Morissette, ‘Blowfish’ Lead Grammys

Hot newcomers Alanis Morissette and Hootie & the Blowfish were rewarded for major debut successes with two Grammys each Wednesday night.

Author of 1995’s best-selling album “Cracked Rear View,” South Carolina’s Hootie & the Blowfish won best new artist and pop group vocal performance for “Let Her Cry.”

The jealousy anthem “You Oughta Know” by Canada’s Morissette won the award for best rock song and her “Jagged Little Pill” earned the rock album award.

The trio TLC and Stevie Wonder also captured two Grammys apiece, Frank Sinatra scored his first victory in decades and Nirvana was saluted for its last effort before the death of lead singer Kurt Cobain.

Morissette and pop singer Mariah Carey were the leading nominees entering the 38th annual Grammys with six nominations each. The competition between Morissette’s album of raw, angry songs and Carey’s romantic “Daydream” was the edgy clash Grammy officials hoped would make the contest more relevant.

“She’s a brilliant and uncompromising artist,” said Morissette’s producer and co-writer Glen Ballard, who worked closely with the Canadian artist on her U.S. debut album.

There were more than 400 nominations in 88 categories, most of them presented in a program before the CBS-TV telecast from the Shrine Auditorium, hosted by comic actress Ellen DeGeneres.

The other top nominees included Joan Osborne, Babyface and Ballard with five each. Top awards, including record, album and song of the year, were to be presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences later in the evening.

Sinatra captured his first competitive Grammy in 29 years. His “Duets II” was named best traditional pop vocal performance.

“It was a dream,” said producer Phil Ramone, who picked up the Grammy for Sinatra.

Seal’s sensuous “Kiss From a Rose,” popularized in the film “Batman Forever,” was the year’s best male pop vocal performance.

Recording industry mentor Babyface, who worked with artists ranging from TLC to Vanessa Williams and Madonna, was honored as producer of the year.

Country’s hot new star Shania Twain topped a competitive field to capture best country album for “The Woman in Me.” Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” written about his late brother Bob, was the heartfelt winner of best country song.

“It’s the first thing I’ve ever done that was really personal,” Gill said backstage.

In a posthumous honor to the Seattle grunge band’s leader, Nirvana’s “MTV Unplugged in New York” won best alternative performance, ahead of albums by Bjork, Foo Fighters, PJ Harvey and the Presidents of the United States of America.

In the increasingly important rap category, awards went to Naughty by Nature for best album “Poverty’s Paradise,” and to Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige for group performance for “I’ll Be There for You / You’re All I Need to Get By.”

In the rhythm and blues competition, TLC won group vocal performance for “Creep” and best album for “Crazysexycool.” Stevie Wonder’s “For Your Love” claimed best male vocal performance and best song. Anita Baker won the female vocal performance award with “I Apologize.”

There was diversity in the rock category. Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels” won male vocal performance, Blues Traveler’s “Run-Around” took group vocal performance and the Allman Bros.’ “Jessica” was the instrumental performance winner. The metal performance Grammy went to Nine Inch Nails’ “Happiness in Slavery.” Pearl Jam’s “Spin the Black Circle” was the best hard-rock performance.

Michael and Janet Jackson shared the short form music video honor for “Scream.”

The best classical album was “Debussy: La Mer; Nocturnes; Jeux, etc.,” with Pierre Boulez conducting the Cleveland Orchestra and Karl-August Naegler producing. Steven Epstein was classical producer of the year.

This year’s competition was marked by the first change in the academy’s nominating process in 38 years, a move to counter complaints that winners did not reflect the most vital elements of contemporary music.

In each of the top four categories--record, album and song of the year, and best new artist--20 entries with the most votes from the general membership were submitted to a confidential 25-member panel picked by the academy. The panel reviewed entries and selected nominees by secret ballot.

Recordings released between Oct. 1, 1994, and Sept. 30, 1995, were eligible for the 38th annual awards.