Backstreet Boys (1996 album)

Backstreet Boys is the eponymous debut studio album by American boy band Backstreet Boys, released on May 6, 1996, by Jive Records in Germany.[1] It was a success, becoming one of the biggest debut albums ever, and contains a number of the band's most memorable singles. All of those singles were later released on the second self-titled debut in the United States in 1997, which compiled songs from this album, and the band's second international release Backstreet's Back.

This article is about the international debut album. For the debut US studio album, see Backstreet Boys (1997 album).

Backstreet Boys
Studio album by Backstreet Boys
Released	May 6, 1996[1]
Recorded	November 1994 - June 1995
Studio	Battery Studios, New York City Parc Studios and Platinum Post Studios, Orlando, Florida Cheiron Studios and Polar Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
Genre	R&B pop dance-pop
Length	54:28
Label	Jive
Producer	Denniz Pop Max Martin Kristian Lundin Veit Renn Timmy Allen Thomas Moore
Backstreet Boys chronology
Backstreet Boys (1996) Backstreet's Back (1997)
Singles from Backstreet Boys
"We've Got It Goin' On" Released: September 5, 1995 "I'll Never Break Your Heart" Released: December 13, 1995 "Get Down (You're the One for Me)" Released: April 30, 1996 "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" Released: October 14, 1996 "Anywhere for You" Released: February 24, 1997

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

The album was first released in Germany on May 6, 1996 where the group was based at the time.[1][3] It was then released in Switzerland followed by Austria.[4][5]

Track listing

Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"We've Got It Goin' On"	Denniz PoP, Max Martin, Herbie Crichlow	Denniz PoP, Martin	3:41
2.	"Anywhere for You"	Gary Baker, Wayne Perry	Veit Renn	4:42
3.	"Get Down (You're the One for Me)"	Bülent Aris, Toni Cottura	Aris, Cottura	3:52
4.	"I'll Never Break Your Heart"	Albert Manno, Eugene Wilde	Renn, Timmy Allen	4:48
5.	"Quit Playin' Games (with My Heart)"	Martin, Crichlow	Martin, Kristian Lundin	3:53
6.	"Boys Will Be Boys"	Jolyon Skinner, Renn	Renn, Mr. Lee^[a]	4:05
7.	"Just to Be Close to You"	Tim Grant, Michael Gray	Allen, Mookie^[b]	4:49
8.	"I Wanna Be with You"	Denniz PoP, Martin	Denniz PoP, Martin	4:05
9.	"Every Time I Close My Eyes"	Eric Foster White	Allen, Kay Fingers	3:55
10.	"Darlin'"	Allen, Nneka Morton	Allen	5:32
11.	"Let's Have a Party"	Mookie, Dave McPherson, Jeff Sledge, Kenyatta Galbreth, C.J. Trevett, Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff	Mookie, Allen^[b]	3:49
12.	"Roll with It"	Skinner, Renn	Renn, Mr. Lee^[a], Mad Mike^[a]	4:41
13.	"Nobody but You"	Denniz PoP, Martin, Crichlow	Denniz PoP, Martin	3:03

Australian collector's edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"I'll Never Break Your Heart" (European radio edit)	Manno, Wilde	4:25
15.	"Album Medley (Anywhere for You / I'll Never Break Your Heart / Just to Be Close to You)"	Baker, Perry / Manno, Wilde / Grant, Gray	4:12
16.	"Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)" (acoustic version)	Martin, Crichlow	3:58
17.	"We've Got It Goin' On" (Markus' Deadly Vocal Hot Mix)	Denniz PoP, Martin, Crichlow	6:39
18.	"Don't Leave Me"	Sean Combs, Mookie, Alvin Toney, Harry Wayne Casey, Craig Mack, Easy Mo Bee	4:22

European edition/Netherlands special edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Don't Leave Me"	Combs, Mookie, Toney, Harry Wayne Casey, Mack, Easy Mo Bee	4:22
15.	"We've Got It Goin' On" (Marcus Radio Mix)	Denniz PoP, Martin, Crichlow	4:32
16.	"I Wanna Be with You" (Amadin's Club Mix)	Denniz PoP, Martin	5:24

