Physical Singles Sales – The 60s
As a reminder, the weighting is done with a 10 to 3 ratio between one album and one physical single and a 2 to 1 ratio between one album and one EP.
Hello Johnny (1960) – 236,000 equivalent albums
Souvenirs, souvenirs – 250,000 [EP] Laisse les filles – 20,000 [SP] Itsy bitsy petit bikini – 110,000 [EP] T’aimer follement – 100,000 [EP]
Nous les gars, nous les filles (1961) – 120,000 equivalent albums
Nous les gars, nous les filles – 40,000 [EP] Tu parles trop – 80,000 [EP] Kili watch – 120,000 [EP]
Salut Les Copains! (1961) – 925,000 equivalent albums
Wap-Dou-Wap – 240,000 [EP] Retiens La Nuit – 770,000 [EP] – 10,000 [Célébrations/EP] Viens Danser Le Twist – 610,000 [EP] Douce Violence – 220,000 [EP]
Madison Twist (1962) – 305,000 equivalent albums
Madison Twist / Pas cette chanson – 390,000 [EP] Serre la main d’un fou – 220,000 [EP]
Sings America’s Rockin’ Hits (1962) – 50,000 equivalent albums
I Got a Woman / Be Bop A Lula – 100,000
Les bras en croix (1963) – 370,000 equivalent albums
Les Bras En Croix – 250,000 [EP] Tes Tendres Années / Elle Est Terrible – 460,000 [EP] – 50,000 [SP]
D’où Viens-tu Johnny ? (1963) – 230,000 equivalent albums
Pour moi la vie va commencer – 460,000 [EP]
Johnny, Reviens ! Les Rocks Les Plus Terribles (1964) – 95,000 equivalent albums
Johnny, Reviens ! – 50,000 [EP] Au Rythme Et Au Blues – 40,000 [EP] O Carole – 100,000 [EP]
Les Guitares Jouent (1964) – 190,000 equivalent albums
Excuse-moi partenaire – 230,000 [EP] Dis-lui que j’en rêve – 150,000 [EP]
Le pénitencier (1964) – 326,000 equivalent albums
Le pénitencier – 390,000 [EP] – 20,000 [SP] Les mauvais garçons – 250,000 [EP]
Johnny Chante Hallyday (1965) – 130,000 equivalent albums
Mon Anneau D’Or – 140,000 [EP] Le Diable Me Pardonne – 120,000 [EP]
Hallelujah (1965) – 195,000 equivalent albums
Mes yeux sont fous (I Must Be Seeing Things) – 150,000
Quand revient la nuit (Mr Lonely) – 240,000
La Génération Perdue (1966) – 388,000 equivalent albums
Noir c’est noir – 320,000 [EP] – 20,000 [SP] – 10,000 [Célébrations/EP] Cheveux longs et idées courtes – 250,000 [EP] – 10,000 [Célébrations/EP] Je l’aime – 150,000 [EP] Je veux te graver dans ma vie – 40,000 [SP]
Johnny 67 (1967) – 405,000 equivalent albums
Amour d’été (Love Me Tender) – 290,000 [EP] Petite fille – 120,000 [EP] Si j’étais charpentier / Je veux te graver dans ma vie – 220,000 [EP] Hey Joe – 180,000 [EP]
Jeune Homme (1968) – 181,000 equivalent albums
A Tout Casser – 150,000 [EP] – 20,000 [SP] L’Histoire De Bonnie And Clyde – 170,000 [EP] – 30,000 [SP] Le Ciel Nous Fait Rêver – 20,000 [SP]
Rêve et Amour (1968) – 258,000 equivalent albums
Entre mes mains – 300,000 [EP] Cours plus vite Charlie – 210,000 [SP] Fumée – 150,000 [SP]
Rivière… ouvre ton lit (1969) – 57,000 equivalent albums
Rivière… ouvre ton lit – 190,000 [SP]
One of the reasons which explains the relatively low showing of Johnny‘s albums from the early 60s is that he issued only EPs rather than Singles until 1967.
During the 60s, as most singers were covering the same songs, it was easier to find success abroad for French acts. A song like Souvenirs, Souvenirs was a hit in Spain meaning he was exported right from the beginning. It also received half a dozen reissues, boosting its initial 160,000 sales in France to 250,000 global sales to date.
