The Ten Artists Most Deserving Grammys
I went over to the Grammy site and typed in a handful of names to see what would come up. And what I found was pretty much what I expected, but a little worse. If the Academy (I love the seriousness of such a thing--the Academy) was able to recognize the Beatles in 1964 as the Best New Recording Act, shouldn't they have been onto them throughout their career?
Anyhow, here's a random ten of major artists who never received the Grammys they deserved (again, suspending our belief and pretending this stuff matters):
10) The Doors: How is it that a band with a singer as serious as Jim Morrison didn't win over the voters of the Academy? They love these kinds of guys, from Sting to Bono to Radiohead. I guess the Academy caught Jimbo's drunk act and decided that for all the "Greek God" comparisons, there was always a chance they'd get nothing more than a fat, sweaty Ralph Kramden drunk to show up to their ceremony.
9) Pink Floyd:
Nothing for Dark Side Of The Moon. Nothing for The Wall. But they
win in 1994, Best Rock Instrumental Performance with "Marooned." Ah, yes,
that's the one keeper in their catalog. WHAT? It's like we should all just get
drunk and make up the rules as we go along and then maybe something like Ummagumma would have a chance of winning.
8) Led Zeppelin: Nah, a hard rock band. Pass. Give it to Jethro Tull instead. Or maybe the Moody Blues. I read somewhere that they played pretty loud. But, wait, Led Zeppelin are threatening to reunite without their lead singer. Hmm, they might put them right in line for an award NEXT YEAR. Doncha think?
7) Janis Joplin: Again,
it really shocks me when someone dies young and the Academy doesn't find a way
to pay tribute. You'd think with all the "better late than never" possibilities
that await them with JJ that they'd get moving on her. She's still got a lot of
fans and surely Norah Jones would have a few nice words to say about her and
could perform a mellow tribute if they need something uncontroversial. It's
there, people.
6) The Who: You mean to tell me that with all Pete Townshend's ambitions, he still never qualified to win one of these things with his band? He won something in 1993 for "Best Musical Show Album" for the "Original Cast Recording" of Tommy. Not the original album. It's like you wonder if everyone at the Academy just sits there and tries to think of what the most ridiculous way would be to handle things. And then they do it.
5) Jimi Hendrix: You'd
think that with Hendrix dying young and his people releasing dozens of
questionably legit albums that they'd find at least one inappropriate piece of
half-realized crap to bestow an award on. (Remember, you can't win for the good
stuff!) They could even let Jimi win for "Best Vocal Performance" and
completely ignore his guitar playing. Or maybe he could win something for "Best
Album with inappropriate overdubs."
4) Al Green: He didn't start winning Grammys until 1981. Now they know who he is. But Green's most productive time was the entire decade before. He was the man. But just keep repeating things like Voodoo Lounge in your head and it all makes complete and perfect sense. You must admit, the Academy has been consistent.
3) The Beatles:
They won a Grammy for "Free As A Bird." They were the Best New Artist of 1964
and Sgt. Pepper's won Album of the Year for 1967, but nothing for Revolver?
Nothing for so many other things. But "Free As A Bird." I guess, like the
Rolling Stones, the Beatles needed to stay together longer than necessary if
they were going to start getting their just due. Imagine the horrible albums
they could've made in the late 1970s if they'd put their minds to it.
2) Marvin Gaye: While Stevie Wonder had his contributions to R&B well noted, Marvin Gaye received no such luck. Nothing for "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" or "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" or What's Goin' On or even Let's Get It On. No, they waited until 1982. Better late than never, I guess. And when they finally give him the Grammy, they give him one for his vocal performance and then one for the instrumental version of the song, suggesting what? They like the song just as much if he doesn't sing on it? Could give a guy a complex that way.
1) The Rolling Stones: According to the website, the Rolling Stones have won two Grammys
in their career. One is for "Love Is Strong" as Best Music Video, Short Form,
1994 and the other is for Voodoo Lounge, as Best Rock Album, 1994. I
don't think I have to do much explaining here. I haven't actually met anyone
who likes Voodoo Lounge, but I run in some pretty uptight circles.
However, the idea that they'd previously been snubbed for three decades seems a
tad excessive. If the Academy wanted to get it wrong, they could've started
handing the group awards around the time of, say, It's Only Rock N' Roll.
They didn't have to wait another two decades. What? Dirty Work wasn't
bad enough to qualify? Sheesh.
If the 'Academy' had real guts and taste, they would have given Otis Redding an Album Of The Year Grammy for OTIS BLUE, instead of waiting for him to be conveniently dead to toss one at him in 1968.
And for someone who never won a Grammy, posthumously or otherwise, make mine Love for their 1967 masterpiece FOREVER CHANGES, as well as for turning Elektra into a rock label nine months before The Doors released their debut.
Grammys. Little wonder they're named after something old, late, and incredibly unhip.
Historylover10, Led Zeppelin is metal. Way to go.
Rob, these are good choices. But I say this:
Where is Rush?
Hahahaha! If anyone has been reading this blog long enough, they'll know the joke!
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Not at all. The joke is that in the last few List of the Day blogs, someone has said "Where is Rush". So I took it upon my self to keep up this noble tradition.
I must also agree with D333PPURPLE~~~Where the heck is RUSH?
Hollywood, it's just a game!!!