What I’m Listening to

QUINCY JONES: The musician-producer-arranger-executive’s 26 Grammys rank second only to conductor Sir Georg Solti’s 30. And he’s the all-time leader in nominations with 76.

“I listen to everything--from classical to Third World, Brazilian to what’s going on now, like Tha Dogg Pound, or whatever. ‘Waiting to Exhale’ is great. Babyface! I adore Babyface. He’ll be here a long time because, on top of his talent, he’s really together. And I like Me’Shell NdegeOcello a lot. My own ‘Q’s Juke Joint’ album is like a miracle to me. The people playing on it are my favorite people of all the genres of my 50 years of work.

“Of this year’s album nominees, I like Joan Osborne and I like the lyrics of Alanis Morissette. Michael Jackson, well, I produced half of that [the best-of disc of the “HIStory” collection], so I plead the Fifth. Having Alanis and Pearl Jam nominated means the academy membership is expanding, which I like a lot.”

JIMMY STURR: Winner of six Grammys for best polka album, most recently in 1993. His nomination this year is his 10th in that category.

“I listen to polkas 24 hours a day! Not really. I listen to all kinds of music--polkas, Tex-Mex, Cajun. My most recent purchases are country recordings. I liked the Asleep at the Wheel album a lot last year and a new collection of Bob Wills, and I like George Strait and George Jones a lot. I didn’t vote for album of the year this year. You can only vote in so many categories, and I wanted to vote in the ones I knew about.”

PAT BOONE: Boone, 61, is currently working on an album of heavy-metal songs remade in his soothing pop style.

“I’m listening to what I think is the best of contemporary country. Collin Raye is knocking me out, and anything Vince Gill does. And of course I love Reba McEntire. She keeps finding terrific songs. And also I’m listening to contemporary gospel, which I think is sensational.

“I try to listen to all the Grammy nominees. Alanis uses a lot of profanity and sexual explicit lyrics, right? I got familiar with one song that was pretty raunchy, so that’s not my choice. And not Carey or Jackson. I think Osborne is my choice. I don’t quite get the message of Pearl Jam.”

CHRISTOPHER CROSS: Swept the 1980 Grammys with five awards. Follow-ups have faltered, but he released his seventh album, “Window,” last year.

“I’m probably not as current as I should be. ‘Wildflowers’ by Tom Petty is a nicely made record. And Joni Mitchell’s ‘Turbulent Indigo’ is great. She’s my single biggest influence ever. I’ve listened to Alanis and Joan Osborne and there are elements I like, but I don’t listen over and over. I have to say that to me, Joan Osborne is the most interesting of the nominees. Alanis is really talented, but her record seems a little contrived, and Joan’s seems more honest.”

LL COOL J: His song “Mama Said Knock You Out” was Grammy’s best rap solo performance of 1991. He has continued his music career while branching out into acting.

“I’ve been listening to a lot of hip-hop--Mobb Deep, various ‘blend tapes’ made by the street deejays in uptown New York and Queens. I was also listening to the Solo album with a couple of cool Sam Cooke remakes, and Monica’s album. But I even like [country singer] Shania Twain. She’s having a great year. I can’t listen to only one type of thing. It limits your thinking.

“I’m not voting for the Grammys at this point. I’d like to. They send me a ballot, but I’ve been so busy. I like a few of the [best album nominees] for different reasons. Personally I’d have to go with Mariah Carey ‘cause I really enjoy her ‘Fantasy’ record. But I respect the other people. Pearl Jam is a fantastic group--really challenging.”

CAROLE BAYER SAGER: Co-wrote “That’s What Friends Are For,” the 1986 Grammy song of the year, and co-wrote “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” which won the 1981 Oscar for best song.

“It seems that for this month I’ve listened to Alanis Morissette a lot. I just love that album, both the lyrics and her presentation. And I got hooked on the ‘Waiting to Exhale’ soundtrack because it’s like nonfat frozen yogurt--delicious and it doesn’t hurt you. The whole album has a kind of vibe to it, creates a mood. Other things I’m listening to are Don Henley’s greatest-hits album, Seal and TLC. I thought ‘CrazySexyCool’ was a really good album and ‘Waterfalls’ is a great single. But you can surmise that I voted for Alanis.”

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN: Winner of the 1991, ’92 and ’93 pop gospel album Grammys; nominated this year for “The Music of Christmas.”

“I’m getting ready to record a new album, so I’ve been listening to a lot of stuff, particularly older things, kind of reaching back to my roots. Having recently discovered the new Stevie Ray Vaughan greatest-hits album, I’ve become a fan. I’ve also been listening to the new Collective Soul album. I saw the video of their new song ‘The World I Know.’ That’s incredible. And I love what people are doing in my own industry--DC Talk, Michael W. Smith, my peers and buddies as well as fellow artists.

“I have to be honest and say that of all those records [nominated for album of the year], I’m familiar only with the singles or things most people hear on the radio. There’s parts of all those that I enjoy, but I need to go and listen to those records so I can vote.”

MARTY STUART: The country artist’s mixes of mountain music, traditional country and rock elements have earned three Grammys.

“I just started making a new record, so I’ve been into the record store a lot lately to listen to things. Tom Petty’s boxed set is great. There are certain people that no matter what trends come and go, they’re always there, and he’s one of them. And for inspiration I always go to the Muddy Waters boxed set.

“Of newer things, I loved Mutt Lange’s production on the Shania Twain album and I just got the new Merle Haggard record. And the Rolling Stones’ ‘Stripped’ is really good. The record spells out to me what I’ve known for a long time, that the Stones are one of the greatest country bands on Earth. I see the same thing happening in rock ‘n’ roll as in country--the women are wearing it out. Alanis is a really talented person and that album stands out. And I just picked up Joan Osborne’s record, which I really love. Coming from the South, I hear a lot of that Kentucky backwoods influence that she’s turned into rock ‘n’ roll.”

BOB SEGER: His “Against the Wind” album with his Silver Bullet Band won the 1980 Grammy for best rock duo or group performance.

“I like the guy who opened the first 11 shows of my current tour, Kevin Welch, who has an independent album out called ‘Life Down Here on Earth.’ Other than that, I’m listening to my usual favorites--Tom Petty, Don Henley. I love those guys. I love the Tom Petty outtake disc [in the recent boxed set].

“We’ve been rehearsing for 2 1/2 months and then on tour, so I’ve been kind of out of it as far as new records. For the Grammy, I’ll probably vote for Pearl Jam, though honestly I haven’t heard Alanis.”

DEXTER HOLLAND

The Offspring singer not only hasn’t ever been up for a Grammy, but he says he pays no attention to the awards.

“There were some great albums last year, but nothing that the Grammy people ever heard of. Pennywise and Rancid put out great records. And the Vandals album was great too. But the Grammy nominations are as exciting as a warm Budweiser. I’m not a [recording academy] member--no interest, really. I don’t really know anything about it. [Of the best album nominees] I like Pearl Jam. They’re worthy of the attention they get, and I like the way they handle themselves. As far as the others, they’re great artists, but I hate their records.”

* THE CLASSICS

Times contributor Herbert Glass analyzes the classical Grammys. Page 60