After 10 singles in 18 months which averaged a strong 100,000 units a piece, the popularity of Johnny grew even more with Viens Danser le Twist and Retiens La Nuit. They were both big French hits with 900,000 units combined in their initial run, but also more than 400,000 units elsewhere. L’Idole des jeunes concluded perfectly the year 1962 for Johnny as he sold 2 million singles.
In 1963 his international appeal was at its peak. He got back to back #1 hits in the Netherlands with Tes tendres années and Pour Moi La Vie Va Commencer, Top 10 hits in both parts of Belgium and Spain, Top 30 singles in Germany and releases in Turkey, Finland, the US, the UK, Brazil, etc.
The roll of successful hits continued in 1964 with the singer selling past 1 million units combined of his releases for a fourth year in a row and the addition of the classic Le pénitencier to his catalog. From 1965 to 1968, he sold an average of 900,000 singles per year. His Noir c’est noir went to #3 in Argentina. His only #1 for the period in France, that soft period for him still saw 16 of his singles hit the Top 10.
Que Je T’Aime closed the decade. The monster smash was the biggest hit of 1969 in France with 750,000 units sold. It was also #1 in Italy and big in various Latin countries selling a whopping 1,3 million units in total, his first million seller. It will appear inside the Orphan songs section as it wasn’t a part of a studio album.
All in all, these 60s singles sold a combined 12,5 million copies. Even if some of them were sold in later years thanks to minor reissues, this is a mind-blowing total.
I counted 10 million less. Are you counting EP’s as singles?
Hi MJD!
I’ve read that Mon pays c’est l’amour has already sold 890,000 (!!!) copies in France in the weeks since its release. Of course, given the circumstances and Johnny Hallyday’s stature that doesn’t actually feel too surprising, but comprehensively speaking, how do you see it performing in the long-run compared to the rest of his discography? Also, do you have a ballpark figure of how much his CSPC results may have increased in the year since his passing?
Hi Orange! Yes, it sold 888k pure units in its first two weeks. Not sure it will do that well in the long run (except in the run of Christmas of course), it’s sales aren’t reflective of an organic success. It’s mostly down to nostalgia effect added to the most insane promotion campaign that have ever been. Even main TV channels stopped their programs at midnight to stream live the album, to be honest it felt kind of nonsense. All jornalists and all were saying how utterly essential / great the album is even before listening parties had happen. I… Read more »
Thank you! I wasn’t aware of all the TV promotion, that does sound a bit ridiculous haha.
If he sold that much in 2 weeks, he must have totally crushed his own record of highest first-week sales in France, which is fantastic but it seems like it would be impossible for that to happen if he were still alive.
I’ve just gone through it, too quickly, but I’m going to look at it more carefully. That’s already the best level of Johnny sales research I’ve ever seen. This is a titanic job and must be difficult, as there is so much missing data. I am fairly familiar with Johnny’s career and have read quite a few books, some of which contain first-hand accounts. His artistic directors, record company heads. Everyone agrees that some times were more difficult. 66/67,74/75,81/84. Concerts were not always full and the hits were rarer. Outside, from what I’ve seen, it’s not always reflected in your… Read more »
France Gall has died. I believe she’s among those who had the most successful french songs abroad in the 60’s, isn’t she ?
Hi Rell! Yes, she definitely is. Maybe more impressively, Ella Elle L’A also did wonders all over continental Europe, as did Babacar. Obviously Poupée de Cire Poupée de Son was her biggest international hit during the 60s. It is reputed to have sold a million copies in Japan, and while this is most likely wrong (300k to 500k is a more realistic ballpark) it was definitely a smash there. It shipped 25,000 units upon release in the Netherlands and 10,000 units in Spain. It was a #1 hit in Norway and #2 in Germany. Except in continental Europe, she mostly… Read more »
Je vous suis très reconnaissant pour la qualité de votre travail. Fan de Johnny depuis toujours, je savais qu’il cumulait des chiffres de ventes impressionnants. Pouvoir précisément connaître les chiffres de tous ses opus est incroyable……… Grâce à vous, certains peuvent mesurer l’impact de cette immense star qui restera gravé à jamais dans notre cœur…..