Conference mr1pst::music

    I think Glen Miller received the first "gold" record for "Chatanooga
    Choo Choo".  It may have been given to him by his record company.
    This would have been in the late 30's early 40's.
    
    DaveV - who's father loves swing music

    
    There is no standard for "Gold" & "Platinum" definition as far as
    no of records sold is concerned because different parts of the
    world have their own standard of measures. But generally speaking,
    it takes more records sold to get into "Platinum" and even more
    for multiple "Platinum".
    
    I think if you want to find out which record sold out more than
    any others do, you need to consult the Guiness book of records.
    
    sl.
    

The Gold and Platinum records are awarded by the RIAA and they do indeed
have a standard.

			Steve

    Steve, what he means is that the qualifying sales figure differs around
    the world. There is no internationally standard figure. That is, a U.S.
    release goes gold at 250K units sold in the U.S. where as a U.K. release
    goes gold at a smaller number of units sold within the U.K. I believe he
    is correct. But I too am a little fuzzy about how exactly it works, so
    if you can ellaborate on your understanding of it by all means please
    do.

    --Ron

I can't elaborate - I don't know exactly what the RIAA rules are.  I also
don't know how sales outside the US are counted.

			Steve

> That is, a U.S. release goes gold at 250K units sold in the U.S. where as 
> a U.K. release goes gold at a smaller number of units sold within the U.K. 

Actually, a U.S. release goes gold at 500,000 units sold, platinum at 
1,000,000 units sold. In contrast, in Canada you get a gold award for selling
50,000 copies and platinum for 100,000. It's all in relation to the population
of the country.

These same numbers also apply to gold and platinum singles (ie. half-million
equals gold, a million is platinum in the U.S.).

alan

   BTW, as long as we're in the season:

   I believe Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" has some distinction in this
   area, either as the first "certified" gold record, or having sold the most
   copies over it's life.  I'd have to do a little research to verify this,
   though.

   -- Sam   

Here's some info from The Billboard Book of Gold and Platinum Records:

The awards are given by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).
The RIAA first established the Gold Record award in 1958. The original 
criteria for albums was $1 million in sales at manufacturer's wholesale
prices, based on one-third of list price; for singles, gold meant one 
million copies sold.

The first gold single was Perry Como's "Catch A Falling Star".
The first gold album was the soundtrack to "Oklahoma!".

In 1975, the criteria for gold albums was amended to require sales of 
500,000 copies, as well as the $1 million in wholesale value.

In 1976, the RIAA added the platinum level: a million copies and $2 million
in wholesale value for albums; 2 million copies sold for singles.

The first platinum single was Johnny Taylor's "Disco Lady".
The first platinum album was the Eagles 'Greatest Hits 1971-1975'.

In 1989, the RIAA reduced the criteria for singles: 1 million copies sold
is platinum, and 500,000 copies sold equals gold.


Best selling albums of all time, based on RIAA certification (as of 1990):
	Michael Jackson 'Thriller' 		20 million
	Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours'			13 million
	Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack		11 million
	Bruce Springsteen 'Born In The USA'	11 million
	Dirty Dancing Soundtrack		10 million
	Prince 'Purple Rain'			10 million
	Lionel Richie 'Can't Slow Down'		10 million
	Boston 'Boston'				9 million
	Def Leppard 'Hysteria'			9 million
	Whitney Houston 'Whitney Houston'	9 million
	Bon Jovi 'Slippery When Wet'		8 million
	Guns'n Roses 'Appetite For Destruction' 8 million
	Grease Soundtrack			8 million
	Def Leppard 'Pyromania'			7 million
	Journey 'Escape'			7 million
	Huey Lewis and the News 'Sports'	7 million
	Madonna 'Like A Virgin'			7 million
	George Michael 'Faith'			7 million
	Pink Floyd 'The Wall'			7 million
	REO Speedwagon 'Hi Infidelity'		7 million


Remember that not all albums are automatically certified platinum, the
record labels have to request that status. For example, two of the biggest
selling album in history are not officially platinum; Carol King's 'Tapestry' 
and Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon'.

alan

    Hmmm, I wonder what the total world-wide sales from June 1, 1967 to
    date are for Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band

    Re: .8, .9
    
    I think that list shows the power of hype at least a bit; notice how
    many are soundtracks! w
    
    While the Beatles certainly sold a lot of albums, I wonder if any of
    their albums individually sold over seven million copies in the US.
    
