Unique and historic, this is a RCA label award (i.e. non-RIAA) celebrating The Guess Who's album Share The Land selling over a million copies presented to famed concert promoter and impresario Bill Graham (1931-91). Released in October 1970, the Canadian band's seventh studio set produced several hits including the album's title track along with "Hand Me Down World" and "Hang On To Your Life". These tunes fueled the record to rise to #14 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart in 1970.
While we can't pretend to know the exact age of this piece or who owned it over the years, a close inspection of its components shows it to be all original. Recipient Graham was a bit of a legendary concert promoter who went from making the Fillmore East and West and Winterland venues famous to promoting the US Festival in 1982 prior to his untimely death in a 1991 helicopter crash.
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Item Highlights:
- RCA Records award for The Guess Who's album Share The Land selling over a million copies (Note: Not an RIAA award)
- Presented to famed concert promoter Bill Graham (1931-91)
- Components mounted on solid wood plaque
- Condition is consistent with it being 49 years old (although we do not know the exact age)
- In Good to Very Good condition with a few scratches and mars on wood plaque and disc
- Engraved inscription on metal plate reads: "Presented to Bill Graham In Grateful Recognition For Your Contribution Towards Sales In Excess Of One Million Dollars, November 1970" with RCA logo
- Award measures approx. 17" x 21"
- Cool, historic collectors item for fan of The Guess Who
- FREE insured shipping to continental U.S.
- International shipping available
Interested in knowing more about record awards? Read our detailed article here.
Notes on the condition of all vintage record 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.