RIAA Gold Album award for Pete Townshend album Empty Glass. Released April 21, 1980, the album was certified Gold Aug. 11, 1980 by the RIAA for 500,000 copies sold.

The first solo album for The Who's Pete Townshend, it featured the hit "Let My Love Open the Door", which reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, and other singles "Rough Boys" and "A Little Is Enough". The album reached #5 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, #2 in Canada and it also did well in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. By 1996 the release was certified Platinum by the RIAA for one million copies sold.

Item Highlights:

• RIAA Gold Album award
• First presentation award from 1982
  
• Presented to record promotion executive
• Letter of provenance included
• In VG condition
• All original award with original backing paper
• Known as a RIAA "strip plate" award, they were made from 1982-85
• Award measures approx. 17" x 21"
• Great collector's item for any Pete Townshend fan

Detailed Item Description: This is a first presentation RIAA Gold Album award that was made in 1982, making it approximately 42 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. It has its' original backing paper with some stains. While its' manufacturer sticker is missing, its' construction details indicate it was made by the New York Frame & Picture Co.

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.