RIAA Platinum Album award for Chicago album Chicago II. Released on June 26, 1970, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA on April 13, 1970 for 500,000 copies sold and Platinum on August 9, 1991.* NOTE: The RIAA lists the release date as Jan. 1, 1969 while Wikipedia lists it as June 26, 1970. Considering this is a "floater" style RIAA award (made 1975-81), either the RIAA certification date is incorrect or this Platinum award was made prematurely. Regardless, the recipient and award's internal construction show this to be an authentic award. See another Chicago award presented to this recipient here.
The album, the second from the group and first after they shortened their name from
"Chicago Transit Authority" to simply "Chicago", featured hit tracks "25 or 6 to 4", "Colour My World" and "Make Me Smile", all of which reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. It also landed the group three Grammy Award nominations, including a nod for Album Of The Year. The album reached #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and also in Canada, #6 in the UK, and it also charted in Australia, Japan, and many European countries.
Includes MusicGoldmine.com Letter Of Authenticity
Item Highlights:
- RIAA Platinum Album award
- In Good to VG condition
- Award from 1976-81
- Presented to artist management company
- Original internals, reframed (see details)
- Known as a "floater" award because the components appear to "float" above the matte, they were made from 1975-1981. RIAA "floater" awards numbered only 25-50 plaques worldwide for any given single/album
- Award measures approx. 17" x 21"
- Great collectors item for any Chicago fan
- FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
- International shipping available
Detailed Item Description: This is a RIAA Platinum Album award that would have been manufactured sometime from 1976-81, making it approximately 45-50 years old. (The RIAA Platinum program was launched in 1976). It is presented to Wald-Nanas Associates, a talent management firm founded by veteran Hollywood personal managers Jeff Wald and Herb Nanas. The firm managed Chicago in the 1970s, along with Badfinger and Helen Reddy.
It is in Good to VG condition with wear on the frame and fading of the matte. The award's internals are original and construction details show it to have been made by the New York Frame & Picture Co. but it arrived to us reframed with a Creative Glassics frame and the plexiglass replaced with glass.
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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
