MR

U.S. RIAA certifications http://www.riaa.com

Albums:

STYX II (Gold 500,000 +)

EQUINOX (Gold 500,000 +)

CRYSTAL BALL (Gold 500,000 +)

THE GRAND ILLUSION (Triple Platinum 3 million +)

PIECES OF EIGHT (Triple Platinum 3 million +)

CORNERSTONE (Double Platinum 2 million +)

PARADISE THEATER (Triple Platinum 3 million +)

KILROY WAS HERE (Platinum 1 million +)

EDGE OF THE CENTURY (Gold 500,000 +)

CLASSICS (Gold 500,000+)

RETURN TO PARADISE (Gold 500,000+)

GREATEST HITS (Platinum 1 million+)


Singles:

BABE (Gold)
MR. ROBOTO (Gold)


Longform Videos

RETURN TO PARADISE (Gold)

People should be aware the "certified" and actual sales can be, and usually are, two different things.

The RIAA certifies by "albums shipped". This does not take into account how many albums were actually sold and how many were returned to the label down the line. This is often manipulated by the labels.

It's also important to note that for catalog albums, labels must request recertification from time to time if they wish to represent something close to accurate tallies. The RIAA will not do that on it's own.

Thanks egsgt, for that list.

IML, I have heard that as well. The record companies have to ask for the certification. I think that several of those numbers are low on quite a few of those recordings.

I read in some recent interview that Grand Illusion has sold 5 million copies, but I don't know the source.

Also, I have seen 2.5 million in sales for Kilroy Was Here in more than one place, too. And 3 million for Cornerstone.

Bugsy

I thought Styx was the first band EVER to have four straight triple platinum albums. The Grand Illusion, PiecesOf Eight, Cornerstone, and Paradise Theatre. Isnt that true???????

With Babe being their first #1 hit and it coming from Cornerstone, I have a hard time believing that album didn't hit tripple platinum

bugsymalone wrote:Thanks egsgt, for that list.

IML, I have heard that as well. The record companies have to ask for the certification. I think that several of those numbers are low on quite a few of those recordings.


Bugsy

I HEARD THAT BANDS HAVE TO PAY A FEE TO HAVE THEIR ALBUMS CERTIFIED.

ItsMyLife wrote:People should be aware the "certified" and actual sales can be, and usually are, two different things.

The RIAA certifies by "albums shipped". This does not take into account how many albums were actually sold and how many were returned to the label down the line. This is often manipulated by the labels.

It's also important to note that for catalog albums, labels must request recertification from time to time if they wish to represent something close to accurate tallies. The RIAA will not do that on it's own.

"The RIAA certifies by "albums shipped". "
not quite true.
"The audit calculates what product has been shipped for sale, net after returns, versus product used for promotional purposes, for the life of the release."

And I imagine they have quite sophisticated statistical algorithms for projection analysis based on their historical data.
here is the link.
http://www.riaa.com/gp/certification/default.asp