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 In E Flat (/Emperor/) | |
| - | Bach: Well Tempered Clavier - Book 1 |
Best Chamber Music Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Emanuel Ax & Yo-Yo Ma, artists | Beethoven: Cello And Piano Sonata No. 4 In C & Variations |
| Vladimir Ashkenazy & Lynn Harrell, artists | Rachmaninov: Cello And Piano Sonata | |
| Chicago Symphony Winds (J. Lawrie Bloom, Larry Combs, Cheryl Frazes, Kathleen Karnes-Ferrin, James Moffitt, Wayland Rogers, Gregory Smith & John Bruce Yeh), artists | Mozart: Music For Basset Horns (Divertimenti, Notturni, Adagios) | |
| Vladimir Ashkenazy & Itzhak Perlman, artists | Brahms: Violin And Piano Sonata; No. 1 In G/No. 2 In A/No. 3 In D Minor/Hungarian Dances | |
| Berkshire String Quartet (David Dawson, Albert Lazan, Fritz Magg & Urico Rossi), Benny Goodman & Leon Pommers, artists | Benny Goodman: Private Collection (Beethoven, Brahms, Von Weber) |
Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | (Andre Previn; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) | Mozart: Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart |
| (Chamber Symphony) | Weill: Stratas Sings Weill | |
| (Orchestra Del teatro Comunale Di Bologna) | Passione Pavarotti (Favorite Neapolitan Love Songs) | |
| (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) | Canteloube: Chants D'Auvergne Vol.II/Triptyque | |
| (English Chamber Orchestra) | Beautiful Dreamer (The Great American Songbook) |
Best Contemporary Composition
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Witold Lutoslawski, composer | Lutoslawski: Symphony No. 3 |
| Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, composer | Zwilich: Symphony No. 1 | |
| Philip Glass, composer | Glass: Company | |
| Chick Corea, composer | Corea: Septet | |
| Robert Beaser, composer | Beaser: Mountain Songs (A Cycle Of American Folk Music) |
Best Engineered Recording, Classical
| Artist | Work | |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Paul Goodman, engineer (Vladimir Horowitz, piano) | Horowitz - The Studio Recordings, New York 1985 |
| Michael Sheady, engineer (Riccardo Muti, conductor) | Respighi: The Pines Of Rome, The Fountains Of Rome And Roman Festivals | |
| James Lock, engineer (Georg Solti, conductpr) | Liszt: A Faust Symphony | |
| Marc Aubort, engineer (Leonard Slatkin, conductor) | Copland: Billy The Kid And Rodeo (Complete Ballets) | |
| Paul Goodman, engineer (John Maucer, conductor) | Bernstein: Candide |
Classical Producer Of The Year
| Artist | |
|---|---|
| 🏆 | Thomas Frost |
| Steven Epstein | |
| Robert Woods | |
| Jay David Saks | |
| Marc Aubort & Joanna Nickrenz |