Helped by Diamond's recent appearances on American Idol and by Mother's Day gift-buying, Home After Dark sold nearly 146,000 copies easily outgunning the only other album to sell north of 100,000 copies - country singer Toby Keith's 35 Biggest Hits, which arrives at number two on sales of 103,000.

Diamond celebrated his 67th birthday in January and is the oldest artist ever to have a number one album, taking the title from Louis Armstrong, who was 62 when his Hello ...