Sam Smith has broken a US chart record with his new album 'In The Lonely Hour'.

The singer recently released the record in the States and it has become the quickest selling debut album in the US by a British male artist in the SoundScan era, which has run from 1991.

It shifted 166,000 copies to land at No.2 behind Lana Del Rey's 'Ultraviolence'.

Capitol Music Group CEO Steve Barnett commented on the news: "We are thrilled that American audiences are embracing Sam Smith and 'In the Lonely Hour' so strongly. 

"Sam's stirring and revealing songs, as well as his one-of-a-kind voice and soulful delivery, is a combination that's compelling and imbued with artistry. We are still at the early stages of presenting Sam Smith and his music to US audiences, but this record-setting first week is certainly a strong sign of music fans' recognition that a great new artist has arrived."

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