The chart race for No. 1 in the U.S. between Justin Bieber's Purpose and One Direction's Made in the A.M. still hasn't had a declared winner, but in the U.K., the win goes to the home country boys. In England, the "Perfect" band bested Bieber to debut atop the charts. And, they did so by having the fastest selling album of the year thus far.
Made in the A.M. sold 93,189 copies in Britain, The Official Charts Company reports, giving 1D its latest chart-topping LP in its native country. The number was not only enough to beat Bieber in what turned out to be a contentious battle for the top spot, but the big sales also helped Made in the A.M. become the fastest selling U.K. album of the year so far. One Direction bested Neil Gallagher and His High Flying Kites' Chasing Yesterday, which previously held the record.
Made in the A.M. is One Direction's fourth chart-topping album in the U.K. Take Me Home, Midnight Memories and FOUR also debuted atop the charts. The boy band's 2010 debut album Up All Night peaked at No. 2.
As One Direction got the No. 1, they only narrowly beat out Bieber's Purpose, which debuted at No. 2 overseas. His sales tallied to 90,000 units, an impressively high number any other week. The No. 2 slot is Bieber's second best showing on the U.K. charts. His last album Believe peaked at No. 1.
Beneath 1D and Bieber, other albums to hit the top 10 in the U.K. include Elvis Presley's If I Can Dream at No. 3, Jeff Lynne's ELO's Alone in the Universe at No. 4 and Little Mix's Get Weird at No. 5.
