Black & Blue

Performer: Backstreet Boys
Artist: Babyface
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Backstreet Boys: Kevin Richardson, Howard "Howie D" Dorough, Alexander James "AJ" McLean, Brian "B-Rok" Littrell, Nick Carter. Additional personnel includes: Rodney Jerkins (various instruments); Tony Battaglia (acoustic guitar); Henrik Janson, Esbjorn Ohrwall, Peter Svensson, Max Martin, Michael Thompson (guitar); Per Magnusson (keyboards, programming); Nathan East, Thomas Lindberg (bass); Gustave Lund (percussion); Babyface (background vocals); Stockholm Session Strings. Producers include: Max Martin, Rami, Kristian Lundin, Rodney Jerkins, Babyface. Engineers include: Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, George Spatta. "Shape Of My Heart" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. Personnel: Backstreet Boys (background vocals); Howie Dorough, A.J. McLean, Kevin Richardson, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell (vocals); Esbj�rn �hrwall (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Babyface (guitar, keyboards, drum programming, background vocals); Mike Thomson, Henrik Janson, Max Martin, Peter Svensson, Randy Bowland (guitar); Tony Battaglia (acoustic guitar); Stockholm Session Strings (strings); David Krueger, Per Magnusson (keyboards, programming); Gustave Lund (percussion); Jimmy Bralower (drum programming). Audio Mixers: Chris Trevett; Max Martin; Rami. Recording information: Battery Studios, New York, NY; Brandon's Way Recording, Los Angeles, CA; Cheiron Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; EMI Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; Franciz & Lepont Studio, Bergshamra, Sweden; L.A. East Studios, Salt Lake City, UT; Pacifique Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Parc Studios, Orlando, FL; Polar Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; The Bubble, Stockholm, Sweden; The Hook Nook, Winter Springs, FL. Editor: Flip Osman. Photographer: Resig. Arrangers: LePont; David Krueger; Howie Dorough; Fraciz; Per Magnusson; Timmy Allen. The title of this album by the mega-platinum boy band might conceivably refer to the emotional state conveyed in some of the songs. While there are the requisite pledges of undying love ("Shining Star," "I Promise You"), several of the tunes on BLACK & BLUE deal with romantic turbulence, such as the opening track "The Call" and the vengeful "Get Another Boyfriend." While some of the songs are unsurprisingly provided by teen pop maestro Max Martin, several selections here were written by the Backstreet Boys themselves, proving conclusively that they have more creative input into their music than their naysayers might suggest. The production on BLACK & BLUE is a mix of pop, R&B, and mainstream hip-hop elements; the building blocks of any successful 2000 teen pop affair. And of course, its all topped off with the Boys' trademark sugar-sweet vocal harmonies.

Rolling Stone (12/21/00, p.170) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Loud, hook-crazy, classic Swedish pop....[they] live up to the groove-ballad legacy of 'I Want It That Way' and 'Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)'..."

Every decade has a teenybopper band that takes the charts by storm, and the late 1990s saw the emergence of the Backstreet Boys. Picking up exactly where '80s teen stars New Kids On The Block left off, the quintet hit it big with flashy outfits, slick dance moves, and a mixture of bubblegum pop and heart-tugging ballads. The band split in early 2001, but reunited three years later and began releasing commercially viable--if not platinum-selling--albums again.

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