RIAA Platinum Album award for Chicago album Chicago Transit Authority (later known as Chicago I due to the lawsuit requiring the group to relinquish their original name). Released on Sept. 1, 1969, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA on Dec. 17, 1969 for 500,000 copies sold. It remained in Gold status until it was certified Platinum and 2x Multi-Platinum on Nov. 21, 1986.* See another Chicago award presented to this recipient here.
The album was the group's debut and only released under the Chicago Transit Authority name due to the lawsuit filed by the real Chicago Transit Authority. It featured the singles "Questions 67 and 68", "Beginnings", "I’m a Man", and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?". It also landed the group its' first Grammy Award nomination--for Best New Artist. The album peaked at #17 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and it also charted well in Canada, the UK, and several European countries.
Includes MusicGoldmine.com Letter Of Authenticity
Item Highlights:
- RIAA Gold Album award
- In Good to VG condition
- Award from 1975-81
- 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 Gold Album award that would have been manufactured sometime from 1975-81, making it approximately 45-50 years old. 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 heavy 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
