The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’ Was Nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards — and Lost
The Beatles are a Grammy Award-winning band, also earning a nomination for their 1970 release Abbey Road. Unfortunately for Beatles fans, this record lost the Album of the Year Grammy to another music group.
The Beatles earned several Grammy Awards and nominations
The Beatles are considered one of the world’s biggest bands, releasing several albums and hosting historic live performances. This chart-topping group has over 20 Grammy nominations, and seven wins under its belt.
In 1966, the Beatles were nominated in three categories — Album Of The Year (for Help!), Best Contemporary (R&R) Performance – Group (Vocal Or Instrumental), and Best Performance By A Vocal Group (both for the song “Help!”).
‘Abbey Road’ by The Beatles earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year
This band snagged Grammy Award nominations in the Album Of The Year and Best Contemporary Vocal Performance By A Group categories. That was for the well-known release Abbey Road. The Album of the Year went to Blood, Sweat And Tears’ Blood, Sweat And Tears.
As one of their final works created as a group, the Beatles debuted Abbey Road in 1970. This album featured well-known tracks “Come Together,” “Octopus’s Garden,” “Oh! Darling,” and “Here Comes the Sun.”
Even decades later, the record continues to earn praise for its unique “contemporary” sound. The cover art has been recreated countless times by listeners. During an interview with CBS News, McCartney elaborated on the inspiration for the Abbey Road cover.
“We were in the studio downstairs puttin’ finishing touches to the album,” he said. “And- we had another title going on that we didn’t really like. So I just said, ‘Hey, why don’t we just call it Abbey Road? And what we could do, we just go right outside, walk across the crossing. It’s done.’ You know, and it was like, ‘Yeah, ok.’ Everyone agreed.”
The Beatles earned an Album of the Year Grammy Award
Although they didn’t receive a trophy for Abbey Road, The Beatles have an Album of the Year Grammy thanks to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. That same album earned the Best Contemporary Album award.
The last Grammy Awards these artists would receive as a group was at the 39th Annual ceremony. They swept in all three categories they were nominated in – Best Music Video, Long Form for The Beatles Anthology and Best Music Video, Short Form, and Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, both for “Free As A Bird.”
These artists never appeared at the award ceremony as a band. It was only until they received recognition as solo artists that members attended individually. Of course, several members of this rock band pursued individual music careers following their appearance with The Beatles.
In 2006, Ringo Starr debuted the live album Ringo Starr and Friends. Paul McCartney, who created original songs “Say, Say, Say” and “Wonderful Christmastime,” embarks on his “Got Back” tour in 2022.
