Grammys grouch Neil Young finally wins an award

Jenice Heo, left, Neil Young, center, and Gary Burden accept the award for best boxed or limited edition for 'Neil Young Archives Vol. 1' at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, in Los Angeles.(AP Photo)

Gary Burden (C), Jenice Ho (L) and Neil Young accept the award for best boxed or special limited edition package during the pre-telecast of the 52nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles January 31, 2010.(AP Photo)

Eclectic rocker Neil Young, who has made no secret of his disdain for the Grammys, finally won a coveted trophy on Sunday for the first time in a career spanning almost 50 years.

Fittingly, the Canadian singer/songwriter was honored for a long-delayed boxed set collecting more than 120 tracks from his early days.

"Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972)" won the Grammy for best art direction on a boxed or special limited edition package. Young, 64, shared the award with fellow art directors Gary Burden and Jenice Heo.

"Thanks a lot, everybody," Young said, as he accepted his statuette.

He also competed for best solo rock vocal Grammy but lost to Bruce Springsteen whose career total rose to 20.

On Friday he was honored by the music industry at its annual MusiCares charity fundraiser in recognition of his annual concerts for the Bridge School for disabled children.

The 10-disc "Archives" boxed set has been in the works for years, with Young frequently delaying its release so that technology could catch up with his vision. It boasts studio and live tracks, demos, outtakes and other rarities, as well as videos and the first digital release of his directing debut "Journey Through the Past."

Fans have the choice of three configurations, CD, DVD and Blu-ray -- the most expensive at more than $200.

Young, famed for such tunes as "Heart of Gold," "Like a Hurricane" and "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)," has confounded fans with an idiosyncratic output spanning folk, rock, g