| Year
|
Recipients(s)
|
Work
|
Performing artist(s)
|
Nominees Performers in parentheses / Labels in brackets
|
Ref.
|
| 1964
|
Leonard Feather and Stanley Dance
|
The Ellington Era · Columbia
|
Duke Ellington
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[3]
|
| 1965
|
Stanton Catlin and Carleton Beals
|
Mexico (Legacy Collection) · Columbia/Legacy
|
Carlos Chávez
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[4]
|
| 1966
|
Stan Cornyn
|
September of My Years · Reprise
|
Frank Sinatra
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[5]
|
| 1967
|
Stan Cornyn
|
Sinatra at the Sands · Reprise
|
Frank Sinatra
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[6]
|
| 1968
|
John D. Loudermilk
|
Suburban Attitudes in Country Verse · RCA Victor
|
John D. Loudermilk
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[7]
|
| 1969
|
Johnny Cash
|
At Folsom Prison · Columbia
|
Johnny Cash
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[8]
|
| 1970
|
Johnny Cash
|
Nashville Skyline · Columbia
|
Bob Dylan
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[9]
|
| 1971
|
Chris Albertson
|
The World's Greatest Blues Singer · Columbia
|
Bessie Smith
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[10]
|
| 1972
|
Sam Samudio
|
Sam, Hard and Heavy · Atlantic
|
Sam the Sham
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[11]
|
| 1973
|
| Best Album Notes
|
[12]
|
| Tom T. Hall
|
Tom T. Hall's Greatest Hits · Mercury
|
Tom T. Hall
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
| Best Album Notes – Classical
|
| James Lyons
|
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 2 ("A London Symphony") · RCA Red Seal
|
André Previn conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
| 1974
|
| Best Album Notes
|
[13]
|
| Dan Morgenstern
|
God Is in the House · Onyx
|
Art Tatum
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
| Best Album Notes – Classical
|
| Glenn Gould
|
Hindemith: Sonatas for Piano Complete · Columbia Masterworks
|
The Villa Musica Ensemble
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
| 1975
|
| Best Album Notes
|
[14]
|
| Charles R. Townsend
|
For the Last Time · United Artists
|
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
| Dan Morgenstern
|
The Hawk Flies · Milestone
|
Coleman Hawkins
|
| Best Album Notes – Classical
|
| Rory Guy
|
The Classic Erich Wolfgang Korngold · Angel
|
Willy Mattes (conductor) with a solo by Ulf Hoelscher
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
| 1976
|
| Best Album Notes
|
[15]
|
| Pete Hamill
|
Blood on the Tracks · Columbia
|
Bob Dylan
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
| Best Album Notes – Classical
|
| Gunther Schuller
|
Footlifters: A Century of American Marches · Columbia
|
Gunther Schuller conducting the All-Star Band
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
| 1977
|
Dan Morgenstern
|
The Changing Face of Harlem: Savoy Sessions · Savoy
|
Various Artists
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[16]
|
| 1978
|
George T. Simon
|
Bing Crosby: A Legendary Performer · RCA
|
Bing Crosby
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[17]
|
| 1979
|
Michael Brooks
|
A Bing Crosby Collection, Volumes 1 and 2 · Columbia
|
Bing Crosby
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[18]
|
| 1980
|
Bob Porter & James Patrick
|
Charlie Parker: The Complete Savoy Sessions · Savoy
|
Charlie Parker
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[19]
|
| 1981
|
David McClintock
|
Trilogy: Past Present Future · Reprise
|
Frank Sinatra
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[20]
|
| 1982
|
Dan Morgenstern
|
Erroll Garner: Master of the Keyboard · Book of the Month Records
|
Erroll Garner
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[21]
|
| 1983
|
John Chilton and Richard Sudhalter
|
Giants of Jazz: Bunny Berigan · Time-Life
|
Bunny Berigan
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[22]
|
| 1984
|
Orrin Keepnews
|
The "Interplay" Sessions · Milestone
|
Bill Evans
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[23]
|
| 1985
|
Gunther Schuller and Martin Williams
|
Big Band Jazz · Smithsonian
|
Various Artists
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[24]
|
| 1986
|
Peter Guralnick
|
Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 · RCA
|
Sam Cooke
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[25]
|
| 1987
|
Gary Giddins, Wilfrid Sheed, Jonathan Schwartz, Murray Kempton, Andrew Sarris, Stephen Holden, and Frank Conroy
|
The Voice: The Columbia Years 1943–1952 · Columbia/CBS
|
Frank Sinatra
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[26]
|
| 1988
|
Orrin Keepnews
|
The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings · Riverside
|
Thelonious Monk
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[27]
|
| 1989
|
Anthony DeCurtis
|
Crossroads · Polydor
|
Eric Clapton
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[28]
|
| 1990
|
Phil Schaap
|
Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve · Verve
|
Charlie Parker
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[29]
|
| 1991
|
Dan Morgenstern
|
Brownie: The Complete Emarcy Recordings of Clifford Brown · EmArcy
|
Clifford Brown
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[30]
|
| 1992
|
James Brown, Cliff White, Harry Weinger, Nelson George, and Alan M. Leeds
|
Star Time · Polydor
|
James Brown
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[31]
|
| 1993
|
Dave Marsh, Jerry Wexler, David Ritz, Thulani Davis, Ahmet Ertegun, Tom Down, and Arif Mardin
|
Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings · Rhino
|
Aretha Franklin
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[32]
|
| 1994
|