Japanese edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Lay Down Beside Me"	Renn, Skinner	5:26
15.	"Give Me Your Heart"	Larry Campbell	5:08

United Kingdom special edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
14.	"Don't Leave Me"	Combs, Mookie, Toney, Harry Wayne Casey, Mack, Easy Mo Beee	4:22
15.	"Give Me Your Heart"	Larry Campbell	5:08
16.	"Lay Down Beside Me"	Renn, Skinner	5:26

Limited edition for Spain/Latin America

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Donde Quieras Yo Iré" (Spanish version of "Anywhere for You")	4:50
15.	"Nunca Te Haré Llorar" (Spanish version of "I'll Never Break Your Heart")	4:35

Canadian edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"We've Got It Goin' On"	Denniz PoP, Martin, Crichlow	3:41
2.	"Get Down (You're the One for Me)"	Aris, Cottura	3:52
3.	"I'll Never Break Your Heart"	Manno, Wilde	4:48
4.	"Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)"	Martin, Crichlow	3:53
5.	"Boys Will Be Boys"	Renn, Skinner	4:05
6.	"Just to Be Close to You"	Grant, Gray	4:49
7.	"I Wanna Be with You"	Denniz PoP, Martin	4:05
8.	"Every Time I Close My Eyes"	White	3:55
9.	"Darlin"	Allen, Morton	5:32
10.	"Roll with It"	Renn, Skinner	4:41
11.	"Enhanced Section"

Limited edition for Italy

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Non Puoi Lasciarmi Così" (Italian version of "Quit Playing Games With My Heart")	Max Martin, Herbie Crichlow, Antonio Galbiati	Martin, Kristian Lundin	3:53
2.	"We've Got It Goin' On"	Denniz PoP, Max Martin, Herbie Crichlow	Denniz PoP, Martin	3:41
3.	"Anywhere for You"	Gary Baker, Wayne Perry	Veit Renn	4:42
4.	"Get Down (You're the One for Me)"	Bülent Aris, Toni Cottura	Aris, Cottura	3:52
5.	"I'll Never Break Your Heart"	Albert Manno, Eugene Wilde	Renn, Timmy Allen	4:48
6.	"Quit Playin' Games (with My Heart)"	Martin, Crichlow	Martin, Kristian Lundin	3:53
7.	"Boys Will Be Boys"	Jolyon Skinner, Renn	Renn, Mr. Lee^[a]	4:05
8.	"Just to Be Close to You"	Tim Grant, Michael Gray	Allen, Mookie^[b]	4:49
9.	"I Wanna Be with You"	Denniz PoP, Martin	Denniz PoP, Martin	4:05
10.	"Every Time I Close My Eyes"	Eric Foster White	Allen, Kay Fingers	3:55
11.	"Darlin'"	Allen, Nneka Morton	Allen	5:32
12.	"Let's Have a Party"	Mookie, Dave McPherson, Jeff Sledge, Kenyatta Galbreth, C.J. Trevett, Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff	Mookie, Allen^[b]	3.50
13.	"Roll with It"	Skinner, Renn	Renn, Mr. Lee^[a], Mad Mike^[a]	4:41
14.	"Nobody but You"	Denniz PoP, Martin, Crichlow	Denniz PoP, Martin	3:03

Alternate European edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"We've Got It Goin' On"	Denniz PoP, Max Martin, Herbie Crichlow	Denniz PoP, Martin	3:41
2.	"Anywhere for You"	Gary Baker, Wayne Perry	Veit Renn	4:42
3.	"Get Down (You're the One for Me)"	Bülent Aris, Toni Cottura	Aris, Cottura	3:52
4.	"I'll Never Break Your Heart"	Albert Manno, Eugene Wilde	Renn, Timmy Allen	4:48
5.	"Quit Playin' Games (with My Heart)"	Martin, Crichlow	Martin, Kristian Lundin	3:53
6.	"Boys Will Be Boys"	Jolyon Skinner, Renn	Renn, Mr. Lee^[a]	4:05
7.	"Just to Be Close to You"	Tim Grant, Michael Gray	Allen, Mookie^[b]	4:49
8.	"I Wanna Be with You"	Denniz PoP, Martin	Denniz PoP, Martin	4:05
9.	"Every Time I Close My Eyes"	Eric Foster White	Allen, Kay Fingers	3:55
10.	"Darlin'"	Allen, Nneka Morton	Allen	5:32
11.	"Let's Have a Party"	Mookie, Dave McPherson, Jeff Sledge, Kenyatta Galbreth, C.J. Trevett, Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff	Mookie, Allen^[b]	3.50
12.	"Nobody but You"	Denniz PoP, Martin, Crichlow	Denniz PoP, Martin	3:03

