The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its inductees and their respective presenters today for the big annual bash held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on March 10.

Here is this year’s list:

Songwriters and producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff will be inducted by vocalist and songwriter Jerry Butler. The three collaborated plentifully, but most notably on the smash single “Only the Strong Survive.” That said, the honorees are arguably better known for the O’Jays’ smash “Love Train.”

• “Only the Strong Survive”
• “Love Train”

Read the rest of this entry »

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
It’s easy to complain about the Grammys but the award show is really in a no-win situation. Like the Oscars, the Grammys attempt to cover their entire universe — the only problem is, the music industry is a much larger universe than film and few records are big outside of their respective niche, unlike in the Oscars where it’s relatively easier for film fans to know about a genre movie that’s a sensation. To compensate for this, the Grammys decide to sample a bunch of different genres for the telecast, giving everybody equal time but by trying to appeal to all, it winds up appealing to few — especially as the show runs a gob-smacking three and a half hours, longer than Springsteen concerts of legend. And a long concert is what the Grammys now are — most of the awards are handed out prior to the show, making this an awards ceremony largely devoid of acceptance speeches and spontaneity. I’m a curmudgeon, but I’d prefer to have almost no performances and a bunch of acceptance speeches, as that’s where the unpredictability comes in. It’s an awards show, after all — let’s see the awards, even from acts and producers that aren’t superstars.

Read the rest of this entry »

This Sunday, the 50th Annual Grammy Awards are announced in a telecast that will be aired live at 8 p.m. EST on CBS. Here, several AMG editors offer their thoughts on what will, and what should, win in selected categories from across the musical spectrum.

Read the rest of this entry »

Although getting a Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary Composition doesn’t quite have the prestige (or immediate cash reward) of a Pulitzer Prize, winning (and even being nominated) can be quite a boost for a composer in raising name recognition and in generating commissions. These are my personal, unexpurgated opinions — including my predictions and preferences — about this year’s nominees.

This must be the year of the concerto, since three of the pieces feature a soloist and orchestra. Joan Albert Amargós’ Northern Concerto, for recorder and orchestra (the only work not by an American composer), is a dynamic accessible, ingratiating piece. Each of its three movements has a strong character, and the writing for recorder is remarkably expressive. It’s a strong, attractive work, but … it doesn’t seem like a major work.

Northern Concerto: Allegro giusto (Michala Petri)

 
David Chesky’s Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, part of his “Urban Concertos” series, is notable for its brilliant orchestration and rhythmic urgency. It’s a real showcase for the soloist, and it’s full of activity, but it’s short on musical substance. Chesky’s gratuitous quotations of the bassoon solo that opens The Rite of Spring sound gimmicky and shallow. It just doesn’t seem to be in the same league as the other nominees.

Concerto for Bassoon: Movement one (Martin Kuuskmann)

Read the rest of this entry »

The ceremony is scheduled, the nominations have been announced, and the AllMovie Blog is abuzz with speculation. Yes, it’s Oscar season again, but while others may quibble about who will win the coveted statue for Best Art Direction and Best Sound Editing, it’s the award for Best Original Song that perks up movie and music fans alike. What’s interesting about this year’s nods is that two of the films are about musicians, while the one film that isn’t has garnered three song nominations:

August Rush - “Raise It Up”

Enchanted - “Happy Working Song”

Enchanted - “So Close”

Enchanted - “That’s How You Know”

Once - “Falling Slowly”

Which song will win? That’s anyone’s guess — Disney films have a tradition of cleaning up in this category, and both Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz have been nominated for Oscars numerous times in the past. The bittersweet sentimentality of August Rush could play in its favor, which is an unlikely but not unheard of situation, while the critical acclaim of Once (not to mention the powerhouse duo of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) could result in a win for the real life couple. February 24 can’t come fast enough!