Bob Newhart recorded The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, the first comedy album to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.
Released in 1960, the album presented Newhart’s carefully controlled telephone-style monologues, including fictional conversations in which he played one side of an absurd exchange. Its success helped move stand-up comedy albums beyond novelty records and into major popular music awards.
At the 3rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1961, The Button-Down Mind won Album of the Year. Newhart also won Best New Artist, making the achievement especially notable for a comedian whose work was built around understated pauses and awkward logic.
A common mix-up is confusing this album with The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!, its follow-up. The sequel also performed strongly, but the original was the landmark Grammy winner. Newhart later became equally well known for television roles in The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart.