Did FM really outsell The Beatles and The Stones?

[FuzzyPlum]

It’s often mentioned that Fleetwood Mac outsold both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in 1969. But is that an actual fact? There’s no doubting it was a really great year for the band. A number 1 single. A couple of number 2’s and a hit album (#6). But is there any statistical proof to back this up? What’s the source? I know it’s something Mick says (and I’m sure he mentioned it in his first book). Is this notion purely based on Mick Fleetwood’s assertion?

Maybe not the best year for The Beatles (in part because time was taken out to make Let it Be. And all in all- things were just generally coming to an end), but the White album was released at the tail end of 68 and sold well into 69. Yellow Submarine was early 69 and Abbey Road was released later in the year.

Singles-wise, they had number 1’s with Get Back (for 6 weeks) and The Ballad of John and Yoko. They also did well with Something/Come Together as a double A side (how the hell did that only peak at 4?).

And what do we mean by sales? Surely it’s not just contemporary sales? The Beatles’ entire back catalogue would still have been selling.

I’ve tried to find some sort of list of the highest selling acts for 1969 but it doesn’t seem as if any such statistics officially exist. Anyone else know?