The 15th Grammy Award show was scheduled on 3rd March 1973, at Tennessee Auditorium (Nashville). The Academy presented awards to the artists for their outstanding performance for the year 1972. The host for the show was Andy Williams again. CBS bought the broadcasting rights to the Grammys, and from then the awards have been aired live on the network ever since. This was considered as one of the notable achievement in the history of Grammys. Stevie Wonder was announced the big winner at the ceremony, as he took over the first of a remarkable three Album of the Year awards in 4 years. Neil Diamond, Curtis Mayfield and Don McLean were the artists named in most of the Grammy categories. Aretha Franklin was the highest Grammy winner for the year. The honorable ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ was presented to Mahalia Jackson. Following is the list of the nominees and winners for the year 1973.
Grammy Award Winners 1973
Album Of The Year
The nominees were:
- George Harrison and Friends - The Concert for Bangladesh
- Don McLean - American Pie Lyrics
- Neil Diamond - Moods
- Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson
- Original Broadway Cast - Jesus Christ Superstar
Winner: George Harrison and Friends - The Concert for Bangladesh
Album Of The Year - Classical
The nominees were:
- Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony, Vienna Boys' Choir, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Singverein Chorus and soloists - Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat Major (Symphony of a Thousand)
- Horowitz - Horowitz Plays Chopin (Polonaise in A Flat Major Introduction and Rondo, Op. 16, etc.)
- Colin Davis conducting the BBC Symphony; Chorus of Covent Garden (solos: Gedda, Eda-Pierre, Soyer, Berbie) - Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini
- Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra (solo: Rubinstein) - Brahms: Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major for Piano
- Georg Solti conducting the Vienna Philharmonic (solos: Kolio, Dernesch, Ludwig, Braun, Sotin) - Wagner: Tannhauser
- Leonard Bernstein conducting ensemble orchestra and the Norman Scribner and Berkshire Boys' Choir - Bernstein: Mass
Winner: Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony, Vienna Boys' Choir, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Singverein Chorus and soloists - Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat Major (Symphony of a Thousand)
Best Album Cover
The nominees were:
- Siegel-Schwall Band - The Siegel-Schwall Band
- Dewey Terry - Chief
- Five Dollar Shoes - Five Dollar Shoes
- Flash - Flash
- Canned Heat - Historical Figures and Ancient Heads
- Alice Cooper - School's Out Lyrics
- Zephyr - Sunset Ride
- The Mission – Virgin
Winner: Siegel-Schwall Band - The Siegel-Schwall Band
Best Album Notes
The nominees were:
- Tom T. Hall - Tom T. Hall's Greatest Hits
- Bunny Berigan - Bunny Berigan, His Trumpet and His Orchestra, Vol. 1
- Lenny Bruce - Lenny Bruce/Carnegie Hall
- Charles Mingus - Let My Children Hear Music
- Count Basie - Super Chief
Winner: Tom T. Hall - Tom T. Hall's Greatest Hits
Best Album Notes - Classical
The nominees were:
- A London Symphony - Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2
- Davis conducting the BBC Symphony - Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini
- Complete - Hadyn: Symphonies
- John Ogdon - John Ogdon Plays Alkan
- Julian Bream, John Williams - Julian and John
- Michael Rabin - Michael Rabin - in Memoriam
- La Salle Quartet - String Quartets of the New Viennese School
Winner: A London Symphony - Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2
Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(S)
The nominees were:
- Sarah Vaughan - What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life
- Sylistics - Betcha by Golly, Wow
- Jackie & Roy - Day by Day
- Sarah Vaughan - The Summer Knows
Winner: Sarah Vaughan - What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life
Best Chamber Music Performance
The nominees were:
- Julian Bream, John Williams - Julian and John (selections by Lawes, Carulli, Albeniz, Granados)
- Isaac Stern, Alexander Zakin - Bartok: Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2 for Violin and Piano
- Artur Rubinstein, Guarneri Quartet - Dvorak: Quintet in A Major for Piano
- John Williams, Rafael Puyana - Music for Guitar and Harpsichord (works by Straube, Ponce, Dodgson)
- Igor Kipnis, Thurston Dart - Music for Two Harpsichords (Mozart, Byrd, Farnably, etc.)
