IFPI Platinum Europe - Certifications for October 2004

IFPI Platinum Europe - Certifications for October 2004

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A busy month in October saw eight albums receive Platinum Europe Awards with two albums collecting their first and the rest going double or multi-platinum.

Hailing from Detroit, The White Stripes' fourth album release Elephant was recorded in two weeks at Toerag Studios in East London using vintage analogue equipment and only eight tracks. With Jack White on guitar and vocals and Meg on drums, The White Stripes' distinctive use of red and white - from album covers and videos down to outfits on stage - along with their back-to-basics rock sound are elements that all add to the band's powerful simplicity. Elephant achieves sales of one million across Europe, earning the band their first Platinum Europe Award.

Pokhara, the 2003 album release by Yannick Noah, gained a Platinum Europe Award in October. Featuring 13 tracks and including a 40-page booklet with photos from the Nepalese region from which the album takes its name, it features Noah's distinctive mixture of reggae and pop music accompanied by African percussion beats.

London vocal quartet Blue made an immediate impact on the UK charts with their successful combination of smooth R&B and dance music. One Love, their second album release, secures Blue a double Platinum Europe Award. Working with top producers, the band co-wrote many of the songs themselves, and the album also includes a cover of Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word which features Sir Elton John accompanying Blue on vocals.

Linkin Park followed up their multi-million selling debut album with Meteora, elaborating on the established blueprint of its predecessor with the addition of live strings and piano, and intricate digital effects and samples. Linkin Park stands apart from the nu metal pack as Meteora delivers their songs of anger, paranoia and insecurity, with an accessible sound and energy, letting you know exactly how they feel. Meteora is awarded double Platinum Europe.
Robbie Williams has the uncanny knack of making pop-perfect records as the release of his Greatest Hits album proves. Sales have reached two million across Europe and the album receives a double Platinum Europe Award within weeks of its release date in October. After five studio albums Greatest Hits chronicles the remarkable journey, from the teenage heartbreak of leaving Take That to the all round charismatic entertainer that Robbie Williams is now. Including singles such as Angels, Let Me Entertain You, and Rock DJ, Greatest Hits also includes two new tracks - one of which is featured on the forthcoming soundtrack to the second Bridget Jones movie.

Anastacia's self-titled album gains its third award as sales reach gold, platinum and multi-platinum status across 20 European countries. Anastacia, which was released in March 2004, includes 12 accomplished tracks highlighting Anastacia's trademark powerful vocals which prove immensely popular across Europe.

The pressure to record a follow up album to meet the expectations set by a debut multi-platinum album must be testing, however Norah Jones has seemingly managed it. Feels Like Home does feel like familiar territory and whilst the jazz influence remains there is a more country tone to the album, including guest vocals from Dolly Parton on one of the songs. Feels Like Home notches up its third Platinum Europe Award confirming its mass appeal.

In 1976, 14 year old drummer Larry Mullen Jr. placed an ad on his high school bulletin board looking for other musicians interested in forming a band. What emerged was an Irish quartet by the name of U2 who were to become one of the most popular bands of the past 25 years. U2's The Best of 1980-1990 is a compilation of singles released from their range of albums from Boy through to Rattle & Hum and features hits such as Pride, With or Without You, Sunday Bloody Sunday and Unforgettable Fire. It joins a small group of albums to have notched up 7 Platinum Europe Awards.