B-sides/Unreleased songs

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Tell Me That I'm Dreaming"	Lou J. Pearlman	4:47
2.	"I'll Never Find Someone Like You"	Gary Baker, Wayne Perry	4:23
3.	"Happy Valentine"		3:30
4.	"Roll with It" (radio edit)	Renn, Skinner	3:35
5.	"By My Side"		2:55
6.	"End of the Road"	Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Daryl Simmons	5:50

Sample credits

• "Boys Will Be Boys" contains a portion of the composition "Sing a Simple Song" written by Sly Stone and performed by Sly and the Family Stone.
• "Let's Have a Party" contains a portion of the composition "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" written and performed by Craig Mack and "Please Don't Go" written by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch and performed by KC and the Sunshine Band.

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies remix and additional production
• ^{^[b]} signifies co-production

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[6] 6 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[7] 1 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[8] 6 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[9] 8 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[10] 1 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[11] 4 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12] 7 European Albums Chart[13] 7 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[14] 5 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] 1 Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[16] 1 Icelandic Albums (Tonlist)[17] 2 Irish Albums (IRMA)[18] 29 Italian Albums (FIMI)[19] 10 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[20] 54 Malaysian Albums (IFPI)[21] 1 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[22] 15 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[23] 19 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[24] 2 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[25] 2 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 7 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 1 Taiwanese Albums (IFPI)[28] 1 UK Albums (OCC)[29] 12 Zimbabwean Albums (ZIMA)[30] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1996) Position German Albums Chart[31] 5 Chart (1997) Position Australian Albums (ARIA)[32] 68 German Albums Chart[33] 21 Chart (1998) Position Australian Albums (ARIA)[34] 55

Certifications

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Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[35]	3× Platinum	180,000^^
Australia (ARIA)[36]	Platinum	70,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[37]	3× Platinum	150,000^*
Belgium (BEA)[38]	Platinum	50,000^*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[39]	Platinum	250,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)[40]	Diamond	1,000,000^^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[41]	Platinum	50,000^^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[42]	Gold	21,930[43]
France (SNEP)[44]	Gold	100,000[45]
Germany (BVMI)[46]	Platinum	500,000^^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[47]	Platinum	20,000^*
Japan (RIAJ)[48]	Gold	100,000^^
Mexico (AMPROFON)[49]	Gold	100,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[50]	Platinum	15,000^^
Netherlands (NVPI)[51]	2× Platinum	200,000^^
Poland (ZPAV)[52]	Platinum	100,000^*
Sweden (GLF)[53]	Platinum	100,000[54]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[55]	3× Platinum	150,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[56]	Gold	100,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country	Release date
Europe	May 6, 1996 (1996-05-06)
Canada	September 2, 1996 (1996-09-02)
United Kingdom	October 1, 1996 (1996-10-01)

References

1. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Backstreet Boys". offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
2. AllMusic review
3. Paul Sexton (November 1, 1997). "Billboard: Backstreet Boys Become Global Priority for Jive". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
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5. Steffen Hung. "austriancharts.at: Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys". austriancharts.at. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
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17. "Tonlist Top 40". DV. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
18. "Irish Albums Chart". irish-charts.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
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21. "Hits of the World: November 15, 1997 (Pages 48, 49)". Billboard. Billboard Magazine. May 10, 1997. Retrieved May 22, 2013. 911.
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30. • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: albums chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
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36. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
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