- Guarneri Quartet - Schubert: Quartet No.– in A Minor
- David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter - Shostakovich: Sonata for Violin and Piano
- La Salle Quartet - String Quartets of the New Viennese School
Winner: Julian Bream, John Williams - Julian and John (selections by Lawes, Carulli, Albeniz, Granados)
Best Classical Performance - Choral
The nominees were:
- Georg Solti conducting the Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Singverein Chorus, Vienna Boys' Choir, Chicago Symphony, soloists - Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat Major (Symphony of a Thousand)
- Leonard Bernstein conducting ensemble orchestra and the Norman Scribner and Berkshire Boys' Choirs - Bernstein: Mass
- Charles Groves conducting the London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra - Delius: A Mass of Life
- Raymond Leppard conducting the Glyndebourne Opera Chorus, Ambrosian Singers, English Chamber Orchestra - Monteverdi: Madrigals, Books 8-10
- Andre Previn conducting the London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra - Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky
- E. Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys' Choir, Gregg Smith; Vittorio Negri conducting the Tarr Brass Ensemble - The Glory of Venice (Gabrielli in San Marco - Music for Multiple Choirs, Brass and Organ)
Winner: Georg Solti conducting the Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Singverein Chorus, Vienna Boys' Choir, Chicago Symphony, soloists - Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat Major (Symphony of a Thousand)
Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist With Orchestra
The nominees were:
- Artur Rubinstein (Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra) - Brahms: Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major for Piano
- David Oistrakh (Berlin Philharmonic) - Mozart: Complete Works for Violin and Orchestra
- Barry Tuckwell (Marriner conducting the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields) - Mozart: The 4 Horn Concertos
- E. Power Biggs (Peress conducting the Columbia Brass Percussion Ensemble) - Music for Organ, Brass and Percussion
- Philippe Entremont (Boulez conducting the Cleveland Orchestra) - Ravel: Concerto in D Major for Left Hand
- Heinz Holliger (de Waart conducting the New Philharmonia) - Strauss: Concerto in D Major for Oboe
Winner: Artur Rubinstein (Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra) - Brahms: Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major for Piano
Best Classical Performance - Instrumental Soloist Without Orchestra
The nominees were:
- Vladimir Horowitz - Horowitz Plays Chopin
- Rafael Puyana - Couperin: Harpsichord Pieces
- Arturo Beneditti Michelangeli - Debussy: Images, Books 1 and 2, Children's Corner Suite
- Rudolf Firkusny - Janacek: Piano Works (Complete)
- Itzhak Perlman - Paganini: The 24 Caprices
- William Masselos - Schumann: Davidsbundletanze; Brahms: Sonata No. 1
- Laurindo Almeida - The Art of Laurindo Almeida
- Charles Rosen - Beethoven: The Late Sonatas for Piano
Winner: Vladimir Horowitz - Horowitz Plays Chopin
Best Classical Performance - Orchestra
The nominees were:
- Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony - Mahler: Symphony No. 7 in E Minor
- Pierre Boulez conducting the New York Philharmonic - Boulez Conducts Bartok: The Miraculous Mandarin and Dance Suite
- Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra - Gliere: Ilya Murometz (Symphony No. 3)
- Antal Dorati conducting the Philharmonic Hungarica - Haydn: Symphonies (Complete), Vols. 4 and 5
- Leopold Stokowski conducting the London Symphony - Ives: Orchestral Set No. 2
- Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic - Schumann: Symphonies (4)
- Maksim Shostakovich conducting the Moscow Radio Symphony - Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15
- Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the Boston Symphony - Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps)
Winner: Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony - Mahler: Symphony No. 7 in E Minor
Best Classical Performance - Vocal Soloist
The nominees were:
- Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Richter, accompanist) - Brahms: Die Schone Magelone
- Leontyne Price (Cleva conducting the London Symphony) - 5 Great Operatic Scenes (Verdi: La Traviata, Don Carlo; Tchaikovsky: Onegin; Strauss: Ariadne, etc.)
