Quote:
Originally Posted by WidespreadMule3
I know it's been discussed before but I was thinking about it earlier.
I wonder if BWGK would've been half the commercial success it was had LeRoi not passed
|
Good question. I don't have raw numbers at my disposal but based on the RIAA certifications both Stand Up and BW are Platinum (1,000,000 units).
Stand Up being the first studio album that hasn't gone Multi-Platinum. Big Whiskey followed suite and went Platinum but hasn't gone Multi-Platinum. The big tell may be with Away From the World only hitting Gold (500,000 units). Now, AftW may be close to a million but since I don't have raw numbers I can only go by the RIAA certifications. Considering AftW has been out for close to 5 years and it still hasn't sold a million is telling.
Obviously Stand Up started the decline of sales for DMB. (but you also have to include the record industry as a whole...this isn't just a DMB problem)
So a few thoughts:
Stand Up doesn't do as well as previous albums because of the decline of sales in the record industry as a whole, it doesn't have commercial appeal (although American Baby was their last "big" single), it's not a good album and some fans checked-out. But DMB has built up enough good will so it still sells a million.
Removing LeRoi's passing from the situation BW has this going for it: better album than Stand Up, it was nominated for Best Rock Album and Album of the Year at the Grammys, You & Me had a lot of airplay.
Would Big Whiskey not break a million sales if LeRoi doesn't pass? I think it still would have gone Platinum without his passing based on it being a good record and it's Grammy's boost. I'm sure it got a bump from LeRoi's passing but I don't think it was ever in danger of staying in Gold certification territory like AftW is.
Although it would help to see the totals for SU and BW to see which is closer to 2 million.