RIAA Gold 45 award for 1980 Paul McCartney hit "Coming Up (Live At Glasgow)". The track, one of McCartney's first as a solo artist after the break up of Wings, was released on April 11, 1980. The 45 rpm single was certified Gold by the RIAA on July 21, 1980 for one million copies sold.
From the McCartney II album, the original version of the track went to #3 in the UK but the live version of the song recorded at a Glasgow concert (with less vocal effects) was a bigger success in the U.S. and Canada. That version was certified Gold by the RIAA and which went to #1 on the Billboard chart. Apparently McCartney was unaware of Columbia's choice to promote the live version, with Paul Gambaccini writing in 1980 in Rolling Stone that a Columbia exec was heard to say that "Americans like the sound of Paul McCartney's real voice." McCartney has said that John Lennon thought "Coming Up" was "a good piece of work" and that it had a hand in prompting Lennon to return to recording again in 1980.
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Item Highlights:
- RIAA Gold 45 award
- In Good to VG condition
- First presentation award from 1980
- Presented to CBS Songs
- Has original backing paper with manufacturer sticker
- Known as a "floater" award because the components appear to "float" above the matte, they were made from 1975-1981. RIAA "floater" awards numbered only 25-50 plaques worldwide for any given single/album
- Award measures 13" x 17"
- Great collectors item for any Paul McCartney 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 1980. That makes this award approximately 42 years old. It is presented to CBS Songs.
This award is in VG condition considering its' age with some frame wear. The plexiglass is also a little loose in the frame in the upper left corner area but the backing paper has not been opened to fix this in order to preserve originality. It has its original backing paper with New York Picture & Frame Co. sticker.
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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, 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