- Janet Baker (Barbirolli conducting the London Symphony) - Elgar: Sea Pictures
- Jan DeGaetani (Kalish, accompanist) - Songs by Stephen Foster
- Anna Moffo (Robert Casadesus, accompanist) - Songs of Debussy
- Birgit Nilsson (Davis conducting the London Symphony) - Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder
Winner: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Richter, accompanist) - Brahms: Die Schone Magelone
Best Comedy Recording
The nominees were:
- George Carlin - FM & AM
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Sally Struthers, Rob Reiner - All in the Family
- Cheech & Chong - Big Bambu
- Flip Wilson – Geraldine
Winner: George Carlin - FM & AM
Best Country & Western Instrumental Performance
The nominees were:
- Charlie McCoy - The Real McCoy
- Chet Atkins - Chet Atkins Picks on the Hits
- Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass - Flowers on the Wall
- Lester Flatt - Foggy Mountain Breakdown
- Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed - Me and Chet
Winner: Charlie McCoy - The Real McCoy
Best Country & Western Song
The nominees were:
- Ben Peters - Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'
- Alex Harvey, Larry Collins - Delta Dawn
- Donna Fargo - Funny Face Lyrics
- Donna Fargo - The Happiest Girl In The Whole Usa Lyrics
- Gary S. Paxton - Woman (Sensuous Woman)
Winner: Ben Peters - Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'
Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Duo Or Group
The nominees were:
- The Statler Brothers - Class Of '57 Lyrics
- Johnny Cash, June Carter - If I Had a Hammer
- Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn - Lead Me On
- George Jones, Tammy Wynette - Take Me
- Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Winner: The Statler Brothers - Class Of '57 Lyrics
Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Female
The nominees were:
- Donna Fargo - The Happiest Girl In The Whole Usa Lyrics
- Tanya Tucker - Delta Dawn Lyrics
- Tammy Wynette - My Man Lyrics
- Skeeter Davis - One Tin Soldier
- Loretta Lynn - One's On The Way Lyrics
- Dolly Parton - Touch Your Woman Lyrics
Winner: Donna Fargo - The Happiest Girl In The Whole Usa Lyrics
Best Country & Western Vocal Performance - Male
The nominees were:
- Charley Pride - Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs
- Jerry Lee Curtis - Chantilly Lace
- Waylon Jennings - Good Hearted Woman Lyrics
- Charlie Rich - I Take It on Home
- Merle Haggard - It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad) Lyrics
Winner: Charley Pride - Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs
Best Engineered Recording
The nominees were:
- Neil Diamond - Moods
- Bread - Baby I'm - a Want You Lyrics
- Yes - Fragile
- Elton John - Honky Chateau
- Nilsson - Son of Schmilsson
Winner: Neil Diamond - Moods
Best Engineered Recording - Classical
The nominees were:
- Symphony of a Thousand - Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (Symphony of a Thousand)
- Davis conducting the BBC Symphony, Chorus of Covent Garden - Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini
- Bernstein conducting the choirs and orchestra - Bernstein: Mass
- Complete - Boulez Conducts Bartok: The Miraculous Mandarin (Complete) and Dance Suite
- Petrushka - Boulez Conducts Stravinsky (Petrushka)
- Symphony No. 3 - Gliere: Ilya Murometz (Symphony No. 3)
- Solti conducting the Vienna Philharmonic - Wagner: Tannhauser
Winner: Symphony of a Thousand - Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (Symphony of a Thousand)
Best Ethnic Or Traditional Recording
The nominees were:
- Muddy Waters - The London Muddy Waters Session
- John Lee Hooker - Live at Soledad Prison
- Lightnin' Hopkins - Lightnin' Strikes
- Little Brother Montgomery, Roosevelt Sykes, Sunnyland Slim, Speckled Red, Otis Spann, Curtis Jones - Blues Piano Orgy
- Otis Spann - Walking the Blues
Winner: Muddy Waters - The London Muddy Waters Session
Best Gospel Performance
The nominees were:
- Blackwood Brothers - L-O-V-E
- Thrasher Brothers - America Sings
- Wendy Bagwell & the Sunliters - By Your Request
- Oak Ridge Boys - Light
- Rambos - Soul in the Family
Winner: Blackwood Brothers - L-O-V-E
Best Inspirational Performance
The nominees were:
- Elvis Presley - He Touched Me Lyrics
- Pipes & Drums & Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - Amazing Grace track
- Little Jimmy Dempsey - Award Winning Guitar
- Merle Haggard - Land of Many Churches
- Ray Stevens - Love Lifted Me
