PRESHOW PICKS UP PACE; 80-PLUS AWARDS GIVEN OFF CAMERA.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Daily News Staff Writer

The 12 awards presented during the televised broadcast of the 41st Grammy Awards last night were but the tip of the musical iceberg. Some 80-plus trophies were handed out before the main ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in categories ranging from rap and r&b to album notes and something called ``tropical Latin performance.''

Grammy officials managed to accomplish this in a brisk 100 minutes, which translated into roughly an award per minute. Needless to say, any acceptance speech that went beyond the words ``thank you'' put a burden on the proceedings.

Winners, however, did have an opportunity to elaborate on their feelings backstage. Some, like Vince Gill, who won for his country instrumental performance with Randy Scruggs, were veterans of this type of thing.

``It's a blast for me. I don't think that the whole world knows that I play, and that's OK,'' Gill said. (He later picked up his 13 Grammy.)

Others, like the Irish Celtic group Clannad, who won for new age album, didn't know quite what to make of all the hoopla.

``I think we won for the wrong category,'' said Noel Duggan, talking of the group's win for new age album. ``I think we're more old age. But we'll take it nevertheless.''

Then there were people like Elvis Costello, a critical favorite for two decades, taking home his first Grammy for his pop collaboration with Burt Bacharach for ``I Still Have That Other Girl.''

``When I started out, I didn't have much respect for these things,'' Costello said, looking at his award. ``But now ... well, it's great. Maybe more people will listen to the album because of this.''

Costello and Bacharach had come to the ceremony straight from the studio, where they were recording a remake of Dionne Warwick's ``I Know I'll Never Fall in Love Again'' for the ``Austin Powers'' sequel, ``The Spy Who Shagged Me.''

``Elvis does a wonderful job,'' said Bacharach, winner of five Grammys. ``Who knows? Maybe we'll be back here again next year.''

Bacharach received his first in 1967, two in 1969 and another in 1986 before winning this year.

Another veteran, Patti Page, took home her first Grammy, winning for best traditional pop vocal performance for ``Live at Carnegie Hall, the 50th Anniversary Concert.''

Swing is officially back. The Brian Setzer Orchestra, led by the former leader of the rockabilly Stray Cats, took home two awards - best pop instrumental performance for ``Sleepwalk'' and best pop vocal performance by a duo or group for ``Jump Jive an' Wail.''

Those winning multiple awards in the early ceremonies included jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, who won for instrumental arrangement and jazz instrumental and guitarist Pat Metheny, winner for contemporary jazz performance and rock instrumental, both from his acclaimed ``Imaginary Day'' album.

``This makes me want to swing from the fences every time,'' said Hancock, recognized for his Gershwin tribute album ``Gershwin's World.'' Hancock's record also won a Grammy for Stevie Wonder, best male r&b performance for the song ``St. Louis Blues.'' It was Wonder's 20th Grammy, tying him with Henry Mancini for fifth most in the award's history.

Composer John Williams will also have to make more room on his mantle. Williams won his 17th Grammy for his work on the ``Saving Private Ryan'' soundtrack. (He was also nominated for ``Amistad''). ``The Lion King'' was named best musical show album, while the ubiquitous ``My Heart Will Go On'' won for best movie song.

``Not exactly a surprise, is it?'' lyricist Will Jennings said backstage.

By extension, neither was Celine Dion's win for best female pop performance for the same song. (``She was the only one who could have sung it,'' said composer James Horner, winner of two Grammys himself). Eric Clapton won the Grammy for male pop vocal for ``My Father's Eyes.'' It was the 13th Grammy Clapton, 12 of which have come this decade, in his three-plus decades of recording.

In the country music categories, Shania Twain won two Grammys for her pop song, ``You're Still the One.'' Country's hottest group, the Dixie Chicks, won for group vocal performance.

Lucinda Williams won for best contemporary folk album (``Car Wheels on a Gravel Road), icing on the cake after just being named artist of the year in the annual Village Voice poll of the nation's music critics.

``This is a real surprise and a thrill,'' said Williams of her second Grammy win. ``You never think you're going to win one of these.''

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) Brian and Christine Setzer arrive at the Grammys. His band, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, won two awards.

John Lazar/Daily News

(2) Veteran entertainer Patti Page won her first Grammy, for traditional pop vocal performance for ``Live at Carnegie Hall - The 50th Anniversary Concert.''

(3) Herbie Hancock was a multiple winner, taking home Grammys for instrumental arrangement and jazz instrumental performance.

(4) Burt Bacharach, left, and Elvis Costello share the Grammy for pop collaboration for ``I Still Have That Other Girl.'' It is Costello's first Grammy win.

David Sprague/Daily News