backstreet boys "as long as you love me"

EdisonLite wrote: Does anyone have the 1st pressing of the Backstreet Boys' self-titled US (1997) CD with the apparent non-radio mix version of "As Long As you Love Me"? I'd like to compare the two versions. I've never heard the version that's 7 seconds longer with a vocal difference at 0:07. Plus with a possible different piano sound, and other percussion added, I'm REALLY curious to hear this obscure mix.

As Long As You Love Me - Backstreet Boys

VWestlife wrote: The first release of the U.S. "Backstreet Boys" album (01241-41589-2) has the original version of "As Long As You Love Me" (3:40, no vocals during intro) and the original "Video Version" of "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (with Brian Littrell singing both verses, which was ironically not used in the music video). The re-release of the U.S. "Backstreet Boys" album (01241-41589-2-R) has the "Radio Mix" of "As Long As You Love Me" (3:32, vocals at 0:07) and the "LP Version" of "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" (with Nick Carter singing the second verse). The database does not differentiate between these two versions of "QPG".

Thanks for mentioning the differences with these songs. I used to have their self-titled first album and it was apparently the second pressing
with the differences you describe.

As for "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)", I know there were two separate commercial CD Singles in the US for the song. One came in a thin,
slimline jewel case and the other was a in special, limited edition Digipak (I assume that's what they're called). I checked my collection of CD
Singles and apparently the Original LP Version with Brian Littrell singing both verses was on the Limited Edition CD Single (listed simply as "LP
Version" on the single). I'm pretty sure I also have the more common slimline jewel case CD Single, so I will check that later today and report
back about what version appears on there.

I can't speak for what versions are on the 45 and Cassette Single though, since I don't have either one of those. (I stopped collecting Cassette
Singles at the end of 1996, several months before this song was a hit).

So is it the other way around? Wikipedia lists the "Video Version" of the single being released first, and then the "LP Version", but that didn't make sense to me.

Also apparently the version with Brian singing both verses was released after they had already re-recorded it with Nick singing the second verse. Maybe they were test-marketing both versions to see which one would catch on. I remember at first BSB had somewhat of a "tough guy"/R&B image (they even rapped a bit on their first European album!), but then they leaned heavily in the teen pop idol direction.

The commercial CD single I have includes Brian singing both verses, and I had never heard this version until this morning. My copy of JDJ-42542-2A has Nick singing the second verse. I'll pull the other promo without the "A" at the end of the catalog number when time permits to see if it's the same.

I have a feeling the 42542-2 is going to be the Brian 2nd verse version, Aaron. I guess that would account for why they'd re-release the same promo with
the same number and tracks with an "A" at the end, to signify that something was different about it from the first one. Just a guess, though.

Yes, good point. They probably would've made some kind of notation about it being different somehow. Now the question is why there were two different pressings
with the same tracks and basically the same number.

Edited by thecdguy