The Grammy Awards at 50: The Best On Record?

For much of the 50th Grammy Awards, which came to you from the Staples Center in Los Angeles and televised by CBS, it seemed like Old Home Week. Prince, The Time, Andy Williams, Tina Turner, Keely Smith, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were among those trotted out as either awards presenters or performing in one of those made-for-TV duets with one of today's stars--think Beyonce, the 21st Century Diana Ross.

The creepiest belonged to the opening number as Alicia Keys "collaborated" with the long-dead Frank Sinatra on "Learnin' The Blues". It brought back memories of Natalie Cole (who was also a presenter) winning Record of the Year for her version of "Unforgettable", which she sung with her father Nat King Cole--who died in 1966.

The Beatles were also saluted with a Cirque du Soleil interpretation of "A Day In The Life" (huh?), and a performance of "Let It Be" that resembled a Barack Obama campaign appearance (Obama, by the way, won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album with the audio version of his book The Audacity of Hope.).

Amy Winehouse, the other well-known show business train wreck, had a huge night in winning five Grammys--including awards for Best New Artist, Song of the Year and Record of the Year (for "Rehab"). Because of visa problems, Winehouse performed two songs live via satellite from London at 3:30 a.m, and managed to stay lucid through it all. And yes, yes, yes, folks, Amy's in rehab.

Kanye West, who sometimes needs to get over himself, won four Grammys including Best Rap Album for Graduation. He used part of his acceptance speech to salute his recently deceased mother, even to the point of telling whoever is responsible for cueing the "cutoff music" to back off for a moment.

Winehouse and West were the co-favorites to win the Album of the Year award, but it went to--major shocker alert--Herbie Hancock's Joni Mitchell tribute "River: The Joni Letters".

People have been complaining for years about how the organization that runs the Grammys--the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS)--always seem to get it wrong in recognizing the best in popular music. This might just take the cake.