- Danny Lee & the Children of Truth - Spread a Little Love Around
- Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus - The Greatest Hits of Christmas
Winner: Elvis Presley - He Touched Me Lyrics
Best Instrumental Arrangement
The nominees were:
- Don Ellis - Theme from The French Connection (Don Ellis)
- Richard Carpenter - Flat Baroque (Carpenters)
- Don Sebesky - Lonely Town (Freddie Hubbard)
- Quincy Jones - Money Runner (Quincy Jones)
- Henry Mancini - Theme from The Mancini Generation (Henry Mancini)
Winner: Don Ellis - Theme from The French Connection (Don Ellis)
Best Instrumental Composition
The nominees were:
- Michel Legrand - Brian's Song
- Henry Mancini - Brass on Ivory
- Billy Preston, Joe Greene - Outa-Space
- Don Ellis - [Theme] {From the French Connection} Lyrics
- Nino Rota - Theme from The Godfather
Winner: Michel Legrand - Brian's Song
Best Jazz Performance - Big Band
The nominees were:
- Duke Ellington - Togo Brava Suite
- Kenny Clark, Francy Boland Big Band - All Smiles
- Don Ellis - Connection
- Maynard Ferguson - M.F. Horn Two
- Gerry Mulligan - The Age of Steam
Winner: Duke Ellington - Togo Brava Suite
Best Jazz Performance - Group
The nominees were:
- Freddie Hubbard - First Light
- Weather Report - I Sing the Body Electric
- Joe Farrell - Outback
- McCoy Tyner - Sahara
- Chuck Mangione - The Chuck Mangione Quartet
- George Benson - White Rabbit
Winner: Freddie Hubbard - First Light
Best Jazz Performance By A Soloist
The nominees were:
- Gary Burton - Alone at Last
- Tom Scott - Great Scott
- McCoy Tyner - Sahara
- Freddie Hubbard - The Hub of Hubbard
- Sonny Stitt - Tune-Up!
Winner: Gary Burton - Alone at Last
Best Opera Recording
The nominees were:
- Colin Davis conducting the BBC Symphony; Chorus of Covent Garden (solos: Gedda, Eda-Pierre, Soyer, Berbie) - Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini
- Benjamin Britten conducting the English Chamber Orchestra (solos: Baker, Pears, Luson, Harper) - Britten: Owen Wingrave
- Georg Solti conducting the Vienna Philharmonic (solos: Kollo, Dernesch, Ludwig, Braun, Sotin) - Wagner: Tannhauser
- Herbert von Karajan conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Boys' Choir, Vienna State Opera Chorus (solos: Ghiaurov, Vishnevskaya, Spiess, Talvela, Maslennikov) - Mussorgsky: Bor is Godunov
- Leonard Bernstein conducting the Vienna State Opera Chorus; Vienna Philharmonic (solos: Ludwig, Berry, Popp, Jones) - Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier
- Wilhelm Furtwangler conducting the Rome Symphony; RAI Chorus (solos: Modl, Suthaus, Frantz) - Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen
Winner: Colin Davis conducting the BBC Symphony; Chorus of Covent Garden (solos: Gedda, Eda-Pierre, Soyer, Berbie) - Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini
Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or Television Special
The nominees were:
- Nino Rota - The Godfather
- Curtis Mayfield - Superfly Lyrics
- Manuel DeSica - The Garden of the Finzi Continis
- Quincy Jones - $ soundtrack
- Richard Rodney Bennett - Nicholas and Alexandra
Winner: Nino Rota - The Godfather
Best Pop Instrumental Peformance - Instrumental Performer
The nominees were:
- Billy Preston - Outa-Space
- Pipes & Drums & Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - Amazing Grace
- Doc Severinsen - Doc
- Apollo 100 - Joy
- Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin - The Inner Mounting Flame
Winner: Billy Preston - Outa-Space
Best Pop Instrumental Performance - With Vocal Coloring
The nominees were:
- Isaac Hayes - Black Moses
- Henry Mancini, Doc Severinsen - Brass on Ivory
- Santana - Caravanserai
- Quincy Jones - Money Runner
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Pictures At An Exhibition Lyrics
- Cy Coleman - Theme from The Garden of the Finzi Continis
Winner: Isaac Hayes - Black Moses
Best Recording For Children
The nominees were:
- Lee Chamberlin, Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno - The Electric Company
- Kukla, Fran & Ollie - Kukla, Fran and Ollie
- Muppets (Jim Henson) - The Muppet Alphabet Album
- original TV cast - Sesame Street II
Winner: Lee Chamberlin, Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno - The Electric Company
Best Rhythm & Blues Instrumental Performance
The nominees were:
- Temptations, Paul Riser - Papa Was a Rolling Stone
- Crusaders - Crusaders I
- King Curtis - Everybody's Talkin'
- Curtis Mayfield - Junkie Chase
