Music fans are still scratching their heads after yesterday's strange win when Herbie Hancock won 'Album of the Year' for 'River: The Joni Letters'.
The Hancock album had only sold 56,000 units in the USA at the time of the awards, yet it beat Gold and Platinum sellers from Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, Vince Gill and Foo Fighters.On 56,000 units, Herbie Hancock's album is only about 15% on its way to Gold. We know the Grammy's aren't a popularity contest but this one goes right up there with the time Jethro Tull won Best Metal Album over Metallica.
That is not to say that the Hancock album is not a good record. It is a great record, but it just didn't connect with the audience.
'River: The Joni Letters' is a tribute album to Joni Mitchell. It features guest vocalists Norah Jones, Tina Turner, Leonard Cohen and Corrine Bailey Rae, as well as a new vocal from Joni.
Prior to this year, Hancock had won 10 Grammy Awards, mostly in the Jazz category. Even his 1983 Grammy for his Top 40 hit 'Rockit' won in the R&B section. 'Rivers: The Joni Letters' is his first ever mainstream Grammy, for an album that isn't even mainstream.
Joni Mitchell also won a Grammy this year. She picked up 'Best Pop Instrumental Performance' for 'One Week Last Summer'.
She had seven Grammy Awards to her name before yesterday, dating back to 1968 when her album 'Clouds' won Best Folk Performance.
Joni won Record of the Year in 1974 for 'Help Me'. Amy Winehouse won that award this year for 'Rehab'.
