The Backstreet Boys finally achieved American success with their second album, Backstreet's Back. The reason for the sudden success had more to do with good marketing than the music itself, since Backstreet's Back is nearly identical to Backstreet Boys. Loaded with dance-pop and ballads, the album is as glossy as mainstream pop can possibly be. That slick production adds luster to the singles "Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)" and "As Long as You Love Me," making them as irresistible as teen pop can be. There isn't anything else that really matches those twin peaks, but there's enough craft, hooks, and fun on the rest of the album to make it quite entertaining. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Full Force (Vocals), Full Force (Producer), Full Force (Vocal Arrangement), Full Force (Mixing), Full Force (Arrangement Collaboration), Michael Aharon (Guitar (Acoustic)), Michael Aharon (Keyboard Programming), Timmy Allen (Producer), John Anthony (Engineer), Larry Campbell (Producer), Nigel Green (Mixing), Henrik Janson (String Arrangements), Ulf Janson (String Arrangements), Robert John "Mutt" Lange (Producer), P.M. Dawn (Producer), Denniz Pop (Producer), Gerry Scott (Producer), Chris Trevett (Engineer), Chris Trevett (Mixing), David Krueger (Producer), Dennis Williams (String Arrangements), Backstreet Boys (Main Performer), Tom Coyne (Mastering), Robert Wellerfors (Engineer), Tim Donovan (Engineer), Max Martin (Producer), Mookie (Producer), Daniel Wierup (Assistant Engineer), Sharon Kearney (Assistant Engineer), Tetsuya Komuro (Producer), Esbjörn Öhrwall (Guitar), Chaz Harper (Digital Editing), Chaz Harper (Editing), Per Magnusson (Producer), Lou Pearlman (Executive Director), Joe Smith (Engineer), Tommie Hicks, Jr. (Assistant Engineer), Kristian Lundin (Producer), Steve Hammond (Engineer)
Backstreet's Back is an album by the Backstreet Boys released internationally in 1997, but not in the United States. It was a follow-up to their successful self-titled international debut. Some songs from this album, and the prior release were compiled into a second self-titled album whose release coincided with this album. There were a few differences between the versions of songs released on this album and the American album (see the US album for details). It was also an "enhanced CD". The first track recorded for this album was a cover of Set Adrift On Memory Bliss (originally by P.M. Dawn) in January 1997 along with If You Stay, which wasn't on this album's track list. This is one of their few albums that production on it occurred in the same year as it was released.
This album, as has been common with Backstreet Boys albums, had several different tracklistings in various markets. The Dutch (European) edition is generally considered to be the "standard" tracklist for this album. The bonus tracks on this album, unlike the first international album, were scattered into the tracklist instead of being added to the end of the album. (eg: a bonus track as the fourth track would push "That's The Way I Like It" to fifth, and so on down the line. "Who Do You Love" was the song performed and promoted quite a lot as a sneak preview for the album before the release date. It was also confirmed to be on the album, but never made the final cut. The song is featured on the VHS/DVD, "A Night Out With The Backstreet Boys". As well as other media and concert shows.
"If You Want It to Be Good Girl (Get Yourself a Bad Boy)" (R.J. Lange) – 4:51
"All I Have to Give" (The Conversation Mix) (Full Force) – 4:46
"If I Don't Have You" (Gary Baker, Wayne Perry, Timmy Allen) – 4:34
"Everybody (Matty's Club Mix)" (Denniz PoP, Max Martin) – 6:25
English/Asian version
"Missing You" (Komuro, Tetsuya) - 4:31
"If You Want It to Be Good Girl (Get Yourself a Bad Boy)" (R.J. Lange) – 4:51
"All I Have to Give" (The Conversation Mix) (Full Force) – 4:46
"If I Don't Have You" (Gary Baker, Wayne Perry, Timmy Allen) – 4:34
Boxed set version
A boxed set version based on the English/Asian version was made, featuring the same disc as in that version, but with a bonus disc. This edition was also released as a Christmas edition in Australia with alternate art. The tracks on the bonus CD are:
CD 2
"Christmas Time" (Renn, Skinner) – 4:07
"As Long as You Love Me (Unplugged Version)" – 3:32
"Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (e-Smoove Vocal Mix)" – 6:47
