This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/10/2020
The offered RIAA Gold Record Award was presented for The Beatles 1964 single "A Hard Day's Night" from the soundtrack of their groundbreaking film of the same name. The single was released on July 13, 1964, just three days after the soundtrack LP was released, and it stayed at the number one position on the Billboard charts for a couple weeks in August 1964. The b-side in the U.S. was "I Should Have Known Better." The RIAA certified the single gold on August 25, 1964. The offered award was produced in that period, based on the early, white linen matte style. The plaque on the award reads "Presented to THE BEATLES to Commemorate the Sale of More than One Million Copies of the Capitol Records Pop Single Record 'A HARD DAY'S NIGHT.'"
The genesis of the song is the stuff of legend, even in The Beatles epic tale. While everyone agrees that it was derived from a Ringo-ism uttered in passing after the band played a concert, McCartney, A Hard Day's Night director Richard Lester, and the film's producer all claim the inspiration to use it for the title of the film--success has many fathers. Regardless, the band recognized the mis-turn of phrase as lyrically inspired, and Lennon was tasked with writing the song that night. The whole process was pure Beatles magic. That night he worked out a melody and had scribbled the lines on the back of a birthday card sent to his son by the time he arrived at the studio the next morning. Within three hours the song was finished and recorded as the classic we know today. That recognizable, giant opening chord of the song played by George Harrison was identified immediately by producer George Martin as what would open the film and the soundtrack.
The award measures 13 x 17 inches and presents with minor wear to the wooden frame and some mild staining in two spots on the white linen matte. Near Mint condition.