RIAA Gold LP award for Berlin album Pleasure Victim. Released on Jan. 19, 1983, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA on Sept. 12, 1984 for 500,000 copies sold. Hard to find Berlin RIAA award.
With their controversial breakthrough hit "Sex (I'm A...)" and follow up singles "The Metro" and "Masquerade", the new wave group's second album became a hit, reaching #30 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. It also charted in Canada and New Zealand. By 1993 the album was certified Platinum by the RIAA for one million copies sold. See image above for the RIAA sales certifications of this album*.
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Item Highlights:
- RIAA Gold Album award
- First presentation award from 1984
- Presented to record label executive
- In VG to Excellent condition
- Known as a "floater" award because the components appear to "float" above the matte, they were reportedly made by an unknown manufacturer later than RIAA standards dictated from 1981-85
- RIAA "floater" awards numbered only 25-50 plaques worldwide for any given single/album
- Award measures approx. 17" x 21"
- Beautiful and rare collector's item for any Berlin fan
- FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
- International shipping available
Detailed Item Description: This is a first presentation RIAA Gold Album award that would have been manufactured in 1984, making it approximately 39 years old. It is presented to Carole Childs (misspelled Carol Childs on the plaque) who was an A&R executive with Geffen Records and other major labels.
The award is in VG condition. with only a few typical scratches and mars on the frame and plexiglass. The backing paper looks to be original but no manufacturer sticker is present. This is most likely a "grey area floater" award made in the 80s by an unknown manufacturer, possibly a former staffer from Fitzgerald Hartley. Many Warner Bros. and Geffen awards from this era share these characteristics. For more information on awards such as this, see the section on "floater awards" in our record award guide article here.
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Notes on the condition of all vintage RIAA awards like this one: Please do not buy this item if you want a brand new piece of memorabilia. These are historical artifacts from the year they were produced. As a result they may show signs of wear. Frankly, if you see a 20 to 50-year-old award purported to be in 100% perfect condition, it might be too good to be true. After all, an antique should have "good" wear. If not, you might want to question the piece.
As to where they came from, they could have been displayed in record label offices, recording studios, artist manager's offices, radio stations, private collector's homes and yes, of course, possibly the artist's or songwriter's home. Typically, we don't know all the places they may have been over the years other than what we've stated in the description.
Finally, a word on photos: Our photos are zoomable so you can get a very good look. Do let us know if you want photos of any other details on our pieces and we'll be happy to provide.
*RIAA sales data source: RIAA.com