When 'N Sync usurped the Backstreet Boys' record of number of albums sold in a single week early in 2000, it had to hurt the Backstreets, since it was played in the press as if they had lost the teen pop throne. By the time the group released their third album, Black & Blue, Thanksgiving week 2000, 'N Sync was still popular, but the arc of No Strings Attached illustrated that they were weak where the Backstreets were strong -- namely, they couldn't really deliver the seductive mid-tempo pop tunes and ballads that were the backbone of the Boys' crossover success. Songs like "Shape of My Heart," which flows as gracefully as "I Want It That Way," prove that the Backstreet Boys do teen pop ballads better than anyone, but what's interesting about Black & Blue is how aggressively they protect their territory. Of course, it's relative protection, since they, like 'N Sync and Britney Spears, work with Max Martin, the man behind the biggest hits by all three artists. Consequently, it's not a coincidence that "Get Another Boyfriend" is a dead ringer for "It's Gonna Be Me" crossed with "Baby One More Time," but what gives Black & Blue character is that it's clear that the Backstreets want to remain kings of their world. So, the ballads are smoother than ever, and their dance numbers hit harder, all in an attempt to keep their throne. It works, even if it takes a couple spins before the singles stand out, since the Backstreets' material and voices are stronger than that of their peers, adding up to state of the art teen-pop. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
David Krueger (Programming), Henrik Janson (Guitar), Jackie Murphy (Art Direction), Howie Dorough (Vocals), Johan Gunnarsson (Mixing Assistant), David Krueger (Arranger), Nathan East (Bass), Rami (Producer), Babyface (Keyboards), Paul Foley (Engineer), Dexter Simmons (Mixing Engineer), John Amatiello (Assistant Engineer), Babyface (Guitar), Michael Tucker (Vocal Engineer), Max Martin (Guitar), Gustave Lund (Percussion), David Krueger (Keyboards), Howie Dorough (Vocal Arrangement), Adam Barber (Engineer), Alan Armitage (Engineer), Tom Coyne (Mastering), Timmy Allen (Arranger), Henrik Janson (String Arrangements), John Amatiello (Vocal Engineer), Backstreet Boys (Vocals (Background)), Shane Stoneback (Assistant Engineer), Larry Campbell (Producer), Kristian Lundin (Producer), Babyface (Vocals (Background)), Henrik Janson (String Conductor), Mick Guzauski (Mixing Engineer), Toby Dearborn (Assistant Engineer), Mike Thomson (Guitar), Nick Gamma (Art Direction), George Spatta (Engineer), Fraciz (Producer), Chris Haggerty (Digital Editing), Rami (Engineer), Stockholm Session Strings (Strings), Esbjörn Öhrwall (Guitar), Kevin Richardson (Vocals), Dona Kay Flint (String Contractor), Timmy Allen (Producer), Flip Osman (Editing), Charles McCrorey (Assistant Engineer), Kyle Scholler (Assistant Engineer), Keith B. Armstrong (Assistant Engineer), Fraciz (Arranger), David Krueger (Producer), Bob Brown (Engineer), Max Martin (Musician), Rodney Jerkins (Musician), Johan Gunnarsson (Engineer), Per Magnusson (Keyboards), Esbjörn Öhrwall (Guitar (Electric)), Larry Campbell (Musician), Stefan Boman (Vocal Engineer), Rami (Mixing), Johan Gunnarsson (String Engineer), Resig (Photography), Ulf Janson (Conductor), David Krueger (Engineer), Jamie Allen (Assistant Engineer), Rami (Musician), Kristian Lundin (Engineer), A.J. McLean (Vocals), Paul Boutin (Engineer), Jimmy Bralower (Drum Programming), Nick Carter (Vocals), Marcelo Zolessi (Assistant Engineer), Babyface (Drum Programming), Björn Norén (String Engineer), Per Magnusson (Arranger), Ulf Janson (String Arrangements), Flip Osman (Mixing Assistant), Toby Dearborn (Assistant Vocal Engineer), Per Magnusson (Programming), Max Martin (Engineer), Peter Svensson (Guitar), LePont (Producer), Chris Trevett (Mixing), Per Magnusson (Engineer), Scott McMahon (Make-Up), Kyle Bess (Mixing Assistant), Howie Dorough (Arranger), Max Martin (Producer), Thomas Lindberg (Bass), Rodney Jerkins (Producer), Bernard Löhr (Mixing Engineer), Per Magnusson (Producer), Max Martin (Mixing), Esbjörn Öhrwall (Guitar (Acoustic)), Tony Battaglia (Guitar (Acoustic)), John Amatiello (Pro-Tools), LePont (Arranger), Dirk Woodruff (Engineer), Babyface (Producer), Randy Bowland (Guitar), Brian Littrell (Vocals), Jon Gass (Mixing Engineer), Scott McMahon (Hair Stylist), Veit Renn (String Arrangements)
Black & Blue is the follow-up album to the Backstreet Boys' 1999 studio release Millennium. It is their fourth album (but their third U.S. album release). In the United States, Black & Blue sold 1.6 million discs in its first week of release[3], making them the first group in Soundscan history to have million-plus first-week sales with back-to-back albums. The album recorded the best international sales in a week for album in history by selling over 5 million copies in its first week of sales.The album was the eighth highest-selling album [4] in the US in 2000. The album achieved platinum status in over 30 countries and gold certification in 10 regions around the world during its first week of release. Despite the excellent sales, Black and Blue never matched up to the hype that their first two albums made. The first single off the album was "Shape of My Heart," followed by "The Call" and "More Than That." The band members co-wrote five of the songs and wrote two songs on this album, a departure from previous albums, which showcased less of their own song-writing. Black & Blue sold 24 million albums worldwide.
"What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)" (Dorough, Diamond, Carlsson) – 3:35
"How Did I Fall in Love With You" (Howie Dorough, Fromm, MacColl) – 4:06
"All I Have to Give (Acapella)" (Full Force) - 3:48
Chart positions
Year
Chart
Position
2000
The Billboard 200
1
Album facts
To celebrate the release of Black & Blue, Backstreet Boys embarked on a 100-hour "Around the World" trek with stops in Europe (Stockholm), Asia (Tokyo), Australia (Sydney),South Africa (Cape Town), South America (Rio) before returning to North America (New York). At each stop along the tour, the group visited local landmarks, held press conferences, met fans, and performed brief a cappella versions of their hit single "Shape of My Heart".
Black & Blue featured production from the Cherion team (Max Martin, Kristian Lundin, Rami, Jake, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger); Babyface; Rodney Jerkins; Timmy Allen; Franciz & LePont; and Larry "Rock" Campbell.
In its first week of release, Black & Blue's first single "Shape of My Heart" received adds to 170 out of 171 of the Top 40 stations in the U.S. Meanwhile overseas, the song immediately jumped into the Top Five in Sweden (#1), Norway (#1), Canada (#1), Germany (#2), Switzerland (#4), Austria (#5), Australia (#5) and Holland (#5).
Backstreet Boys launched three U.S. tours in support of Black & Blue: The first leg kicked off January 22. The second leg began June 8 in the group's hometown of Orlando, FL, and was temporarily put on hold July 9, in order for group member A.J. McLean to seek treatment for clinical depression which led to anxiety attacks and the excessive consumption of alcohol. The tour resumed August 24 in Milwaukee, WI, and wrapped up October 19 in Las Vegas, NV.
