Different strokes for different folks. Seems there's just flat our more that like Cook than those that like archie...
Tony Orlando and Dawn outsold George Jones. The Monkees outsold The Jeff Beck Group. The Archies had the number one single of the year in 1969, beating out The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Temptations and The Supremes.
I guess you're right. America has a real nose for quality.