Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album

Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album
Awarded for	Quality comedy albums
Country	United States
Presented by	National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded	1959
Last awarded	2015
Official website	grammy.com

The Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album is presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement in comedy."^[1] The award was awarded yearly from 1959 to 1993 and then from 2004 to present day. There have been several minor changes to the name of the award over this time:

• From 1959 to 1967 it was Best Comedy Performance
• From 1968 to 1991 it was known as Best Comedy Recording
• From 1992 to 1993 and from 2004 to the present day it was awarded as Best Comedy Album

In 1960 and 1961 two separate awards were presented for the best spoken and for the best musical comedy performance.

In 1994 the award was restricted to spoken word comedy albums and moved into the "spoken" field. From then through 2003, it was awarded as the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album.

In 2004 the award was reinstated within the comedy field as the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, once again allowing musical comedy works to be considered.

1959–1969

Year^[I]	Winner(s)	Work	Nominees	Ref.
1959	Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.	"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)"	The Best of the Stan Freberg Shows – Stan Freberg Green Christmas – Stan Freberg Improvisations to Music – Elaine May & Mike Nichols The Future Lies Ahead – Mort Sahl	[2]
1960 (musical comedy)	Homer and Jethro	The Battle of Kookamonga	Charlie Weaver Sings for His People – Cliff Arquette A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green – Betty Comden & Adolph Green Monster Rally – Hans Conreid & Alice Pearce Musically Mad – Bernie Green	[3]
1960 (spoken comedy)	Shelley Berman	Inside Shelley Berman	Sick Humor – Lenny Bruce Stan Freberg with Original Cast – Stan Freberg Hamlet – Andy Griffith Look Forward in Anger – Mort Sahl	[3]
1961 (musical comedy)	Jo Stafford & Paul Weston	Jonathan and Darlene Edwards in Paris	The Old Payola Roll Blues – Stan Freberg Homer and Jethro at the Country Club – Homer & Jethro An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer – Tom Lehrer Alvin for President – David Seville	[3]
1961 (spoken comedy)	Bob Newhart	The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!	The Edge of Shelley Berman – Shelley Berman 2,000 Year Old Man – Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters – Jonathan Winters	[3]
1962	Elaine May & Mike Nichols	An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May	Jose Jimenez the Astronaut – Bill Dana Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America – Stan Freberg Here’s Jonathan – Jonathan Winters	[4]
1963	Vaughn Meader	The First Family	Beyond the Fringe – Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Jonathan Miller & Dudley Moore Nichols and May Examine Doctors – Elaine May & Mike Nichols My Son, the Folk Singer – Allan Sherman Another Day, Another World – Jonathan Winters	[5]
1964	Allan Sherman	"Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh"	I Am the Greatest! – Cassius Clay Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right! – Bill Cosby Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks at the Cannes Film Festival – Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks Think Ethnic – Smothers Brothers	[6]
1965	Bill Cosby	I Started Out as a Child	Woody Allen – Woody Allen Ready or Not, Here Comes Godfrey Cambridge – Godfrey Cambridge For Swingin’ Livers Only! – Allan Sherman Whistle Stopping – Jonathan Winters	[7]
1966	Bill Cosby	Why Is There Air?	You Don’t Have to Be Jewish – Bob Booker & George Foster Them Cotton Pickin’ Days is Over – Godfrey Cambridge Welcome to the LBJ Ranch – Earl Doud & Allen Robin Mon Always Liked You Best – Smothers Brothers
1967	Bill Cosby	Wonderfulness	Funny Way to Make an Album – Don Bowman Have a Laugh on Me – Archie Campbell Wanted for Murder – Homer & Jethro Downtown – Mrs. Elva Miller
1968	Bill Cosby	Revenge	Lenny Bruce in Concert – Lenny Bruce The Cockfight and Other Tall Tales – Archie Campbell Take-Offs and Put-Ons – George Carlin Cowboys and Colored People – Flip Wilson	[8]
1969	Bill Cosby	To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With	Hello Dummy! – Don Rickles Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In – Dan Rowan & Dick Martin You Devil You – Flip Wilson	[9]

