Now or Never is the debut solo album by Nick Carter , best known as a member of the Backstreet Boys , released on October 29, 2002 by Jive Records . The album debuted at #17 in its first week on the Billboard 200 ,[ 6] selling some 70,000 copies during first week in U.S. It fell out of the top 50 in its second week, but sold well enough to be certified Gold by the RIAA in December 2002.[ 7] Two singles were released from the album, neither of which had any impact on the US charts. The first single, "Help Me ", reach number 9 on the Canadian Singles Chart .[ 8] "I Got You " was a major hit in Europe and Southeast Asia. A sneak preview of the album was attached to the end of the fourth album of Carter's younger brother Aaron , Another Earthquake .
Now or Never Released October 29, 2002 (US) Recorded February[ 1] – September 2002[ 2] Genre Pop , pop rock Length 43 :42 Label Jive Producer David Kahne , Per Aldeheim , Martin Brammer , Gary Clark , Matthew Gerrard , Steve Mac , Max Martin , The Matrix , Rami , Josh Schwartz, Mark Taylor , Brian Kierulf
"Help Me " Released: September 3, 2002
"Do I Have to Cry for You" Released: November 11, 2002[ 3]
"I Got You " Released: February 14, 2003
In 2002, when the Backstreet Boys expressed a strong desire to leave their management company, The Firm, Carter chose to remain with them to manage his solo career. As the group began recording their new album without him, he started working on his first solo album.[ 9] Now or Never was released on October 29, 2002, and it reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold, both in the United States and Canada. The lead single, "Help Me" achieved considerable worldwide success while the other single, "I Got You" was a minor hit in Europe while "Do I Have to Cry for You" became popular in the Philippines. The album made the charts in several other countries as well. He also launched a worldwide tour in support of the album.
Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Help Me " Matthew Gerrard 3:09 2. "My Confession" 3:50 3. "I Stand for You" Carter Brian Kierulf Josh Schwartz Brian Kierulf Josh Schwartz 3:07 4. "Do I Have to Cry for You" Brian Kierulf Josh Schwartz 3:37 5. "Girls in the USA" (featuring Mr. Vegas ) Steve Mac 4:07 6. "I Got You " 3:57 7. "Is It Saturday Yet?" Carter Clark Brammer Stephen Lunt 3:14 8. "Blow Your Mind" Max Martin Rami Yacoub Per Aldeheim 3:34 9. "Miss America" Mark Taylor 3:55 10. "I Just Wanna Take You Home" Max Martin Rami Yacoub Aldeheim 2:55 11. "Heart Without a Home (I'll Be Yours)" Steve Mac 4:46 12. "Who Needs the World" Charlie Midnight Graham Edwards Lauren Christy Scott Spock The Matrix 3:30
International bonus tracks Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 13. "Scandalicious" Carter Daniel Gibson Douglas Carr Julius Bengtsson Douglas Carr 2:54 14. "End of Forever" 3:48
Japanese bonus tracks Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 13. "Scandalicious" Carter Daniel Gibson Douglas Carr Julius Bengtsson Douglas Carr 2:54 14. "Forever Rebel" Phil Thornalley 3:48
Special edition bonus DVD Title 1. "Nick at the Beach" 2. "Nick Classic Car Interview" 3. "Nick in Stockholm" 4. "Weblink"
Credits for Now or Never adapted from AllMusic .[ 10]
Per Aldeheim – engineer, guitar, guitar engineer, producer
Alex G. – digital editing
Dave Arch – string arrangements
Keith B. Armstrong – mixing assistant
Elan Bongiorno – make-up
Martin Brammer – engineer, mixing, Pro Tools, producer, programming, vocals (background)
Michael Brauer – mixing
Nick Carter – illustrations, vocals (background)
Alison Clark – vocals (background)
Gary Clark – bass, engineer, guitar, keyboards, mixing, Pro Tools, producer, programming, vocals (background)
Tom Coyne – mastering
Michelle John Douglas – vocals (background)
Geoff Dugmore – drums
Rickard Evensand – drums
Nick Friend – assistant
Elisa Garcia – art direction, design
Paul Gendler – guitar
Matthew Gerrard – arranger, engineer, instrumentation, producer, programming, vocal arrangement
Stefan Glaumann – mixing
Steve Harvey – percussion
Wayne Hector – vocals (background)
Peter Kahm – bass
Fridrik Karlsson – guitar
Brian Kierulf – engineer
Peter Kvint – guitar
Chris Laws – drums, engineer
Steve Lee – guitar (acoustic), vocals (background)
Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
Steve Lunt - A&R, composer
Steve Mac – arranger, keyboards, mixing, producer
Anthony Mandler – photography
Max Martin – engineer, mixing, producer, vocal engineer, vocals (background)
The Matrix – arranger, engineer, mixing, producer
Pablo Munguia – vocal engineer
Jackie Murphy – art direction
Esbjörn Öhrwall – guitar
Steve Pearce – bass
Adam Phillips – guitar (electric)
Daniel Pursey – assistant engineer, percussion
Rami – engineer, mixing, producer
Cesar Ramirez – assistant engineer, assistant vocal engineer
Brandy St. John – stylist
Christian Saint Val – assistant engineer
Sank – engineer
Andrew Scarth – engineer
José Carlos Schwartz – bass, engineer, producer, vocals (background)
Mark Taylor – engineer, mixing, producer
Matt Tryggestad – vocal arrangement
Michael Tucker – engineer
Jeff Vereb – assistant engineer
Jong Uk Yoon – assistant engineer
^ "Nick Carter Talks Plea Bargain, Solo Stuff & Backstreet" . popdirt.com. February 25, 2002. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2011 .
^ "Nick Carter Said Backstreet Boys Had Become Boring" . popdirt.com. September 24, 2002. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2011 .
^ "Going for Adds" (PDF) . Radio & Records . No. 1478. November 8, 2002. p. 34. Retrieved May 14, 2022 .
^ Now or Never at AllMusic
^ David Browne (October 28, 2002). "Now or Never Review" . EW.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2011 .
^ allmusic.com - Now or Never > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
^ a b "American album certifications – Nick Carter – Now or Never" . Recording Industry Association of America .
^ allmusic.com - Now or Never > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles
^ Strauss, Neil (August 18, 2002). "MUSIC; The Lost Boys: How a Pop Sensation Came Undone" . New York Times . Retrieved August 24, 2012 .
^ "Now or never – Credits" . Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 23, 2011 .
^ "Austriancharts.at – Nick Carter – Now or Never" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Nick Carter – Now or Never" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Nick Carter – Now or Never" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "Italiancharts.com – Nick Carter – Now or Never" . Hung Medien. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "ニック・カーターのリリース一覧" [A Look at Nick Carter's Releases]. Oricon . Retrieved January 17, 2014 .
^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2 .
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Nick Carter – Now or Never" . Hung Medien. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "Nick Carter - Now Or Never" . hitparade.ch. Retrieved November 27, 2011 .
^ "Nick Carter Chart History Official Charts Company" . Officialcharts.com . Retrieved January 17, 2016 .
^ "Nick Carter Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Nick Carter – Now or Never" . Music Canada .
^ "Japanese album certifications – Nick Carter – Now or Never" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved January 17, 2014 . Select 2002年10月 on the drop-down menu