Beatles winning album battle

The Beatles' greatest hits album appeals to a 'wider mainstream audience'

The Beatles' first greatest hits album, 1, is outselling the new Oasis live release by almost four to one.

Both albums hit the record shops on Monday. According to early sales figures, The Beatles' collection sold more than 58,000 copies.

The Oasis album Familiar To Millions, however, sold just 15,264 copies.

There is a whole new generation of kids out there who may not be familiar with some of The Beatles' material - this is opening it up for them here

HMV spokesman

Judging by early results, the Fab Four are on track to take the number one spot in this week's album charts, released on Sunday.

A spokesman for music retailer HMV said The Beatles' album was proving sceptics wrong.

"There were some who thought the Beatles would not sell well because it was all old stuff which was available in other formats but this proves that people are responding to it," he said.

The album is also outselling Westlife's number one album Coast To Coast, which sold 34,128 copies on Monday.

The Beatles' greatest hits album is 80 minutes long and features all the group's UK and US number one singles.

The HMV spokesmam added the historic collection had a broad appeal.

"It will have a very strong base level of sales with a wider mainstream audience.

"There is a whole new generation of kids out there who may not be familiar with some of The Beatles' material. This is opening it up for them."

Wembley

The collection has been predicted to become one of the biggest-selling albums in history.

Excitement was high ahead of Monday's release with eight million copies sent to shops around the world.

The Oasis album was recorded live last summer

In the UK, some record stores opened at midnight on Sunday to sell the album.

Outside, in the dark and cold, eager fans - including singer Elvis Costello - queued to be the first through the door.

The Oasis album was recorded live at one of the band's Wembley Stadium gigs in July.

It features 18 tracks - on a double CD - covering Oasis songs old and new.

But the album is most significant because of its place in the band's history.

It was recorded in a now memorable - and much publicised - period during which rumours were rife over a suspected split between singer Liam Gallagher and songwriter brother Noel.