1970s

Year^[I]	Winner(s)	Work	Nominees	Ref.
1970	Bill Cosby	Sports	Berkeley Concert – Lenny Bruce Don Rickles Speaks! – Don Rickles	[10]
1971	Flip Wilson	The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress	Live: Madison Square Garden Center – Bill Cosby I Am the President – David Frye Daddy Played First Base – Homer & Jethro The Begatting of the President – Orson Welles	[11]
1972	Lily Tomlin	This Is A Recording	Cheech & Chong – Cheech & Chong When I Was a Kid – Bill Cosby Ajax Liquor Store – Hudson & Landry Flip: The Flip Wilson Show – Flip Wilson	[12]
1973	George Carlin	FM & AM	Big Bambu – Cheech & Chong All in the Family – Carroll O’Connor, Jean Stapleton, Sally Struthers & Rob Reiner Geraldine – Flip Wilson	[13]
1974	Cheech & Chong	Los Cochinos	Occupation: Foole – George Carlin Fat Albert (album) – Bill Cosby Richard Nixon: A Fantasy – David Frye Child of the 50s – Robert Klein National Lampoon Lemmings – National Lampoon	[14]
1975	Richard Pryor	That Nigger's Crazy	Cheech & Chong's Wedding Album – Cheech & Chong Mind Over Matter – Robert Klein The Missing White House Tapes – National Lampoon Booga! Booga! – David Steinberg
1976	Richard Pryor	...Is It Something I Said?	A Star is Bought – Albert Brooks An Evening with Wally Londo Featuring Bill Slaszo – George Carlin The Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief – Monty Python Modern Scream – Lily Tomlin	[15]
1977	Richard Pryor	Bicentennial Nigger	Sleeping Beauty – Cheech & Chong Bill Cosby Is Not Himself These Days – Bill Cosby Goodbye Pop 1952–1976 – National Lampoon You Gotta Wash Your Ass – Redd Foxx	[16]
1978	Steve Martin	Let's Get Small	On the Road – George Carlin The Ernie Kovacs Album – Ernie Kovacs Saturday Night Live – Lorne Michaels & Saturday Night Live cast members Are You Serious??? – Richard Pryor	[17]
1979	Steve Martin	A Wild and Crazy Guy	On Stage – Lily Tomlin Sex and Violins – Martin Mull The Wizard of Comedy – Richard Pryor The Rutles – The Rutles	[18]

1980s

Five-time winner Richard Pryor

Year^[I]	Winner(s)	Work	Nominees	Ref.
1980	Robin Williams	Reality...What a Concept	Rubber Biscuit – The Blues Brothers Comedy Is Not Pretty! – Steve Martin I Need Your Help, Barry Manilow – Ray Stevens Wanted: Live in Concert – Richard Pryor	[19]
1981	Rodney Dangerfield	No Respect	Live at St. Douglas Convent – Father Guido Sarducci Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album – Monty Python Holy Smoke – Richard Pryor Live from New York – Gilda Radner	[20]
1982	Richard Pryor	Rev. Du Rite	The Inquisition – Mel Brooks Urban Chipmunk – Alvin and the Chipmunks Airplane! – Various artists	[21]
1983	Richard Pryor	Live on the Sunset Strip	A Place for My Stuff – George Carlin The Steve Martin Brothers – Steve Martin The Great White North – Bob and Doug McKenzie Eddie Murphy – Eddie Murphy	[22]
1984	Eddie Murphy	Eddie Murphy: Comedian	Monty Python's The Meaning of Life OST – Monty Python Bill Cosby: Himself – Bill Cosby What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most? – Joan Rivers Throbbing Python of Love – Robin Williams	[23]
1985	"Weird Al" Yankovic	"Eat It"	Rappin' Rodney (album) – Rodney Dangerfield Hurt Me Baby – Make Me Write Bad Checks! – Rick Dees The Three Faces of Al – Firesign Theatre Richard Pryor: Here and Now – Richard Pryor	[24]
1986	Whoopi Goldberg	Whoopi Goldberg (Original Broadway Show Recording)	Born in East L.A. – Cheech & Chong You Look Marvelous – Billy Crystal Honeymooners Rap – Joe Piscopo Dare to Be Stupid – "Weird Al" Yankovic	[25]
1987	Bill Cosby	Those of You with or Without Children, You'll Understand	Playin' with Your Head – George Carlin Twist and Shout – Rodney Dangerfield Bob and Ray: A Night of Two Stars Recorded Live at Carnegie Hall – Bob Elliot & Ray Goulding Mud Will Be Flung Tonight – Bette Midler I Have a Pony – Steven Wright	[26]
1988	Robin Williams	A Night at the Met	The Best of Bob and Ray, Vol. 1 – Bob Elliot & Ray Goulding The World According to Me! – Jackie Mason "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex" – Ray Stevens Polka Party! – "Weird Al" Yankovic	[27]
1989	Robin Williams	Good Morning, Vietnam	What Am I Doing in New Jersey? – George Carlin Fontaine: Why Am I Straight? – Whoopi Goldberg Finally Captured – Jonathan Winters Even Worse – "Weird Al" Yankovic	[28]

