Grammy Award for Best Album Notes

Template:Short description Template:Unreliable sourcesTemplate:Infobox award The Grammy Award – Best Album Notes has been presented since 1964. From 1973 to 1976 (the 15th through 18th Awards), a second award was presented for Best Album Notes – Classical. Those awards are listed under those years below. The award recognizes albums with excellent album notes, sometimes referred to as liner notes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is presented to the album notes author or authors, not to the artists or performers on the winning work, except if the artist is also the album notes author.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.

Winners and nominees

Year	Recipients(s)	Work	Performing artist(s)	Nominees Performers in parentheses / Labels in brackets	Ref.
1964	Leonard Feather and Stanley Dance	The Ellington Era Template:Dot Columbia	Duke Ellington	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1965	Stanton Catlin and Carleton Beals	Mexico (Legacy Collection) Template:Dot Columbia/Legacy	Carlos Chávez	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1966	Stan Cornyn	September of My Years Template:Dot Reprise	Frank Sinatra	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1967	Stan Cornyn	Sinatra at the Sands Template:Dot Reprise	Frank Sinatra	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1968	John D. Loudermilk	Suburban Attitudes in Country Verse Template:Dot RCA Victor	John D. Loudermilk	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1969	Johnny Cash	At Folsom Prison Template:Dot Columbia	Johnny Cash	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1970	Johnny Cash	Nashville Skyline Template:Dot Columbia	Bob Dylan	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1971	Chris Albertson	The World's Greatest Blues Singer Template:Dot Columbia	Bessie Smith	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1972	Sam Samudio	Sam, Hard and Heavy Template:Dot Atlantic	Sam the Sham	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1973
	Best Album Notes				<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Tom T. Hall	Tom T. Hall's Greatest Hits Template:Dot Mercury	Tom T. Hall	Template:Smalldiv
	Best Album Notes – Classical
	James Lyons	Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2 ("A London Symphony") Template:Dot RCA Red Seal	André Previn conducting the London Symphony Orchestra	Template:Smalldiv
1974
	Best Album Notes				<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Dan Morgenstern	God Is in the House Template:Dot Onyx	Art Tatum	Template:Smalldiv
	Best Album Notes – Classical
	Glenn Gould	Hindemith: Sonatas for Piano Complete Template:Dot Columbia Masterworks	The Villa Musica Ensemble	Template:Smalldiv
1975
	Best Album Notes				<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Charles R. Townsend	For the Last Time Template:Dot United Artists	Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys	Template:Smalldiv
	Dan Morgenstern	The Hawk Flies Template:Dot Milestone	Coleman Hawkins
	Best Album Notes – Classical
	Rory Guy	The Classic Erich Wolfgang Korngold Template:Dot Angel	Willy Mattes (conductor) with a solo by Ulf Hoelscher	Template:Smalldiv
1976
	Best Album Notes				<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Pete Hamill	Blood on the Tracks Template:Dot Columbia	Bob Dylan	Template:Smalldiv
	Best Album Notes – Classical
	Gunther Schuller	Footlifters: A Century of American Marches Template:Dot Columbia	Gunther Schuller conducting the All-Star Band	Template:Smalldiv
1977	Dan Morgenstern	The Changing Face of Harlem: Savoy Sessions Template:Dot Savoy	Various Artists	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1978	George T. Simon	Bing Crosby: A Legendary Performer Template:Dot RCA	Bing Crosby	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1979	Michael Brooks	A Bing Crosby Collection, Volumes 1 and 2 Template:Dot Columbia	Bing Crosby	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1980	Bob Porter & James Patrick	Charlie Parker: The Complete Savoy Sessions Template:Dot Savoy	Charlie Parker	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1981	David McClintock	Trilogy: Past Present Future Template:Dot Reprise	Frank Sinatra	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1982	Dan Morgenstern	Erroll Garner: Master of the Keyboard Template:Dot Book of the Month Records	Erroll Garner	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1983	John Chilton and Richard Sudhalter	Giants of Jazz: Bunny Berigan Template:Dot Time-Life	Bunny Berigan	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1984	Orrin Keepnews	The "Interplay" Sessions Template:Dot Milestone	Bill Evans	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1985	Gunther Schuller and Martin Williams	Big Band Jazz Template:Dot Smithsonian	Various Artists	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1986	Peter Guralnick	Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 Template:Dot RCA	Sam Cooke	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1987	Gary Giddins, Wilfrid Sheed, Jonathan Schwartz, Murray Kempton, Andrew Sarris, Stephen Holden, and Frank Conroy	The Voice: The Columbia Years 1943–1952 Template:Dot Columbia/CBS	Frank Sinatra	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1988	Orrin Keepnews	The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings Template:Dot Riverside	Thelonious Monk	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1989	Anthony DeCurtis	Crossroads Template:Dot Polydor	Eric Clapton	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1990	Phil Schaap	Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve Template:Dot Verve	Charlie Parker	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1991	Dan Morgenstern	Brownie: The Complete Emarcy Recordings of Clifford Brown Template:Dot EmArcy	Clifford Brown	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1992	James Brown, Cliff White, Harry Weinger, Nelson George, and Alan M. Leeds	Star Time Template:Dot Polydor	James Brown	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1993	Dave Marsh, Jerry Wexler, David Ritz, Thulani Davis, Ahmet Ertegun, Tom Down, and Arif Mardin	Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings Template:Dot Rhino	Aretha Franklin	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1994	Buck Clayton, Phil Schaap, and Joel E. Siegel	The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945–1959 Template:Dot Verve	Billie Holiday	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1995	Dan Morgenstern and Loren Schoenberg	Louis Armstrong: Portrait of the Artists as a Young Man, 1923–1934 Template:Dot Columbia/Legacy/Smithsonian	Louis Armstrong	