So how popular WAS Man of the World then?

[wetcamelfood]

First off, I LOVE ManOf The World OK? ...but reading the comments on the PG extra song poll got me thinking, for those that were, let's say, "around" when Man Of The World peaked at number 2 in the UK charts: Do you think it was the real deal, or, looking back, does it seem strange it charted that high (if what Clifford Davis says is true about him "buying" MOTW into the #2 slot there then)? Just curious.

John

[THD]

Originally Posted by wetcamelfood

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(if what Clifford Davis says is true about him "buying" MOTW into the #2 slot there then)? Just curious.

John

What is this Clifford Davis story? I've not heard it before . Where can I read it?

I was around at the time , I certainly remember seeing them perform it"live"(Ie they were in the studio rather than a promo vid etc ) on Top of the Pops- better than the performance on German prog Beat Club(I think ) with ,what I consider, annoying mirror image proto psychedelic effects! That's the only clip they ever seem to use. I hope the TOTP one is still there in the archive ,and will be discovered and broadcast one day! I doubt the song went straight in the charts at no 2 , so the appearance(s) on TOTP must have exposed them to a wider audience, and increased sales dramatically and about all I can say about it is that it's a wonderful song, whether it got in the charts or not ,and of course ,I feel it deserved a high chart postion! I was fan. I loved the song. I wanted my favourite band to have success, I wanted (even)more people to realise how good they were !

[wetcamelfood]

Oh I agree, it's classic, yes, I recall that Beat Club performance frm the Early Years DVD etc. Anyways, not that Brunning's Mac books are that great but I understand (and maybe I heard wrong but...) Clifford only agreed to interview for Bruns' book if he was allowed to tell his side of things so to speak (though I'm sure he was referring more to the bogus band thing but still, if this is true, surely most of the content regarding his interview clips have been mostly unedited) and in the "Albatross: The Pious Bird Of Good Omen?" chapter Clifford says MOTW "served it's purpose, it was a big hit, I made sure of that, I spent a LOT of money getting it to the right people, making sure it was played on the right programmes and you can read into that whatever you like!" Now, maybe I've read the wrong thing into it, but as we know payola has gone on for many years (i.e. Alan Freed etc.) so I just meant IF this was the case w/MOTW...

John

[sharksfan2000]

Another thing that is often mentioned is that Fleetwood Mac outsold the Beatles in singles in the UK for 1969. This was announced by Melody Maker at the end of that year, based on their system of awarding points for weeks spent on the charts at various chart positions. Fleetwood Mac had "Albatross," "Man Of The World," and "Oh Well" on the singles charts in 1969. The Beatles released "Get Back," "The Ballad Of John & Yoko," and "Something" that year ("Hey Jude," released in late summer 1968, might still have been on the charts at the beginning of the year?).

Now I'll admit that growing up in the US in the late '60s, the Beatles were everywhere on the radio and Fleetwood Mac...well, not at all that I recall, at least not on AM radio. So my view of the "outsold the Beatles" claim is colored by that, and I always found it hard to believe. But in light of what wetcamelfood has mentioned here, I suppose my question is whether Fleetwood Mac really did outsell the Beatles in 1969 in the UK - or could the sales / chart numbers also have been manipulated to their benefit? I don't really know how all that is figured - maybe someone else here can enlighten us on that.

THD - since you were there, what are your thoughts about them outselling the Beatles in singles for 1969? Do you think that was for real?

[chriskisn]

Originally Posted by sharksfan2000

Another thing that is often mentioned is that Fleetwood Mac outsold the Beatles in singles in the UK for 1969.

Now I wasn't even born back then, in fact my parents met in 1969, so I was a few years away from being thought of, but I've always found it hard to believe that FM, despite their popularity, managed to outsell the Beatles.

At various places around the net you can find where it claims they outsold the Beatles and the Stones combined. I seem to remember that story started its life as outsold The Rolling Stones OR the Beatles. I know neither band was particularly at the height of their popularity in 1969, but surely this information can not be true.

I'm half expecting one day soon the story will change to Peter Green being the first man on the moon

[THD]

Well Sharksfan 2000, Whenever I've heard this stated ,It's always "outsold the Beatles and the Stones put together " I've never heard of it limited to singles only ,and I'm not sure it was limited to 1969 but it may have been. I' ve certainly seen Clifford Davis state this several times ,but did he originate it for hype purposes ,or was he quoting it from a bona fide source? I didn't know it was based on aMelody Maker statistic relating to singles, but it wouldn't be too difficult to actually get the sales figures for singles and do a comparison . I do find the general principle a bit hard to believe though .I've never really been bothered whether it was true or not
I really loved the Beatles too, but to me they were in an league of their own . Other bands were a big infuence on me before Fleetwood Mac were even born The Who The Small Faces The Kinks to name but a few ,but I never saw any of them play live(I did see the Jimi Hendrix Experience play though ) I think this is an important point.: I couln't see the Beatles play live in 1969 not sure about the Stones, but Fleetwood Mac were playing all the time and if I'd had more money I probably would have seen more of their gigs( I'm shocked that I missed their free gig in Hyde Park How did that happen ?)They must've had a huge live following at that time (all the more surprising that there are not more of those people posting their memories here !)and that following would have bought an awful lot of records But not everyone() in England by any means had heard of Fleetwood Mac, and they were certainly considered an "underground" band until Albatross gave them wide exposure! but everyone knew about the Beatles and the Stones and would have bought their latest releases .

What definitely can be said is that FM indisputably had more ticket sales ,and were a better live act than the Beatles in 1969!

[jeremy spencer]

Originally Posted by wetcamelfood

First off, I LOVE ManOf The World OK? ...but reading the comments on the PG extra song poll got me thinking, for those that were, let's say, "around" when Man Of The World peaked at number 2 in the UK charts: Do you think it was the real deal, or, looking back, does it seem strange it charted that high (if what Clifford Davis says is true about him "buying" MOTW into the #2 slot there then)? Just curious.

John

But the facts certainly put them out of mine, being a naive little Northern boy. Slots in the charts at that time (and it's probably true today) were up for a price -- and a high one at that. Clifford could afford it. I suppose you could say that at least the recording got heard, even if it was a hollow victory.