Partying With the Major Players

The Scene: An after-Grammy bash at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, thrown by MCA Records in conjunction with Geffen and GRP Records. It was one of several record-label parties around town; L.A. must be celebrating winning back the Grammy ceremony from New York.

Who Was There: MCA chief Al Teller greeted T-Bone Burnett, Peter Gabriel, Vince Gill, Rickie Lee Jones, B. B. King, Patti LaBelle, Joey Lawrence, Traci Lords, Lyle Lovett, Shai and Patty Smyth.

Surprise Appearances: Martina Navratilova, wearing a sharp Armani tuxedo, was the center of flashbulbs. Attracting less attention was Bob Vila, former star of the handyman show “This Old House.” (“Does he have an album of carpentry music coming out or something?” wondered one man.)

Dress Code: Very upscale. Everyone looked sharp, but what ever happened to grunge?

Chow: Guests snacked on mounds of caviar, champagne, lamb chops, chicken, pasta, sushi and a diet-busting dessert buffet.

Pastimes: Watching industry types squeeze into photo opportunities where they didn’t belong. Watching rocker Patty Smyth take pictures of the stars with her disposable camera. Laughing at people who were trying to eat half a lobster standing up and armed with only a fork.

Quoted: Aspen resident Navratilova said she was against the boycott of Colorado that followed that state’s passage of anti-gay legislation. “I’m convinced it’s the wrong way to go. You can’t fight a wrong with another wrong,” said the tennis great, adding, “Hate crimes are way up in Colorado. That amendment makes gays hittable.”

Tips for Grammy Gate-Crashers: “How do I get into the Warner Bros. party?” asked one woman on her way out the door. Advised her companion, “Just say you’re Anita Webb from Hits magazine.”

Triumphs: Grammy parties are usually like being stuffed in a subway car, but this one actually had room to maneuver. The stars were in their non-entourage mode and being more friendly than neurotic.

Glitches: Even hardened carnivores were surprised to see veal dished up--especially considering the vigorous vegetarianism practiced by so many of the gastronomically correct in the music industry. One could envision an invasion of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (led by k.d. lang) breaking in and liberating the buffet.