RIAA Platinum LP award for Van Halen album 1984, which was released in the U.S. on Jan. 4, 1984. The album was certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA on the same day, March 12, 1984, for 1 million copies sold.
The album, the group's fifth and last with David Lee Roth in the line up (until 2012's A Different Kind Of Truth) produced mega hit "Jump", their sole #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, along with "Panama", "Hot For Teacher" and "I'll Wait". The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. By 1999 the album had gone to 10x Multi-Platinum, becoming a rare Diamond certified album, and matched their debut as one of VH's two best selling releases. See image above for more RIAA sales certifications of this album through the years*.
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Item Highlights:
- RIAA Platinum LP award with all proper components for the era: Platinum colored frame, disc and info plate
- In VG condition
- First presentation award from 1984
- Presented to Warner Bros. record executive
- Known as a "floater" award because the components appear to "float" above the matte, they were reportedly made by an unknown manufacturer later than RIAA standards dictated from 1981-85
- RIAA floater awards numbered only 25-50 plaques worldwide for any given single/album
- Award measures 17.5" x 21.5"
- Great collectors item for any Van Halen fan
- FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
- International shipping available
Detailed Item Description: This is a first presentation RIAA Platinum award that would have been manufactured in 1984. That makes this award around 37 years old. It is presented to Bob Merlis, who was at the time Senior VP of Worldwide Corporate Communications at Warner Bros.
This award is in VG condition with only some minor wear to the frame and plexiglass. This is most likely a "grey area floater" award made in the 80s by an unknown manufacturer, possibly a former staffer from Fitzgerald Hartley. Many Van Halen Warner Bros. awards share these characteristics. For more information on awards such as this, see the section on "floater awards"in our record award guide 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, record retailers, 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