Buck Clayton, Phil Schaap, and Joel E. Siegel
|
The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945–1959 · Verve
|
Billie Holiday
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[33]
|
| 1995
|
Dan Morgenstern and Loren Schoenberg
|
Louis Armstrong: Portrait of the Artists as a Young Man, 1923–1934 · Columbia/Legacy/Smithsonian
|
Louis Armstrong
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[34]
|
| 1996
|
Rob Bowman
|
The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 3: 1972–1975 · Stax
|
Various Artists
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[35]
|
| 1997
|
George Avakian, Bob Belden, Bill Kirchner, and Phil Schaap
|
Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings · Columbia
|
Miles Davis and Gil Evans
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[36]
|
| 1998
|
John Fahey, Luis Kemnitzer, Jon Pankake, Chuck Pirtle, Jeff Place, Neil V. Rosenberg, Lucy Sante, Peter Stampfel, and Eric Von Schmidt
|
Anthology of American Folk Music · Smithsonian Folkways
|
Various Artists
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[37]
|
| 1999
|
Bob Belden, Todd Coolman, and Michael Cuscuna
|
Miles Davis Quintet 1965–1968 · Columbia/Legacy
|
Miles Davis Quintet
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[38]
|
| 2000
|
Bob Blumenthal
|
The Classic Quartet: The Complete Impulse! Recordings · Impulse
|
John Coltrane
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[39]
|
| 2001
|
Bob Blumenthal
|
The Complete Columbia Recordings 1955–1961 · Columbia/Legacy
|
Miles Davis and John Coltrane
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[40]
|
| 2002
|
Walter Mosley
|
...And It's Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968–1992) · Warner Archives/Rhino
|
Richard Pryor
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[41]
|
| Elijah Wald
|
Arhoolie Records 40th Anniversary Collection: 1960–2000 The Journey of Chris Strachwitz · Arhoolie
|
Various Artists
|
| 2003
|
David Evans
|
Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton · Revenant
|
Charlie Patton
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[42]
|
| 2004
|
Tom Piazza
|
Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey · Hip-O
|
Various Artists
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[43]
|
| 2005
|
Loren Schoenberg
|
The Complete Columbia Recordings of Woody Herman and His Orchestra & Woodchoppers (1945–1947) · Mosaic
|
Woody Herman and His Orchestra
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[44]
|
| 2006
|
Alan Lomax and John Szwed
|
The Complete Library of Congress Recordings · Rounder
|
Jelly Roll Morton
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[45]
|
| 2007
|
Dan Morgenstern
|
If You Got To Ask, You Ain't Got It! · Bluebird/Legacy
|
Fats Waller
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[46]
|
| 2008
|
Bruce Nemerov
|
John Work III: Recording Black Culture · Spring Fed
|
Various Artists
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[47]
|
| 2009
|
Francis Davis
|
Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition · Columbia/Legacy
|
Miles Davis
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[48]
|
| 2010
|
Dan Morgenstern
|
The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (1935–1946) · Mosaic
|
Louis Armstrong
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[49]
|
| 2011
|
Robert Gordon
|
Keep an Eye on the Sky · Rhino
|
Big Star
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[50]
|
| 2012
|
Adam Machado
|
Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond as Recorded by the San Francisco Bay by Chris Strachwitz in the 1960s · Arhoolie
|
Various Artists
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[51]
|
| 2013
|
Billy Vera
|
Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles · Concord
|
Ray Charles
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[52]
|
| 2014
|
Neil Tesser
|
Afro Blue Impressions (Remastered and Expanded) · Pablo/Concord
|
John Coltrane
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[53]
|
| 2015
|
Ashley Kahn
|
Offering: Live at Temple University · Resonance/Impulse
|
John Coltrane
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[54]
|
| 2016
|
Joni Mitchell
|
Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced · Rhino
|
Joni Mitchell
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[55]
|
| 2017
|
Ken Bloom & Richard Carlin
|
Sissle and Blake Sing Shuffle Along · Harbinger/Musical Theater Project
|
Eubie Blake & Noble Sissle
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[56] [57]
|
| 2018
|
Lynell George
|
Live at the Whisky a Go Go: The Complete Recordings · Stax
|
Otis Redding
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[58]
|
| 2019
|
David Evans
|
Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris · Dust-to-Digital
|
Various Artists
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[59]
|
| 2020
|
Steve Greenberg
|
Stax '68: A Memphis Story · Craft /Stax/Concord
|
Various Artists
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[60]
|
| 2021
|
Bob Mehr
|
Dead Man's Pop · Warner
|
The Replacements
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[61]
|
| 2022
|
Ricky Riccardi
|
The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Sessions, 1946-1966 · Mosaic
|
Louis Armstrong
|
Template:Smalldiv
|
[62]
|
| 2023
|
Bob Mehr
|
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) · Rhino
|
Wilco
|
|
[63]
|
| 2024
|
Robert Gordon & Deanie Parker
|
Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos · Stax/Craft
|
Various Artists
|
|
|
| 2025
|
Ricky Riccardi
|
Centennial · Archeophone
|
King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band & Various Artists
|
|
[64]
|
| 2026
|
Winner TBA on 1 February 2026
|
|
|
|
[65]
|