London, May 16 : After 29 studio albums and a lifetime in the music industry, veteran singer Neil Diamond has topped the US album charts for the first time.

According to chart compiler Billboard, Diamond's latest album, Home Before Dark, made its debut in the number one slot after selling 146,000 copies in the US in its first week.

Diamond first appeared on Billboard's charts in 1966 with The Feel of Neil Diamond, and the closest he ever got to No. 1 was with the 1973 soundtrack to Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which reached No. 2.

Diamond's previous album, 12 Songs, which he released in 2005, made it to number four on the Billboard chart, reports BBC.

Both 12 songs and Home Before Dark was produced by Grammy award-winner Rick Rubin.

Diamond begins a European tour on 24 May in Rotterdam that will include June dates in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and London.