Original: By the time Smith handed the editor 's chair to Nick Logan in mid-1973 , the paper was selling nearly 300,000 copies per week and was outstripping its other weekly rivals , Melody Maker , Disc , Record Mirror and Sounds .
Simplified: In mid-1973 , the paper was selling nearly 300,000 copies per week and was outselling its other weekly rivals , Disc , Record Mirror and Sounds .