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1996	Rob Bowman	The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 3: 1972–1975 Template:Dot Stax	Various Artists	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1997	George Avakian, Bob Belden, Bill Kirchner, and Phil Schaap	Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings Template:Dot Columbia	Miles Davis and Gil Evans	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1998	John Fahey, Luis Kemnitzer, Jon Pankake, Chuck Pirtle, Jeff Place, Neil V. Rosenberg, Lucy Sante, Peter Stampfel, and Eric Von Schmidt	Anthology of American Folk Music Template:Dot Smithsonian Folkways	Various Artists	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1999	Bob Belden, Todd Coolman, and Michael Cuscuna	Miles Davis Quintet 1965–1968 Template:Dot Columbia/Legacy	Miles Davis Quintet	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2000	Bob Blumenthal	The Classic Quartet: The Complete Impulse! Recordings Template:DotImpulse	John Coltrane	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2001	Bob Blumenthal	The Complete Columbia Recordings 1955–1961 Template:Dot Columbia/Legacy	Miles Davis and John Coltrane	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2002	Walter Mosley	...And It's Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968–1992) Template:Dot Warner Archives/Rhino	Richard Pryor	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Elijah Wald	Arhoolie Records 40th Anniversary Collection: 1960–2000 The Journey of Chris Strachwitz Template:Dot Arhoolie	Various Artists
2003	David Evans	Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton Template:Dot Revenant	Charlie Patton	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2004	Tom Piazza	Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey Template:Dot Hip-O	Various Artists	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2005	Loren Schoenberg	The Complete Columbia Recordings of Woody Herman and His Orchestra & Woodchoppers (1945–1947) Template:Dot Mosaic	Woody Herman and His Orchestra	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2006	Alan Lomax and John Szwed	The Complete Library of Congress Recordings Template:DotRounder	Jelly Roll Morton	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2007	Dan Morgenstern	If You Got To Ask, You Ain't Got It! Template:Dot Bluebird/Legacy	Fats Waller	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2008	Bruce Nemerov	John Work III: Recording Black Culture Template:DotSpring Fed	Various Artists	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2009	Francis Davis	Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition Template:Dot Columbia/Legacy	Miles Davis	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2010	Dan Morgenstern	The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (1935–1946) Template:Dot Mosaic	Louis Armstrong	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2011	Robert Gordon	Keep an Eye on the Sky Template:Dot Rhino	Big Star	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2012	Adam Machado	Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond as Recorded by the San Francisco Bay by Chris Strachwitz in the 1960s Template:Dot Arhoolie	Various Artists	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2013	Billy Vera	Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles Template:Dot Concord	Ray Charles	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2014	Neil Tesser	Afro Blue Impressions (Remastered and Expanded) Template:Dot Pablo/Concord	John Coltrane	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2015	Ashley Kahn	Offering: Live at Temple University Template:Dot Resonance/Impulse	John Coltrane	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2016	Joni Mitchell	Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced Template:Dot Rhino	Joni Mitchell	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2017	Ken Bloom & Richard Carlin	Sissle and Blake Sing Shuffle Along Template:Dot Harbinger/Musical Theater Project	Eubie Blake & Noble Sissle	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> <ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2018	Lynell George	Live at the Whisky a Go Go: The Complete Recordings Template:Dot Stax	Otis Redding	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Grammy.com, 28 November 2017</ref>
2019	David Evans	Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris Template:DotDust-to-Digital	Various Artists	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>Grammy.com, 7 December 2018</ref>
2020	Steve Greenberg	Stax '68: A Memphis Story Template:Dot Craft /Stax/Concord	Various Artists	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>2020 Grammy Awards nominations list</ref>
2021	Bob Mehr	Dead Man's Pop Template:Dot Warner	The Replacements	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>2021 Nominations List</ref>
2022	Ricky Riccardi	The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Sessions, 1946-1966 Template:Dot Mosaic	Louis Armstrong	Template:Smalldiv	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023	Bob Mehr	Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) Template:Dot Rhino	Wilco	Fernando González - The American Clavé Recordings Astor Piazolla) [American Clavé/Nonesuch] Gareth Murphy - Andy Irvine/Paul Brady (Special Edition) (Andy Irvine & Paul Brady) [Compass] John Schneider - Harry Partch, 1942 (Harry Partch) [MicroFest] Ted Olson - Life's Work: A Retrospective (Doc Watson) [Craft]	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2024	Robert Gordon & Deanie Parker	Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos Template:Dot Stax/Craft	Various Artists	Ashley Kahn - Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy (Live) (John Coltrane & Eric Dolphy) [Impulse!/UMe] Scott B. Bomar - I Can Almost See Houston: The Complete Howdy Glenn (Howdy Glenn) [Omnivore] Vik Sohonie - Mogadishu's Finest: The Al Uruba Sessions (Iftin Band) [Ostinato] Jeff Place & John Troutman - Playing For the Man at the Door: Field Recordings From the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958-1971 (Various Artists) [Smithsonian Folkways]
2025	Ricky Riccardi	Centennial Template:Dot Archeophone	King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band & Various Artists	Tim Brooks - After Midnight (Ford Dabney's Syncopated Orchestras) [Archeophone] Lauren de Graf - The Carnegie Hall Concert (Alice Coltrane) [Alice Coltrane 1971 Carnegie] Dominic Fyfe - John Culshaw - The Art of the Producer - The Early Years 1948-55 (John Culshaw) [Decca] Josh Kun - SONtrack Original de la Pelicula "Al Son de Beno" (Various Artists) [Al Son de Beno]	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>