Today in Music History (March 11th)

March 11th 1968

Otis Redding posthumously received a gold record for his single, "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay". 

Elvis Gold Records

After six shows in three days at the Houston Astrodome, a special press conference was held on February 28, 1970. There Elvis was presented with RIAA Gold Records Awards for five records released in 1969. There were three singles (sales of 1,000,000 copies in the US): In The Ghetto,Suspicious Minds, and Don’t Cry, Daddy. There were also two albums (for $1,000,000 in wholesale sales in the US): FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS and FROM MEMPHIS TO VEGAS.

thank you http://www.elvis-atouchofgold.com

Gold Record - 1972

January 3rd 1972 - Don McLean received a Gold record for this monster selling single "American Pie".  

On its way to spending 4 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the UK chart, this song would be forever taken apart and discussed and become his signature.

Gold Record Wednesday - 1974

Billy, Don't Be A Hero - Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods

2 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100

Sold over 3.5 million copies and awarded a gold record in June of 1974

Gold Record Wednesday - 1972

On December 18th 1972 Helen Reddy was awarded a gold record for her #1 smash:

"I Am Woman"

Released in May 1972 this song finally reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 on December 9th.  After originally peaking at #97 she fell out of the Hot 100, but bounced back onto the charts in September and reached the mountain top 3 months later.

UK Million Seller 1960

In 1960 only one song sold a million copies in the UK.

It's Now or Never - Elvis Presley

Elvis spent 8 weeks atop the UK Official Chart with "It's Now or Never" and it was his biggest selling single of all time with over 25 million copies worldwide.  This entered the UK Chart at #1 on November 3rd 1960.  Rereleased in January 2005 it once again went to #1 in the UK, this time for a single week.

Gold Record Wednesday (Kenny Rogers)

Lucille - Kenny Rogers

(#1 US Country, Canada Country, Canada Top 40, Canadian AC an UK Top 40)

from the album Kenny Rogers

Certified Gold June 22nd 1977

Gold Record Wednesday - Paul Simon

Loves Me Like A Rock - Paul Simon

(#2 on the Billboard Hot 100)

October 9th 1973 Paul Simon received a gold record for his single "Loves Me Like A Rock".
Released in September 1973 off the platinum album "There Goes Rhymin' Simon", the song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 October 6th and spent a total of 14 weeks in the top 40.

We Love the Beatles!

Capitol Records president Alan Livingston poses with the Beatles as they display the gold records for the million selling single "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and the million selling album "Meet The Beatles".

Gold Record Wednesday

In the continuing celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones, here the first Gold Record they earned in 1964, The Rolling Stones (England's Newest Hitmakers).
This is their American debut and also the only Stones American studio album to not reach the top 5 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
It did however sell over 500,000 copies to get a gold album.

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Not Fade Away" (Charles Hardin/Norman Petty)	1:48
2.	"Route 66" (Bobby Troup)	2:20
3.	"I Just Want to Make Love to You" (Willie Dixon)	2:17
4.	"Honest I Do" (Jimmy Reed)	3:54
5.	"Now I've Got a Witness" (Nanker Phelge)	2:29
6.	"Little by Little" (Phelge/Phil Spector)	2:39

Side two
No.	Title	Length
7.	"I'm a King Bee" (Slim Harpo)	2:35
8.	"Carol" (Chuck Berry)	2:33
9.	"Tell Me" (Mick Jagger/Keith Richards)	4:05
10.	"Can I Get a Witness" (Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Eddie Holland)	2:55
11.	"You Can Make It If You Try" (Ted Jarrett)	2:01
12.	"Walking the Dog" (Rufus Thomas)	3:10

Gold Record Wednesday

Playground in My Mind - Clint Holmes
(peaked at #2 in June 1973)
July 3rd 1973 Clint Holmes was awarded a gold record for this single that was written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss.  It topped the Canadian Hot 100 for 3 weeks in June/July 1973.  He was accompanied on vocals by Paul Vance's son Philip.