A Real Record?

Much was made Wednesday of Lauryn Hill’s becoming the first woman to win five Grammys in a single year--breaking the record of four set by Carole King in 1972, the year of “Tapestry,” and later tied by Bonnie Raitt and Alanis Morissette.

But is the comparison fair?

The recording academy presented 44 awards in 1972 and 95 this year, which means it’s easier to get multiple awards now. In 1995, for instance, the academy added “genre album” awards in pop, rock, R&B; and country. This allowed Hill and Morissette to pick up awards that weren’t available to King and Raitt.

Also, a liberalizing of eligibility guidelines for best new artist in recent years allowed Hill to compete for 1998 best new artist despite her earlier success with the Fugees--far more success as a recording artist than King had before “Tapestry” although King was considered ineligible for the award in 1972.

On a more level playing field, King and Raitt most certainly would have each won five Grammys (add the genre album). Whatever, King remains the only woman ever to sweep the Grammys’ top three categories: album, record and song of the year.