Maps of Music

Backstreet Boys (1996)

Where the lyrics of Backstreet Boys take you, and where it was really made.

The album did not come out in the United States at first; it only became the group's US debut in a 1997 reissue.

Key places

Battery, New York City (recording place) (1996)

Recording site Battery — The source lists Battery in New York City as a recording place for this album. The point is set at the city-area level because the exact building cannot be pinned down. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cheiron Studios, Stockholm (recording place) (1996)

Recording site Cheiron Studios — The source lists Cheiron Studios in Stockholm as a recording place for this album. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Polar Studios, Stockholm (recording place) (1996)

Recording site Polar Studios — The source lists Polar Studios in Stockholm as a recording place for this album. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Backstreet Boys: debut studio album by the American boy band Backstreet Boys
• First released in Germany on May 6, 1996, by Jive Records
• Not initially released in the United States
• Singles: "We've Got It Goin' On" (first single), "I'll Never Break Your Heart", "Get Down (You're the One for Me)", "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)", "Anywhere for You"
• Sales: over 10 million copies worldwide

Background

• "We've Got It Goin' On" was a success in Europe but not a hit in the United States
• Because of this, the album was at first released only outside the United States
• After "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" succeeded in the United States, the album was reissued in 1997 under the same name
• The 1997 reissue was released as the group's debut in the United States
• The 1997 reissue also includes songs from the band's second album, Backstreet's Back (1997)

Recording

• Recording places listed in the source: Battery in New York City, Cheiron Studios in Stockholm, and Polar Studios in Stockholm
• Track listing notes: [a] marks remix and additional production, [b] marks co-production
• Limited editions added extra tracks: the Italy edition includes "Non Puoi Lasciarmi Così", and the Spain/Latin America edition includes Spanish versions of "Anywhere for You" and "I'll Never Break Your Heart"

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in 1993 in Orlando, Florida, as an American vocal group and pop boy band.
• Members Howie Dorough and AJ McLean met through a vocal coach; Nick Carter was found through auditions.
• Cousins Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson, both from Lexington, Kentucky, joined; Littrell formally joined on April 20, 1993, which became the group's anniversary.
• Manager Lou Pearlman named them after Orlando's Backstreet Market flea market.

Members

• AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell (1993–present).
• Kevin Richardson (1993–2006, 2012–present); he left in 2006 and rejoined in 2012.

Career

• Debut album Backstreet Boys (1996) was a hit in Europe; the US self-titled album followed in 1997.
• Millennium (1999), led by the global hit "I Want It That Way", made them superstars; the album sold over 12 million copies in the US.
• Black & Blue (2000) and The Hits – Chapter One (2001) followed; a two-year hiatus came after.
• Comeback album Never Gone (2005) and later albums Unbreakable (2007), This Is Us (2009), In a World Like This (2013), and DNA (2019, debuting at number one).
• Sold over 150 million records worldwide, one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.
• Held Las Vegas residencies Larger Than Life (2017–2019) and Into the Millennium at Sphere (2025).

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released in Germany on May 6, 1996, by Jive Records
• "We've Got It Goin' On" was a success in Europe
• It was not a hit in the United States
• Because of this, the album was at first released only outside the United States

Records

• Worldwide sales: over 10 million copies
• Singles: "We've Got It Goin' On" as the first single, followed by "I'll Never Break Your Heart", "Get Down (You're the One for Me)", "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)", and "Anywhere for You"
• "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" succeeded in the United States
• The 1997 reissue under the same name was released as the group's debut in the United States
• The 1997 reissue also includes songs from Backstreet's Back (1997)
• Limited editions were released in Italy and in Spain/Latin America with extra tracks

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• "Boys Will Be Boys" contains elements of "Sing a Simple Song", written by Sly Stone and performed by Sly and the Family Stone
• "Let's Have a Party" contains elements of "Enjoy Yourself", written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and performed by The Jacksons
• "Don't Leave Me" contains samples of "Flava in Ya Ear" by Craig Mack and "Please Don't Go" by KC and the Sunshine Band
• The Italy limited edition adds "Non Puoi Lasciarmi Così", the Italian version of "Quit Playing Games With My Heart"
• The Spain/Latin America limited edition adds Spanish versions of "Anywhere for You" and "I'll Never Break Your Heart"

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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