The Essential Backstreet Boys is the third compilation album by American pop group Backstreet Boys, released by RCA Records and Legacy Recordings as part of their Essential series. It was released on September 26, 2013 in the United Kingdom, and on October 22, 2013 in the United States. The album includes songs from the group's first seven studio albums, Backstreet Boys (1996), Backstreet's Back (1997), Backstreet Boys (U.S.) (1997), Millennium (1999), Black & Blue (2000), Never Gone (2005), Unbreakable (2007), and This Is Us (2009). It also includes the song "If You Stay" recorded for the 1997 film Booty Call, and "Drowning" from their first greatest hits compilation, The Hits – Chapter One (2001).
Critical reception AllMusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, writing that "Essential Backstreet Boys traces this evolution, filling in a few more details of those early hit-making years, which makes this worthwhile for the dedicated fan, but many listeners may find either The Hits, or the variety of budget-line collections released since, to be a better bet as they contain the hits and nothing but."
Track listing
Charts Chart (2013)PeakpositionGreek Albums (IFPI) See Best Position column.33 South Korea (Gaon Charts)11Taiwanese Albums (Five Music) Click Western Music and scroll to 2013, Week 44.14
Release history Country Date Format Label United Kingdom September 26, 2013 CD, digital download United States October 22, 2013 Japan Sony Music Japan Canada Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan October 25, 2013 Germany January 3, 2014
References