RIAA Platinum LP award for Night Ranger's Midnight Madness album, which was released on Oct. 26, 1983 and certified Platinum® by the RIAA on June 19, 1984 for one million copies sold.
The group's second album, it featured several hits which garnered heavy radio and MTV plays including the best known song "Sister Christian" which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 along with other charting singles "(You Can Still) Rock In America" and "When You Close Your Eyes". The album rose as high as #15 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.
Mouse Over to Zoom/Click to Enlarge Photos
Item Highlights:
- RIAA Platinum LP award with all proper components for the era: Platinum frame, platinum disc and platinum presentation plate
- In VG to Excellent condition, the award has some scratches on the frame, minor fading of the matte and album cover miniature and minor mars on the plexiglas.
- The backing paper has been changed but otherwise the award appears otherwise all original
- First presentation award from 1984
- Presented to producer and record label executive Andy McKaie
- Known as a "floater" award because the components appear to "float" above the matte, they were typically made from 1975-1981 so this is likely a Fitzgerald-Hartley award since that company continued to make some floater awards from 1981-85
- RIAA floater awards numbered only 25-50 plaques worldwide for any given single/album although given this is a later period award the number may have been higher
- Award measures 17.5" x 21.5"
- Great collectors item
- 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. It is known that Fitzgerald-Hartley, an official RIAA award maker, made "floater" style awards from 1981-85, past the 1975-81 time period that other manufacturers did. Given the certification date, this award must be around 35 years old.
This award was presented to producer and record executive Andy McKaie who has produced or otherwise worked on a large number of release from the 70s on.
Although the backing paper has been changed, otherwise this award appears unaltered and is in VG to Excellent condition considering its age. The frame has some wear but otherwise the components are in excellent condition.
Interested in knowing more about RIAA awards and what makes them great to add to your collection? Read our article 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, 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.