RIAA Gold LP award for the soundtrack from the 1981 movie Heavy Metal. The soundtrack album was released on Jan. 1, 1981. It was certified Gold by the RIAA for 500,000 copies sold on Sept. 18, 1981.
The album featured a wealth of popular artists of the time including Sammy Hagar (his track "Heavy Metal" got significant airplay on rock radio), Don Felder of the Eagles, Devo, Blue Öyster Cult, Cheap Trick, Donald Fagen, Nazareth, Journey, Grand Funk Railroad, Black Sabbath, Stevie Nicks and more. The album reached #12 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. By 2004 the album has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. See image above for the RIAA sales certifications of this album through the years*.
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Item Highlights:
- RIAA Gold LP award with all proper components for the RIAA "strip plate" era with gold disc and gold strip info plate
- In VG condition with wear on frame
- First presentation award from 1981
- Presentation to artist manager and co-founder of Asylum Records
- Award has been rebacked
- Known as a RIAA "strip plate" award, which were produced 1981-85
- Award measures approx. 17.5" x 21.5"
- Great collectors item for any 80s rock or movie fan
- FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
- International shipping available
Detailed Item Description: This is a first presentation RIAA Gold award that would have been manufactured in 1981. That makes it approx. 40 years old. It is a RIAA "strip plate" award presented to artist manager Elliot Roberts, who managed at various times Neil Young, Tom Petty, Tracy Chapman, Bob Dylan and The Cars, and in 1971 also co-founded Asylum Records with David Geffen.
This award is a first presentation award in VG condition for a 40-year-old piece. It has some significant wear on the frame but internals and plexiglass are all in very good condition. It has been rebacked. The presentation plate design would indicate it is a Creative Glassics-made award.
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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