Sam Smith scores fastest-selling debut album of the year

Rising British soul singer Sam Smith has entered the UK’s Official Albums Chart at Number One – and scored the fasting-selling debut album of the year in the process.

After being released on Monday (May 26), his debut offering In the Lonely Hour sold 101,000 copies this week, which gives Smith the third best overall first week sales for an album this year – behind Coldplay’s Ghost Love (168,000) and Paulo Nutini’s Caustic Love (109,000).

Smith’s albums chart success comes just seven days after he notched up his third UK Number One single with Stay With Me. Smith, 22, from Cambridgeshire, previously hit the top spot with Money On My Mind earlier this year, and last year’s collaboration with UK producer Naughty Boy, La La La.

“It’s amazing!” the singer told OfficialCharts.com upon receiving the news. “I was a bit scared a few days ago because I knew that Coldplay’s album had come out. I’m so happy!”

Cambridgeshire-born Smith spoke candidly about his sexuality earlier this week, revealing that In the Lonely Hour is inspired by his feelings of unrequited love for a man.

Meanwhile, he performed to a sold-out crowd at London’s Roundhouse venue on Friday night (May 30)- check out what we thought of the gig here.