RIAA Gold Album award for Blackfoot album Strikes. Released Mar. 7, 1979, the album was certified Gold Jan. 23, 1980 by the RIAA for 500,000 copies sold. Hard to find award.

The third album from the group, it featured the hits "Highway Song", and "Train, Train", which peaked at #26 and #38 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100. The album reached #42 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. By 1986 the release was certified Platinum by the RIAA for one million copies sold.

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 from 1975-1981
• 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 Blackfoot fan

Detailed Item Description: This is a first presentation RIAA Gold Album award that was made in 1980, making it approximately 44 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 minor frame wear and fading of the matte. While its' manufacturer sticker is missing, it has aged adhesive residue in the correct size, shape and location of a New York Frame & Picture Co. sticker.

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.