Sam Smith In The Lonely Hour Deluxe Edition 2014album High Quality May 2026

In the Lonely Hour was produced by a dream team: Jimmy Napes, Steve Fitzmaurice, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, and Two Inch Punch. Their production relies on:

The Verdict: A modern soul-pop masterpiece. This album is widely considered one of the best "vocal" albums of the 2010s. The Deluxe Edition is essential because it contains the acoustic and live versions that strip the production down to its raw, high-fidelity core.

Listen to the intro of "Make It to Me." In a high-quality file, the acoustic guitar is panned hard right, the pizzicato strings are center-left, and Smith’s voice occupies the entire middle, but with reverb tails that extend into the extreme edges of the soundstage. On poor equipment, this collapses into mono. The Deluxe Edition’s bonus tracks were mastered with wider stereo separation than the standard album, rewarding listeners with dedicated DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters) or even high-end car audio systems. In the Lonely Hour was produced by a

For audiophiles, the deluxe edition is available in:

| Format | Source | Quality | |------------|------------|--------------| | 2×LP Vinyl (Deluxe) | Capitol / UMC | 180g, 33⅓ RPM, high dynamic range | | CD (Deluxe) | Original release | 16-bit / 44.1kHz PCM | | Digital download (Deluxe) | Qobuz, 7digital, HDtracks | 24-bit / 96kHz FLAC (Mastered for iTunes version also available) | | Streaming (Tidal, Apple Music) | Lossless / Hi-Res | Up to 24-bit / 96kHz | Listen to the intro of "Make It to Me

Recommended pressing: 2023 reissue of the deluxe edition on clear vinyl (UK import) for superior noise floor and bass response.

The deluxe edition maintains the high production values of the standard album: The deluxe edition maintains the high production values

Acoustic bonus tracks feature stripped-down arrangements highlighting vocal purity.