RIAA Gold Album award for The Alan Parsons Project album Ammonia Avenue. Released in February 1984, the album was certified Gold on April 24, 1984 by the RIAA for 500,000 copies sold. Remember Alan Parsons main partner in the Project Eric Woolfson (1945-2009) with this hard to find award.
The seventh studio album from the group (really a duo), it featured "Don't Answer Me", which reached the #15 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. Other singles included "Prime Time" and "You Don't Believe". The album itslef reached #15 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and it also charted in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and many European countries. See image above for RIAA sales certifications of this album*.
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Item Highlights:
- RIAA Gold Album award
- First presentation award from 1978
- Presented to record promotion executive
- Letter of provenance included
- In VG condition
- All original award with original backing paper
- Known as a "floater" award because the components appear to "float" above the matte, they were 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 approx. 17" x 21"
- Great collector's item for any Alan Parsons Project fan
- FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
- International shipping available
Detailed Item Description: This is a first presentation RIAA Gold Album award that was made in 1984, making it approximately 40 years old. It is presented to Sean Coakley, an independent record promoter that worked with many record labels and who had also worked for ATCO/Atlantic and Arista Records. A notarized letter of provenance from the recipient is included with this award (see image).
The award is in VG condition with all original components. It has only a few typical scratches and mars on the frame and plexiglass and a slightly faded matte. This is a "grey area floater" award made in the 80s by an unknown manufacturer. For more information on awards such as this, see the section on "floater awards" in our record award guide article 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, 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