Sam Smith’s “In the Lonely Hour” exceeded sales expectations–and scored the best opening week tally for a solo artist’s debut since 2012–but could not defeat Lana Del Rey’s “Ultraviolence” in the weekly race.
“Ultraviolence,” which moved 182,000 copies in its inaugural week, gives the singer-songwriter her first number one on the Billboard 200 Album Sales Chart.
The Smith album, which scored the best mark for a solo debut since Phillip Phillips’ “The World from the Side of the Moon” launched almost two years ago, landed in second with a healthy 166,000 sales. It topped initial sales expectations, which called for a launch in the 125-150,000 range.
Linkin Park’s new “The Hunting Party” settled for third place with 110,000 debut week sales, while the “Frozen” soundtrack claimed fourth on the weekly Billboard 200. Its 26th consecutive week in the Top 5 brought a sales figure of 42,000.
Willie Nelson’s “Band of Brothers” landed in fifth with 37,000.
Others in the top ten: Miranda Lambert’s “Platinum” (34,000, #6), Jack White’s “Lazaretto” (34,000, #7), Jennifer Lopez’ “AKA” (33,000, #8), Deadmau5’s “while (1<2)” (30,000, #9) and Brantley Gilbert’s “Just as I Am” (26,000, #10).
