Beatles and Dodd topped sales in 60s

His hit single Tears was the third biggest selling single of the decade, according to a new chart which brings together sales data from the era.

Unsurprisingly The Beatles dominated the chart, which was counted down by BBC Radio 2 yesterday, with five tracks in the top 10.

Comedian Dodd scored a string of hits in the early 60s, including what became his signature tune Happiness, but the biggest of them was Tears.

The single went to number one and was the highest seller of 1965.

Sales data compiled by The Official Charts Company shows that it outsold monster hits such as Can't Buy Me Love and I Feel Fine by the Fab Four, which were at the fourth and fifth position in the new chart.

The largest selling single of the 1960s was She Loves You by The Beatles, followed by I Want To Hold Your Hand.

The entire top five was taken by Liverpudlian acts.

The Radio 2 programme, presented by Tony Blackburn, collated data from January 1 1960 to December 31 1969.

The Beatles took up six places in the top 20 and made up nearly a third of the 60 tracks played by Blackburn, with 18 entries.

But the list shows that it was more than guitar groups which dominated the public's interest during the decade.

Alongside Dodd, other big sellers included yodelling Frank Ifield, Engelbert Humperdinck, Acker Bilk and Rolf Harris.

The Rolling Stones failed to make the top 20, but achieved five places lower down in the list.

And the highest female artist is Cilla Black with Anyone Who Had A Heart.

Blackburn said: "It comes as no surprise to see the Fab Four at number one.

"But there's no place in the chart for The Move's Flowers In The Rain, the first record I played on Radio 1 back in 1967."