I thought it'd be interesting to see responses to this story from Reuters. I wasn't aware of any massive publicity campaign, but I'm far away from the UK:
Mick Jagger rocked by poor album sales -- reports
Reuters
Nov 20 2001 9:03PM
LONDON (Reuters) - Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger's new solo album sold just 954 copies on its first day on sale in the U.K., according to British newspapers Wednesday.
Despite a massive publicity effort, the 58-year-old singer's fourth solo album "Goddess In The Doorway" was lying at number 85 in the British charts.
On the same day, Robbie Williams' new album "Swing While You're Winning," sold 73,000 copies.
The Daily Mail quoted a music industry insider as saying: "These results have staggered everyone.
"They are very, very disappointing considering the Jagger publicity machine has been absolutely wonderful."
Jagger's spokesman Bernard Doherty said: "I cannot possibly comment on the album sales. It is far too early to tell."
― Vic, Wednesday, 21 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
I think that documentary is on tomorrow night. Should be interesting
despite it being heavily controlled by Mick himself because the guy
is by and large a bit of an "Enigma" still. Disappointing to see him
working with an idiot like Bono on his new record. All this
backslapping and feeding off each others egos is so rockistocratic.
He's always been the frustrated solo artist. Keef should get a bit of
a larf from the pisspoor sales however.
― David Gunnip, Wednesday, 21 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
Kind of puts
this story in Monday's Scotsman in an interesting light, given that it reports that:
Artists due to release records in the second half - which includes the critical Christmas trading period - include Robbie Williams and Mick Jagger and [EMI Chairmain] Mr Nicoli said the schedule was "strong".
Cool! EMI's future now depends on Robbie Williams "Swing When You're Winning"!!!!!!!
Old Fart!!!!!
― Old Fart!!!!, Wednesday, 21 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
I just saw his video w/Lenny Kravitz this morning. It wasn't bad,
just very stylized (with Lenny involved that's a given) and a wee bit
dull. I really can't see how he should be surprised, his solo albums
have always tanked.
― Nicole, Wednesday, 21 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
rolling stone gave it 5 stars, but i'm still too hypmotized by
britney's mammaries to read the review.
― jess, Wednesday, 21 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
Mammaries are the secret to Rolling Stone's continuing success. You
really don't think people buy it for the writing, do you?
― Nicole, Wednesday, 21 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
If EMI really were depending on Mick's new alb to save their bacon
then they're even more fucked than I thought. The last few Stones
albs haven't exactly set the world on fire, saleswise, let alone
Mick's dismal solo ventures ("Let's work" "No, let's not")
― Andrew L, Wednesday, 21 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
The TOTP performance of "Let's Work" shown on TOTP2 quite recently
where Jagger struts round the studio looking like a grotesque self-
parody (and that was 14 years ago!) had me suspecting that he could
conceivably be the next Gary Glitter / Jonathan King. Horrendous.
― Robin Carmody, Wednesday, 21 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
saw the documentary - such crazy parties[yawn] - actually don't mind
the new songs - all hail THEE GOD WYCLEF.
― , Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)