The Backstreet Boys' early success came from Europe, Asia among other countries where they released two albums before they ever saw success in the United States. "Backstreet Boys", their self-titled debut album in 1996. An album that fans have referred to as the red album due to the red background on the album's cover. Then in 1997 came "Backstreet's Back", which was released a day before their U.S. debut album in certain countries. As most fans know their self-titled U.S. debut album featured songs from both of those international albums, but other songs were likely never heard by American fans. Some may not even know these albums exist.
Unless you saw some of their tours over the years where they performed a few of those songs then you may have heard songs from those albums. Such as "Just To Be Close," "Let's Have a Party," "Nobody But You," "I Wanna Be With You" (performed on their DNA tour after many years), "10,000 Promises," "That's The Way I Like It," and others.
Die-hard fans may have also heard songs on A Night Out with the Backstreet Boys. An intimate acoustic concert filmed in Cologne, Germany on March 28, 1998. It was released on VHS sometime after and then later released on DVD in November 2000. The two international albums could also be found at U.S. record stores in the late 90s early 2000s as they often sold imported albums from Germany, Canada, and other countries.
Since streaming became the preferred way to listen to music in the mid 2010's, fans have often requested on social media to have those albums on streaming platforms in the United States. Which may not have been possible due to licensing. After many years of posts, comments asking to add those albums, fans no longer have to ask about them.
On October 7, 2026 the first two releases by the Backstreet Boys were finally available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube/YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and others to fans in the United States. It was exciting to see those albums on that day as October 7th was also Backstreet Boys Day in Orlando.
We're not sure if this is a permanent thing, but for now you can stream both albums on the platforms below and others not listed.
Spotify - Backstreet Boys & Backstreet's Back
Apple - Backstreet Boys & Backstreet's Back
YouTube - Backstreet Boys & Backstreet's Back
Amazon Music - Backstreet Boys & Backstreet's Back
It was also noted by fans in the U.K. that the Backstreet Boys U.S. debut was made available on streaming in their country as well.