1990s

Seven-time winner Bill Cosby

Year^[I]	Winner(s)	Work	Nominees	Ref.
1990	Peter Schickele	P.D.Q. Bach: 1712 Overture and Other Musical Assaults	Without You I'm Nothing – Sandra Bernhard Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession – Erma Bombeck Dice – Andrew Dice Clay Wild Thing – Sam Kinison	[29]
1991	Peter Schickele	P.D.Q. Bach: Oedipus Tex and Other Choral Calamities	The Best of Bob and Ray: Selections from a Career, Vol. 4 – Bob Elliot & Ray Goulding More News from Lake Wobegon – Garrison Keillor The Best of Comic Relief ’90 – Various Artists Jonathan Winters into the ‘90s – Jonathan Winters	[30]
1992	Peter Schickele	P.D.Q. Bach: WTWP Classical Talkity-Talk Radio	When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It’s Time to Go Home – Erma Bombeck Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics – George Carlin Local Man Moves to the City – Garrison Keillor Brand New – Jackie Mason	[31]
1993	Peter Schickele	P.D.Q. Bach: Music for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion	An Evening with George Burns – George Burns Naked Beneath My Clothes – Rita Rudner Jonathan Winters is Terminator 3 – Jonathan Winters Off the Deep End – "Weird Al" Yankovic	[32]
1994	George Carlin	Jammin' in New York	A Marriage Made in Heaven or Too Tired for an Affair – Erma Bombeck Lake Wobegan USA – Garrison Keillor You’re Good Enough, You’re Smart Enough, and Doggone it, People Like You! – Al Franken The Naked Truth – Leslie Nielsen	[33]
1995	Sam Kinison	Live From Hell	The Jerky Boys 2 – the Jerky Boys The Official Politically Correct Dictionary and Handbook – Henry Beard & Christopher Cerf They're All Gonna Laugh at You! – Adam Sandler Attention Butt Pirates and Lesbetarians – Judy Tenuta	[34]
1996	Jonathan Winters	Crank(y) Calls	Games Rednecks Play – Jeff Foxworthy God’s Other Son – Don Imus Funk It – Martin Lawrence In Goddess We Trust – Judy Tenuta	[35]
1997	Al Franken	Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations	Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America Vol. 2 (The Middle Years) – Stan Freberg The Rants – Dennis Miller What the Hell Happened to Me? – Adam Sandler The Definitive Biography of P.D.Q. Bach – Professor Peter Shickele	[36]
1998	Chris Rock	Roll with the New	Button Down Concert – Bob Newhart Dirty Jokes and Beer – Drew Carey Garrison Keillor’s Comedy Theater – Garrison Keillor God said "Ha!" – Julia Sweeney	[37]
1999	Mel Brooks & Carl Reiner	The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000	Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death – The Firesign Theatre Totally Committed – Jeff Foxworthy Pure Drivel – Steve Martin I'm Telling You for the Last Time – Jerry Seinfeld	[38]