    							Brian

The year-end copy of Billboard had a listing of some of the platinum/gold
awards issued this month. Here's some updates to a few albums people might
be interested in:

	Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours'			14 million
	Eagles 'Greatest Hits'			14 million
	Pink Floyd 'Dark Side Of The Moon'	12 million
	Bruce Springsteen 'Born In The USA'	12 million
	Bruce Springsteen 'Live'		12 million
	Def Leppard 'Hysteria'			11 million
	Soundtrack 'The Bodyguard'		9 million
	Pearl Jam '10'				6 million
	Janet Jackson 'janet.'			5 million
	Mariah Carey 'Music Box'		4 million
	Billy Joel 'River Of Dreams'		3 million
	Meatloaf 'Bat Out Of Hell 2'		3 million
	George Winston 'December'		3 million
	Donna Summer 'Greatest Hits'		2 million
	Donna Summer 'Bad Girls'		2 million
	Common Thread (Eagles Tribute LP)	2 million
	Alice In Chains 'Dirt'			2 million
	Blind Melon				2 million
	Rush '2112'				2 million
	Rush 'Hemispheres'			1 million
	Rush 'A Farewell To Kings'		1 million
	Rush 'Fly By Night'			1 million
	Cream 'Best Of'				1 million
	Rush 'Caress Of Steel'			500,000
	Rush 'Counterparts'			500,000
	Marvin Gaye 'What's Going On'		500,000
	Robert Plant 'Fate Of Nations'		500,000
	Gap Band 'Best Of'			500,000

alan

    Wow...once again, it shows the power of hype.  Pearl Jam in the course
    of a few months has sold half as many copies as Pink Floyd did over
    twenty years!  
    
    							Brian
    
    P.S. That doesn't mean Pearl Jam is no good, just that they have good
    marketing!

    I, for one, have to think that the 12 million number on Pink Floyd's
    "Dark Side" is wrong.  I remember reading a few year back that the
    album was in the Billboard top 100 for something like 8 years straight.
    
    JaKe
    

    
    	And if I heard right, it was in the Top 200 for about 15 years.
    
    
    							GTI

    Quoted from the Hard cover book that is included in their
    9 CD anthology....... (Yes, I'm a fan in a big way....)
    
    "'Dark side of the moon' finally drops out of the USA album charts,
    after 724 weeks on the top 200.  The LP has been on the charts for 591
    weeks (18th Dec. 1976 through 23rd April 1988).  Due to a quirk in the
    system, it was only awarded a gold disc.  The LP was released before
    they 'invented' platinum discs on 1st January 1976, so it has received
    nothing."
    
    Any other Pink Floyd questions? :*)
    
    Terrie
    

    Any ideas how many "Dark Side of the Moon" has REALLY sold????
    
    JaKe
    

> Any ideas how many "Dark Side of the Moon" has REALLY sold????

It's listed in .11 of this note (12 million, in the U.S.).

alan

    
    
    Hey, I've bought 4 or 5 copies already.  Of course, that was back in
    the days of media that wore out...
    
    

    re. DSOTM
    		1  8-Track. Hey, it was 20+ years ago
    		2  Album's.
    		1  1 CD.
    		-
                4 for me
    
    	fred deady
    		  

    Alan Iam sure U2 sold around 10million copies of "The Joshua Tree" in the
states and at least 5 million for "Achtung Baby" but there not on the list I
wonder why?????

                                                             -dave-

> Alan Iam sure U2 sold around 10million copies of "The Joshua Tree" in the
> states and at least 5 million for "Achtung Baby" but there not on the list I
> wonder why?????

That was just a listing of the albums that were officially certified in 
December. A lot of companies do their end-of-year books, and whle they're 
at it, they'll certify record sales with the RIAA. I guess Island Records
just didn't do it in December.

alan

    I still find it hard to believe that DSOTM only sold 12 million.
    
    My guess would be AT LEAST double that, maybe even higher.
    
    JaKe