RIAA Gold Album award for Kool & the Gang album Emergency. The album was released on Nov. 15, 1984 and was certified Gold by the RIAA for 500,000 copies sold on Mar. 1, 1985.
The group's sixteenth and biggest-selling album produced four top 20 hit singles in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 chart including "Fresh" (#9), "Misled" (#10), "Emergency" (#18), and its biggest hit "Cherish" which topped out at #2. The album also did well in the UK. By 1986 the release was certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.*
Includes MusicGoldmine.com Letter Of Authenticity
Item Highlights:
- RIAA Gold Album award
- Presented to recording studio
- Award from 1985
- All original
- In Good to VG condition
- Known as a RIAA "flower hologram" award, they were made from 1986-1989
- Award measures approx. 17" x 21"
- Beautiful collectors item for Kool & the Gang fan
- FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
- International shipping available
Detailed Item Description: This is a RIAA Gold Album award made in 1985, making it approximately 41 years old. It is presented to Compass Point Studios, the recording studio in the Bahamas where much of the album was recorded.
The award is in Good to VG condition with some tarnishing of the record disc and fading of the matte and album miniature, likely due to the elements in the Bahamas. The award has its' original backing paper (hanger was replaced) and while the manufacturer label has fallen off, the construction details including fonts used and the fact that it has a metal mother disc (not plastic as was used in many RIAA floater awards by this point in time) show that it was one of the last awards made by the New York Frame & Picture. Co.
Interested in knowing more about RIAA awards and what makes them great to add to your collection? Subscribe to our free bi-weekly newsletter and get our MusicGoldmine RIAA and Record Award Guide free plus a 15% discount code here.
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: 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