RIAA Gold LP award for Toto album Hydra. Released in November 1979, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA on March 6, 1980 for 500,000 copies sold.
Toto's second studio release produced the hit "99". It reached #37 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, #10 in Canada and charted in numerous countries in Europe, and Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. See image above for the RIAA sales certifications of this album*.
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Item Highlights:
- RIAA Gold Album award
- Award dates to early 1980s
- Presented to Toto member Steve Lukather's parents
- In VG condition
- This award, while genuine from the era, was made by an unknown manufacturer not licensed by the RIAA
- Award measures approx. 17" x 21"
- Great collector's item for any Toto 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 in the early 1980s, making it approximately 44 years old. It is presented to Bill and Kathy Lukather, parents of Toto guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Steve Lukather.
The award is in VG condition. with only a few mars on the frame and plexiglass. This is a "grey area floater" award made in the 80s by an unknown manufacturer, possibly Fitzgerald Hartley (who would later go on to become a licensed RIAA award manufacturer). The frame used by them and seen in other awards of this type is not a standard RIAA floater frame, instead it is a dark brown-stained wood frame with gold trim inserts, and the backing of the award is a piece of wood paneling. These details are as typically seen in these awards. 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