2000s

Five-time winner George Carlin

Year^[I]	Winner(s)	Work	Nominees	Ref.
2000	Chris Rock	Bigger & Blacker	You Are All Diseased – George Carlin A Prairie Home Companion – 25th Anniversary Collection – Garrison Keillor How Paul Robeson Saved My Life and Other Mostly Happy Stories – Carl Reiner Stan and Judy's Kid – Adam Sandler	[39]
2001	George Carlin	Brain Droppings	Big Funny – Jeff Foxworthy I Rant, Therefore, I Am – Dennis Miller The Original Kings of Comedy – Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer & D.L. Hughley The Prisoner Of Second Avenue – Richard Dreyfuss & Marsha Mason	[40]
2002	George Carlin	Napalm & Silly Putty	Bride of Firesign – The Firesign Theatre I'm the One That I Want – Margaret Cho The Queens of Comedy – Adele Givens, Laura Hayes, Mo'Nique, and Sommore Live at Carnegie Hall – Ray Romano	[41]
2003	Robin Williams	Robin Williams - Live 2002	The Bathroom Wall – Jimmy Fallon Complaints and Grievances – George Carlin Oh, the Things I Know! – Al Franken The Rant Zone – Dennis Miller	[42]
2004	"Weird Al" Yankovic	Poodle Hat	A Life in Comedy – Garrison Keillor Revolution – Margaret Cho Shut Up You Fucking Baby! – David Cross Team Leader – George Lopez	[43]
2005	Jon Stewart and the cast of The Daily Show	The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents ... America: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction	The Funny Thing Is... – Ellen DeGeneres The O'Franken Factor Factor — The Best of the O'Franken Factor – Al Franken Live At Carnegie Hall – David Sedaris Come Poop with Me – Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog (Robert Smigel)	[44]
2006	Chris Rock	Never Scared	The Agoraphobic Cowboy – Rick Moranis Family Guy: Live in Vegas – Seth MacFarlane & Walter Murphy Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center Blues – Lewis Black The Right to Bare Arms – Larry the Cable Guy	[45]
2007	Lewis Black	The Carnegie Hall Performance	Blue Collar Comedy Tour — One For The Road – Bill Engvall, Ron White, Jeff Foxworthy & Larry The Cable Guy Life Is Worth Losing – George Carlin Straight Outta Lynwood – "Weird Al" Yankovic You Can't Fix Stupid – Ron White	[46]
2008	Flight of the Conchords	The Distant Future	America's Mexican – George Lopez Dirty Girl – Lisa Lampanelli I Still Have a Pony – Steven Wright Songs Pointed & Pointless – Harry Shearer	[47]
2009	George Carlin	It's Bad for Ya	Anticipation – Lewis Black Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords For Your Consideration – Kathy Griffin Songs of the Bushmen – Harry Shearer	[48]

2010s

2010 winner Stephen Colbert in 2014

Two-time winner Louis C.K.

2013 winner Jimmy Fallon

Year^[I]	Winner(s)	Work	Nominees	Ref.
2010	Stephen Colbert	A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!	Back from the Dead – Spinal Tap Internet Leaks – "Weird Al" Yankovic My Weakness Is Strong – Patton Oswalt Suckin' It for the Holidays – Kathy Griffin Tall, Dark & Chicano – George Lopez	[49]
2011	Lewis Black	Stark Raving Black	Cho Dependent – Margaret Cho I Told You I Was Freaky – Flight of the Conchords Kathy Griffin Does the Bible Belt – Kathy Griffin Weapons of Self Destruction – Robin Williams	[50]
2012	Louis C.K.	Hilarious	Alpocalypse – "Weird Al" Yankovic Finest Hour – Patton Oswalt Kathy Griffin: 50 & Not Pregnant – Kathy Griffin Turtleneck & Chain – The Lonely Island	[51]
2013	Jimmy Fallon	Blow Your Pants Off	In God We Rust – Lewis Black Kathy Griffin: Seaman 1st Class – Kathy Griffin Jim Gaffigan: Mr. Universe – Jim Gaffigan Rize of the Fenix – Tenacious D	[52]
2014	Kathy Griffin	Calm Down Gurrl	I'm Here to Help – Craig Ferguson A Little Unprofessional – Ron White Live – Tig Notaro That's What I'm Talkin' About – Bob Saget	[53]
2015	"Weird Al" Yankovic	Mandatory Fun	Obsessed – Jim Gaffigan Oh My God – Louis C.K. Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time – Patton Oswalt We Are Miracles – Sarah Silverman	[54]
2016	Louis C.K.	Live at Madison Square Garden	Back to the Drawing Board – Lisa Lampanelli Brooklyn – Wyatt Cenac Happy. And A Lot – Jay Mohr Just Being Honest – Craig Ferguson	[55]

