Band R.E.M. Tops Grammy Nominations

THE Georgia rock group R.E.M., popular on college campuses but ignored by the mainstream, shed its anonymity last Wednesday at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards nominations, taking the lion's share with seven nominations including record, album, and song of the year.

Rocker Bryan Adams received six nominations and Bonnie Raitt and jazz musician Dave Grusin each received five. Natalie Cole and Amy Grant had four apiece. R.E.M. picked up nominations for the album "Out of Time" and singles "Losing My Religion" and "Radio."

Other album-of-the-year nominees include: "Heart in Motion," by Amy Grant; "Luck of the Draw," by Bonnie Raitt; "The Rhythm of the Saints," by Paul Simon, and "Unforgettable" by Natalie Cole.

Joining R.E.M. in record-of-the-year nominations are: "Baby Baby," by Amy Grant; "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," by Bryan Adams; "Something to Talk About," by Bonnie Raitt, and "Unforgettable," by Natalie Cole.

Adams's six nominations are from the album "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" from the film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."

Blues guitarist and singer Bonnie Raitt, a big Grammy winner in 1990, was nominated for the album "Luck of the Draw," a follow-up to

her blockbuster album "Nick of Time."

Grammy Award winners will be announced during a national CBS broadcast on Feb. 25.