The Grammys

by Thomas O'Neil

Book Overview

From the first awards ceremony in 1958 to the last call on the party circuit in 1998, "The Grammys" gives readers the inside scoop on the music industry's highest honor. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399524770
• ISBN13: 9780399524776
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Perigee Books
• Length: 714 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The Absurdity of the Grammy

I just used to be so into all of the awards shows, but especially the Grammys. This year, however, I just found myself hugely let down performance wise, not to mention the way that the awards were handed out. Feel that it is injustice? Then check out this book! The book was brought to us by "Variety", a magazine that makes even those normal people interested in Hollywood cringe, although a few of the statements made by the writers make sense. Just check out the stats! It gives all the nominees and winners of these "prestigious" music awards from 1958 to 1998. Its insane to read the list of people that had not won Grammys (the amazing Neil Young) yet some of those legends have only recently (Cher for the dancey "Believe" and Elvis Costello for his lighter sounding work with Burt Baccarach) are of course not listed in this 1998 book. The stats are flawless. Lets say you have a craving to know who won the best male rock vocal performance for 1985, just take a look and you found it (Don Henley for his hit rock ballad "Boys of Summer").It's is nonsense, but its just fun stuff to know. Even the years by year accounts of what happened at every show are fun. If you are a pop culture pariah like I am, this book. I also want to urge that this book is not only for fans of the awards. Just reading this book might make your blood boil of your favorites loosing out to unwarranted winners. For example, when Milli Vanilli won there fraud of an award, they won over inspiring hip hop acts like Neneh Cherry (the funky "Buffalo Stance" songstress) and Soul II Soul (the groundbreaking UK dance blues group of "Back To Life" fame)! And Pia Zodra (best known to many for her hilarious cameos in "Naked Gun 33 and1/3" and "Hairspray") was actually nominated for a rock performance Grammy for a song called "Rock It Out" (I downloaded it in. Perhaps her husband was behind that as well? Again, it useless information, but pleasant nonetheless.

"THE GRAMMYS" Deserves an AWARD

I really enjoy Tom O'Neil's other two books, too -- "Movie Awards" and "The Emmys." I cannot recommend these books stronger to you guys. I'm addicted to them. Get all three -- you'll thank me. (...)

Get This Book for Hot Grammy Dish!

The author doesn't varnish Grammy's scandalous past! He tells it like it is in a sassy, fun writing style -- year by year. All of the nominees and winners are listed, plus there are lots of photos, old pages from the tradepaper Variety -- and FASCINATING trivia in the back of the book. (Elvis never won Record or Album of the Year, but the Fifth Dimension won best record TWICE! WOW!). Highly recommended.

Get This Book for Hot Grammy Dish!

The author doesn't varnish Grammy's scandalous past! He tells it like it is in a sassy, fun writing style -- year by year. All of the nominees and winners are listed, plus there are lots of photos, old pages from the tradepaper Variety -- and FASCINATING trivia in the back of the book. (Elvis never won Record or Album of the Year, but the Fifth Dimension won best record TWICE! WOW!). O'Neil also wrote Variety's books "Movie Awards" and "The Emmys" -- all three are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

An excellent reference to the award

The Grammys: For the Record is an exellent reference to the Grammy Awards and I look forward to the upcoming volume. Dependant on price, it will be an invaluable addition to my reference library.