- Isaac Hayes - Let's Stay Together
Winner: Temptations, Paul Riser - Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Best Rhythm & Blues Song
The nominees were:
- Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield - Papa Was a Rolling Stone
- Curtis Mayfield - Freddie's Dead
- Ken Gamble, Leon Huff, Cary Gilbert - Me and Mrs. Jones
- Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead - Back Stabbers
- Rudy Clark, J.R. Bailey, Kenny Williams - Everybody Plays the Fool
Winner: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield - Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo, Group Or Chorus
The nominees were:
- Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone Lyrics
- The Spinners - I'll Be Around Lyrics
- The Staple Singers - I'll Take You There Lyrics
- Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - If You Don't Know Me by Now
- Gladys Knight & The Pips - Help Me Make It Through the Night
Winner: Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone Lyrics
Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Female
The nominees were:
- Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted and Black
- Betty Wright - Clean Up Woman Lyrics
- Esther Phillips - From a Whisper to a Scream
- Candi Staton - In the Ghetto
- Merry Clayton - Oh, No Not My Baby
Winner: Aretha Franklin - Young, Gifted and Black
Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Male
The nominees were:
- Billy Paul - Me and Mrs. Jones
- Joe Simon - Drowning in the Sea of Love
- Curtis Mayfield - Freddie's Dead
- Joe Tex - I Gotcha Lyrics
- Ray Charles - What Have They Done to My Song Ma
Winner: Billy Paul - Me and Mrs. Jones
Best Score From An Original Cast Show Album
The nominees were:
- Micki Grant - Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope
- John Guare, Galt MacDermott - Two Gentlemen of Verona
- Jule Styne, Bob Merrill - Sugar
- Melvin Van Peebles - Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death
- Warren Casey, Jim Jacobs – Grease
Winner: Micki Grant - Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope
Best Soul Gospel Performance
The nominees were:
- Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace
- Edwin Hawkins Singers - Jesu
- Clara Ward - Last Mile of the Way
- B.C. & M. Choir - My Sweet Lord
- Aretha Franklin, James Cleveland - Precious Memories
Winner: Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace
Best Spoken Word Recording
The nominees were:
- original cast - Lenny
- Angela Davis - Angela Davis Speaks
- Rod McKuen - The Word
- Yevgeny Yevtushenko – Yevtushenko
Winner: original cast - Lenny
New Artist
The nominees were:
- America Lyrics
- Harry Chapin Lyrics
- John Prine Lyrics
- The Eagles Lyrics
- Loggins & Messina Lyrics
Winner: America Lyrics
Pop Female Vocalist
The nominees were:
- Helen Reddy - I Am Woman Lyrics
- Carly Simon - Anticipation Lyrics
- Aretha Franklin - Day Dreaming Lyrics
- Robert Flack - Quiet Fire
- Barbra Streisand - Sweet inspiration / Where you lead Lyrics
Winner: Helen Reddy - I Am Woman Lyrics
Pop Male Vocalist
The nominees were:
- Nilsson - Without You Lyrics
- Gilbert Osullivan - Alone Again (naturally) Lyrics
- Don McLean - American Pie Lyrics
- Mac Davis - Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me
- Sammy Davis Jr. - Candy man Lyrics
Winner: Nilsson - Without You Lyrics
Pop Vocal Group
The nominees were:
- Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway - Where Is the Love
- America - A Horse With No Name Lyrics
- Bread - Baby I'm - a Want You Lyrics
- The New Seekers - I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect Harmony)
- Seals and Croft - Summer Breeze
Winner: Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway - Where Is the Love
Record Of The Year
The nominees were:
- Roberta Flack - The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
- Don McLean - American Pie Lyrics
- Gilbert Osullivan - Alone Again (naturally) Lyrics
- Neil Diamond - Song Sung Blue Lyrics
- Nilsson - Without You Lyrics
Winner: Roberta Flack - The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
Song Of The Year
The nominees were:
- Ewan MacColl - The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
- Don McLean - American Pie Lyrics
- Gilbert Osullivan - Alone Again (naturally) Lyrics
- Marilyn Bergman, Alan Bergman, Michel Legrand - The Summer Knows
- Neil Diamond - Song Sung Blue Lyrics
Winner: Ewan MacColl - The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face