References

1. "Overview". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
2. "Grammy Awards 1959 (May)". Awards & Shows. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
3. "Grammy Awards 1959". Awards & Shows. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
4. "Grammy Awards 1962". Awards & Shows.
5. "Grammy Awards 1963". Awards & Shows.
6. "Grammy Awards 1964". Awards & Shows.
7. "Grammy Awards 1965". Awards & Shows.
8. "Grammy Awards 1968". Awards & Shows.
9. "'Now' Singers To Get Grammys". St. Petersburg Times. Times Publishing Company. February 11, 1969. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
10. "Grammy Awards 1970". Awards & Shows.
11. "Grammy Awards 1971". Awards & Shows.
12. "Grammy Awards 1972". Awards & Shows.
13. "Grammy Awards 1973". Awards & Shows.
14. "Grammy Awards 1974". Awards & Shows.
15. "Grammy Awards 1976". Awards & Shows.
16. "Grammy Awards 1977". Awards & Shows.
17. "Grammy Awards 1978". Awards & Shows.
18. "Bee Gees Head Lists For 6 Grammy Awards". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. The News-Journal Corporation. January 9, 1979. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
19. Arar, Yardena (January 9, 1980). "Grammy awards field a definite mixed bag". The Spokesman-Review. Cowles Publishing Company. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
20. "Newcomer Is Top Grammy Nominee". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The New York Times Company. January 20, 1981. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
21. "Lennon, Jones lead Grammy nominees". The Milwaukee Journal. January 14, 1982. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
22. "Toto, Stevie Wonder top Grammy nominations". Lodi News-Sentinel. January 12, 1983. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
23. "Complete List of the Nominees for 26th Annual Grammy Music Awards". Schenectady Gazette (The Daily Gazette Company). 1984-01-09. p. 12.
24. "David Foster Leading Grammy Nominations". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. The New York Times Company. January 12, 1985. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
25. "Best new artist category causes Grammys' only stir". The Gazette. Canwest. February 26, 1986. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
26. "Veterans top Grammy nominations". The Herald. The McClatchy Company. January 8, 1987. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
27. McShane, Larry (January 15, 1988). "Irish rockers among Grammy nominees". The Telegraph. Telegraph Publishing Company. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
28. De Atley, Richard (January 11, 1989). "Grammy nominations: Tracy Chapman, Bobby McFerrin lead pack". Pittsburgh Press. E. W. Scripps Company. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
29. "Grammys reach out to young listeners". Lodi News-Sentinel. February 21, 1990. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
30. Pareles, Jon (January 11, 1991). "Grammy Nominees Announced". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved April 24, 2010.
31. Snider, Eric (February 26, 1992). "Cole's 'Unforgettable' wins song of the year". St. Petersburg Times. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
32. Antczak, John (January 8, 1993). "Clapton leads the pack of Grammy nominees". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
33. "Sting Leads Grammy Nominations With Six". Reading Eagle. Reading Eagle Company. January 7, 1994. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
34. "The line forms for Grammys". St. Petersburg Times. Times Publishing Company. January 6, 1995. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
35. Strauss, Neil (January 5, 1996). "New Faces in Grammy Nominations". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved April 24, 2010.
36. Strauss, Neil (January 8, 1997). "Babyface, Celine Dion And Pumpkins Compete For Multiple Grammys". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). p. 2. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
37. Strauss, Neil (January 7, 1998). "Grammy Nominations Yield Surprises, Including Newcomer's Success". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved April 24, 2010.
38. "Top Grammy nominations". The Register-Guard. Guard Publishing. January 6, 1999. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
39. "Santana nominated for 10 Grammy Awards". Lodi News-Sentinel. January 5, 2000. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
40. "43rd Grammy Awards". CNN. February 21, 2001. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
41. "Complete List Of Grammy Nominees". CBS News. January 4, 2002. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
42. "45 Grammy Nom List" (PDF).
43. "They're All Contenders". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). December 5, 2003. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
44. "Grammy Award nominees in top categories". USA Today (Gannett Company). February 7, 2005. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
45. "The Complete List of Grammy Nominations". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). December 8, 2005. p. 1. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
46. "49th Annual Grammy Awards Winners List". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
47. "Grammy 2008 Winners List". MTV. February 10, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
48. "Grammy 2009 Winners List". MTV. February 8, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
49. "52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners: General Field". The Recording Academy. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
50. "53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners: General Field". The Recording Academy. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
51. "2011 – 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees And Winners: General Field". The Recording Academy. November 30, 2011.
52. "Dan Auerbach, Fun., Jay-Z, Mumford & Sons, Frank Ocean, Kanye West Lead 55th GRAMMY Nominations". Retrieved 24 March 2013.
53. "Jay Z Tops 56th GRAMMY Nominations With Nine". GRAMMY.com. November 6, 2013.
54. Grammy.com
55. "Grammy Awards 2016: Kendrick Lamar made history with an unapologetically black album". Los Angeles Times. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2015.

External links

• Official Site of the Grammy Awards