Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

The Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical has been awarded since 1959. The award had several minor name changes:

  • In 1959, the award was known as Best Engineered Record – Non-Classical
  • In 1960, it was awarded as Best Engineering Contribution – Other Than Classical or Novelty
  • From 1961 to 1962, it was awarded as Best Engineering Contribution – Popular Recording
  • In 1963, it was awarded as Best Engineering Contribution – Other Than Novelty and Other Than Classical
  • In 1964, it was awarded as Best Engineered Recording – Other Than Classical
  • From 1965 to 1991, it returned to the title Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical
  • Since 1992, it has been awarded as Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Awarded forQuality engineering for a non-classical album
CountryUnited States
Presented byNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded1959
Currently held byJaguar II (2024)
Websitegrammy.com

This award is presented alongside the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Classical. From 1960 to 1965 a further award was presented for Best Engineered Recording – Special or Novel Effects.

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year. The award is presented to the audio engineer(s) (and, since 2012, also to the mastering engineer[s]) on the winning work, not to the artist or performer, except if the artist is also a credited engineer.

Winners and nominees

1950s

YearRecipients(s)WorkPerforming artist(s)Nominees
Performers are in parentheses
Ref.
1959
(May)
Ted Keep, engineer"The Chipmunk Song"David Seville
1959
(November)
Robert Simpson, engineerBelafonte at Carnegie HallHarry Belafonte
  • Big Band Guitar (Buddy Morrow) — Robert Simpson, engineer
  • Compulsion to Swing (Henri René) — Robert Simpson, engineer
  • New Sounds at the Roosevelt (Larry Elgart) — Robert Simpson, engineer
  • Strings Aflame (Esquivel) — Ernest Oelrich, engineer

1960s

YearRecipients(s)WorkPerforming artist(s)Nominees
Performers are in parentheses
Ref.
1961Luis P. Valentin, engineerElla Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin SongbookElla Fitzgerald
1962Robert Arnold, engineerJudy at Carnegie HallJudy Garland
1963Al Schmitt, engineerHatari! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)Henry Mancini
1964James Malloy, engineerCharade (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)Henry Mancini
[1]
1965Phil Ramone, engineerGetz/GilbertoStan Getz & João Gilberto
[2]
1966Larry Levine, engineer"A Taste of Honey"Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
[3]
1967Eddie Brackett & Lee Herschberg, engineersStrangers in the NightFrank Sinatra[4]
1968Geoff Emerick, engineerSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandThe Beatles
[5]
1969Hugh Davies & Joe Polito, engineers"Wichita Lineman"Glen Campbell
[6]

1970s

YearRecipients(s)WorkPerforming artist(s)Nominees
Performers are in parentheses
Ref.
1970Geoff Emerick & Phil McDonald, engineersAbbey RoadThe Beatles
[7]
1971Roy Halee, engineerBridge Over Troubled WaterSimon & Garfunkel
[8]
1972Henry Bush, Ron Capone & Dave Purple, engineers"Theme from Shaft"Isaac Hayes
[9]
1973Armin Steiner, engineerMoodsNeil Diamond
[10]
1974Malcolm Cecil & Robert Margouleff, engineersInnervisionsStevie Wonder[11]
1975Geoff Emerick, engineerBand on the RunPaul McCartney & Wings
[12]
1976Brooks Arthur, Larry Alexander & Russ Payne, engineersBetween the LinesJanis Ian
[13]
1977Al Schmitt, engineerBreezin'George Benson
[14]
1978Roger Nichols, Elliot Scheiner, Al Schmitt & Bill Schnee, engineersAjaSteely Dan[15]
1979Roger Nichols & Al Schmitt, engineers"FM (No Static at All)"Steely Dan
[16]

1980s

YearRecipients(s)WorkPerforming artist(s)Nominees
Performers are in parentheses
Ref.
1980Peter Henderson, engineerBreakfast in AmericaSupertramp
[17]
1981James Guthrie, engineerThe WallPink Floyd
[18]
1982Jerry Garszva, Roger Nichols, Elliot Scheiner & Bill Schnee, engineersGauchoSteely Dan[19]
1983Tom Knox, Greg Ladanyi, David Leonard & Al Schmitt, engineersToto IVToto[20]
1984Bruce Swedien, engineerThrillerMichael Jackson
[21]
1985Humberto Gatica, engineerChicago 17Chicago[22]
1986Neil Dorfsman, engineerBrothers in ArmsDire Straits
[23]
1987Jason Corsaro & Tom Lord-Alge, engineersBack in the High LifeSteve Winwood
[24]
1988Bruce Swedien & Humberto Gatica, engineersBadMichael Jackson
[25]
1989Tom Lord-Alge, engineerRoll with ItSteve Winwood
[26]

1990s

YearRecipients(s)WorkPerforming artist(s)Nominees
Performers are in parentheses
Ref.
1990George Massenburg, engineerCry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the WindLinda Ronstadt
[27]
1991Bruce Swedien, engineerBack on the BlockQuincy Jones[28]
1992Al Schmitt, Armin Steiner & Woody Woodruff, engineersUnforgettable... with LoveNatalie Cole[29]
1993Bruce Swedien & Teddy Riley, engineersDangerousMichael Jackson
[30]
1994Hugh Padgham, engineerTen Summoner's TalesSting
[31]
1995Ed Cherney, engineerLonging in Their HeartsBonnie Raitt
[32]
1996Dave Bianco, Richard Dodd, Stephen McLaughlin & Jim Scott, engineersWildflowersTom Petty[33]
1997Francis Buckley, Al Schmitt, Bruce Swedien & Tommy Vicari, engineersQ's Jook JointQuincy Jones & Various Artists
[34]
1998Frank Filipetti, engineerHourglassJames Taylor
[35]
1999Andy Wallace, Tchad Blake & Trina Shoemaker, engineersThe Globe SessionsSheryl Crow
[36]

