RIAA Gold Album award Paul Simon album Graceland. The album was released on Aug. 25, 1986 and certified Gold by the RIAA on Oct. 29 later that year for 500,000 copies sold.
A seminal album for Simon, it featured a range of musical styles and influences and he and recording engineer Roy Halee recorded South African musicians in Johannesburg to incorporate into the final tracks. Hits included the title track, "The Boy In the Bubble", "You Can Call Me Al" (helped by its' entertaining music video featuring Chevy Chase), and "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes". The album reached #3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums tally and topped the charts or placed in the top 10 in many other countries around the world. By 1995 the album was certified 5x Multi-Platinum -by the RIAA for five million copies sold.
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Item Highlights:
- RIAA Gold Album award
- Award from 1986
- Presented to recording studio
- All original
- In VG condition
- Award measures approx. 17" x 21"
- RIAA "flower hologram" awards were made from from 1986-89
- Awesome collector's item for any Paul Simon fan
- FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
- International shipping available
Detailed Item Description: This is a first presentation RIAA Gold album award that was manufactured in 1986, making it approx. 39 years old. It is presented to The Hit Factory®, the recording studio in New York City where the album was pieced together and recorded, along with studio owner the late Ed Germano, who owned the facility since 1975.
This award is in VG condition with only minor mars on the frame and plexiglass. The award is all original although the manufacturer sticker has been torn off. Construction details indicate it was made by Creative Glassics. The numbered sticker on the back of the award is an inventory number from the recording studio.
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Notes on the condition of all vintage RIAA awards: 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
The Hit Factory® is a registered trademark of The Hit Factory Licensing LLC