Black & Blue is the fourth album and third American release of the American vocal-pop group Backstreet Boys. It is their follow-up album from their 1999 studio release Millennium. In the United States, Black & Blue sold 1.6 million discs in its first week of release, making them the first group in Soundscan history to have million-plus first-week sales with back-to-back albums.
The album also recorded the best international sales in a week for an album in history by selling over 5 million copies in its first week of sales. As of 2007, the album has sold 24 million copies worldwide. 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.
The album is the Backstreet Boys's fourth album (third in the US) and was recorded between July–September 2000. The album finds the band once again teaming with pop producer Max Martin, who produced the group's first two albums. On August 2000, the band gave fans their first glimpse of the album, including the track "It's True" on a series of CDs made available through Burger King. While talking to MTV, member AJ McLean told that the album will incorporate rock, R&B, hip-hop, and even some country. McLean also revealed that Backstreet's Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson will be displaying their talents on drums and piano, respectively, on the album.
Black & Blue debuted at number-one on the Billboard 200 after selling 1.6 million copies in its first week at retail in the US. The feat made the them the first act in history to achieve sales more than 1 million copies in the first week with back-to-back releases. The set has moved more than 5.4 million copies in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[17][18]
Internationally, the album recorded the best sales in a week for an album in history by selling over 5 million copies in its first week of sales. As of 2007, the album has sold 24 million copies worldwide.