Warner Bros. Records label award for one million in sales of Neil Young's album Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere. Released in May 1969, the album spawned legendary Neil Young tracks including the title track, "Cinnamon Girl", "Down by the River" and "Cowgirl in the Sand". It is said that Young wrote all four in one day while experiencing a 103 degree fever. The album peaked at #34 in the U.S. and is listed on Rolling Stone magazines 500 Best Albums of All Time list. It was also in fact eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA (Note: This is not a RIAA award).
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Item Highlights:
- Warner Bros. Records "platinum" award celebrating one million copies sold with "platinum" disc and silver brushed metal frame,
- In VG condition considering age with only frame tarnish and wear
- Estimated to be from 1970-80
- Presentation to Neil Young's manager
- Award measures approx. 18" x 18.5"
- Beautiful and rare early Neil Young collector's item
- FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
- International shipping available
Detailed Item Description: This is a first presentation label "platinum" award. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA for 500,000 copies sold on Oct. 16, 1970 that year. It was not actually certified Platinum for one million sold until 1986, but it is likely that it reached that level considerably earlier than that. The reason is most likely that the label did not provide the documentation to the RIAA until 1986 (see image for RIAA data). Note that this is not a RIAA award but this information helps us date this award and accordingly it was likely made sometime between 1970-1985.
The award reads: "Presented to Elliot Roberts by Warner Bros. Records to commemorate the sale of more than one million copies of the Neil young album EVERYONE KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE" Roberts, long time manager of Neil Young, also managed at various times Tom Petty, Tracy Chapman, Bob Dylan and The Cars. In addition, in 1971 he co-founded Asylum Records with David Geffen.
The award is a solid and quite heavy vintage award in VG condition. The internals are in Excellent condition including the bright and shiny "platinum" disc, label and plexiglass. The brushed metal frame has some fairly significant tarnishing and minor scratches, and the plexiglass has some light mars and minor scratches but frankly this is a good indicator that this award is indeed from 1970-80.
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Notes on the condition of all vintage 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