2000s

YearRecipients(s)WorkPerforming artist(s)Nominees
Performers are in parentheses
Ref.
2000Al Schmitt, engineerWhen I Look in Your EyesDiana Krall
[37]
2001Phil Burnett, Roger Nichols, Dave Russell & Elliot Scheiner, engineersTwo Against NatureSteely Dan
[38]
2002Al Schmitt, engineerThe Look of LoveDiana Krall
[39]
2003S. Husky Höskulds, Arif Mardin & Jay Newland, engineersCome Away with MeNorah Jones
[40]
2004Nigel Godrich & Darrell Thorp, engineersHail to the ThiefRadiohead
[41]
2005Robert Fernandez, John Harris, Terry Howard, Pete Karam, Joel Moss, Seth Presant, Al Schmitt & Ed Thacker, engineersGenius Loves CompanyRay Charles & Various Artists[42]
2006Alan Douglas & Mick Guzauski, engineersBack HomeEric Clapton
[43]
2007The Flaming Lips and Dave Fridmann, engineersAt War with the MysticsThe Flaming Lips
[44]
2008Tchad Blake, Cameron Craig, Emery Dobyns & Jimmy Hogarth, engineersBeauty & CrimeSuzanne Vega[45]
2009Joe Chiccarelli & Vance Powell, engineersConsolers of the LonelyThe Raconteurs
[46]

2010s

YearRecipients(s)WorkPerforming artist(s)Nominees
Performers are in parentheses
Ref.
2010Imogen Heap, engineerEllipseImogen Heap
[47]
2011Michael H. Brauer, Joe Ferla, Chad Franscoviak & Manny Marroquin, engineersBattle StudiesJohn Mayer[48]
2012Mike Shipley & Neal Cappellino, engineers; Brad Blackwood, mastering engineerPaper AirplaneAlison Krauss & Union Station
[49]
2013Richard King, engineer & mastering engineerThe Goat Rodeo SessionsYo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile
[50]
2014Peter Franco, Mick Guzauski, Daniel Lerner & Florian Lagatta, engineers; Bob Ludwig & Antoine Chabert, mastering engineersRandom Access MemoriesDaft Punk
[51]
2015Drew Brown, Tom Elmhirst, Cole M. Greif-Neill, David Greenbaum, Florian Lagatta, Robbie Nelson, Darrell Thorp, Cassidy Turbin & Joe Visciano, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineerMorning PhaseBeck
[52]
2016Shawn Everett, engineer; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineerSound & ColorAlabama Shakes
[53]
2017David Bowie, Tom Elmhirst, Kevin Killen & Tony Visconti, engineers; Joe LaPorta, mastering engineerBlackstarDavid Bowie
[54]
[55]
2018Serban Ghenea, John Hanes & Charles Moniz, engineers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer24K MagicBruno Mars
[56]
2019Julian Burg, Serban Ghenea, David Greenbaum, John Hanes, Beck Hansen, Greg Kurstin, Florian Lagatta, Cole M.G.N., Alex Pasco, Jesse Shatkin, Darrell Thorp & Cassidy Turbin (engineers); Chris Bellman, Tom Coyne, Emily Lazar & Randy Merrill (mastering engineers)ColorsBeck
[57]

2020s

YearRecipients(s)WorkPerforming artist(s)Nominees
Performers are in parentheses
Ref.
2020Rob Kinelski & Finneas O'Connell (engineers); John Greenham (mastering engineer)When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?Billie Eilish
[58]
2021Drew Brown, Julian Burg, Andrew Coleman, Paul Epworth, Shawn Everett, Serban Ghenea, David Greenbaum, John Hanes, Beck Hansen, Jaycen Joshua, Greg Kurstin, Mike Larson, Cole M.G.N., Alex Pasco & Matt Wiggins (engineers); Randy Merrill (mastering engineer)HyperspaceBeck
[59]
2022Dae Bennett, Josh Coleman & Billy Cumella (engineers); Greg Calbi & Steve Fallon (mastering engineers)Love For SaleTony Bennett & Lady Gaga
[60]
2023Jeremy Hatcher, Oli Jacobs, Nick Lobel, Mark "Spike" Stent & Sammy Witte (engineers); Randy Merrill (mastering engineer)Harry's HouseHarry Styles
[61]
2024John Kercy, Kyle Mann, Victoria Monét, Patrizio "Teezio" Pigliapoco, Neal H Pogue & Todd Robinson (engineers); Colin Leonard (mastering engineer)Jaguar IIVictoria Monét
[62]

Summary

Breakdown by genre as of 2021.

  Pop (27%)
  Rock (22%)
  Jazz (16%)
  Folk (8%)
  R&B (8%)
  Soundtrack (3%)
  Soul (3%)
  Blues (3%)
  Bluegrass (3%)
  Other (7%)

References