The Essential *NSYNC
Greatest hits album by
NSYNC
ReleasedJuly 29, 2014[1]
Recorded1996–2002
GenrePop, R&B
Length1:39:14
Label
Producer
NSYNC chronology
The Collection
(2010) 		The Essential *NSYNC
(2014)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

The Essential *NSYNC is the fourth compilation album by American boy band NSYNC. It was released on July 29, 2014, four years after their second compilation The Collection (2010). It is also the second overall album under RCA Records following their self-titled album in 1998. The album contains a total of thirty-four tracks, including hit singles, album tracks, B-sides, rare recordings and soundtrack features. Despite only being a compilation release, the album received wide press coverage as it was revealed none of the band members were told about its release.[3]

The album sold out on Amazon on the day of release,[4] and quickly vaulted into the top ten albums on the iTunes Store.[5]

Band member Lance Bass said of the album on his radio show, Dirty Pop: "There's a lot of these songs I don't think I've ever heard, I remember recording them but I've never heard them before, so I'm interested in just hearing them." JC Chasez tweeted about the album's release, stating: "I had the strangest dream last night that some old friends and I had a top 10 record on iTunes. Crazy right..." Chris Kirkpatrick said of the album; "It's great to release some of the songs that had never made a record before! I'm glad our long time fans get some new music!" Joey Fatone also said; "Pretty interesting this album comes out, which I really had no idea, and it's in the top of Amazon and iTunes... we owe it to our fans. Thank you."[6]

The album has sold 34,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan as of February 2018.[7][8]

Track listing

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Here We Go" (Radio cut)Bulent "Bonny" Aris, Toni Cottura, Jan Van Der ToornAris, Cottura, Van Der Toorn3:35
2."I Want You Back" (Radio edit)Denniz Pop, Max MartinDenniz Pop, Max Martin3:21
3."Tearin' Up My Heart" (Radio edit)Kristian Lundin, MartinKristian Lundin3:29
4."(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You" (Remix)Carl Sturken, Evan RogersCarl Sturken, Evan Rogers4:02
5."I Drive Myself Crazy" (Remix)Rick Nowels, Allan Rich, Ellen ShipleyVeit Renn3:59
6."For the Girl Who Has Everything" (Radio mix)Jolyon Skinner, Veit RennVeit Renn3:58
7."Are You Gonna Be There?"Diane WarrenVeit Renn4:07
8."Music of My Heart" (featuring Gloria Estefan)Gloria Estefan, Diane WarrenDavid Foster4:31
9."Bye Bye Bye"Lundin, Jake Schulze, Andreas CarlssonKristian Lundin, Jake Schulze3:21
10."It's Gonna Be Me"Martin, Carlsson, Rami YacoubRami Yacoub3:13
11."This I Promise You" (Radio edit)Richard MarxRichard Marx4:26
12."I Thought She Knew"Robin WileyRobin Wiley3:23
13."I Believe in You" (Joe featuring NSYNC)Joe Thomas, Skinner, Renn, Allen GordonJim Steinman, Allen "Allstar" Gordon4:58
14."If I'm Not the One"Fredrik Thomander, Anders WikstromGary Carolla, Peter Ries3:22
15."Pop" (Radio version)Justin Timberlake, Wade RobsonBrian Wayne "BT" Transeau, Justin Timberlake, Wade Robson2:57
16."Girlfriend" (The Neptunes Remix featuring Nelly)Timberlake, Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams, Cornell Haynes Jr.The Neptunes4:46
17."Gone"Timberlake, RobsonTimberlake, Wade Robson4:52
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."More Than a Feeling"Tom ScholzJapp Eggermont3:41
2."Best of My Life"Aris, Cottura, Van Der ToornAris, Cottura, Van Der Toorn4:45
3."The Lion Sleeps Tonight"Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, George David Weiss, Albert Stanton, Solomon LindaGary Carolla3:11
4."Sailing"Christopher CrossVeit Renn4:37
5."Everything I Own"David GatesFull Force3:56
6."(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You" (Alabama featuring NSYNC)Carl Sturken, Evan RogersAlabama, Don Cook4:39
7."Somewhere, Someday"Mark Mueller, Andrew GoldmarkMark Mueller4:06
8."Trashin' the Camp" (featuring Phil Collins)Phil CollinsPhil Collins2:23
9."If Only Through Heaven's Eyes"Kenneth "Babyface" EdmondsKenneth "Babyface" Edmonds4:37
10."You Don't Have to Be Alone (On Christmas)"JC Chasez, Renn, David NicollVeit Renn4:33
11."On the Line" (with the "On the Line" All-Stars (Mandy Moore / Christian Burns / True Vibe)Steve Diamond, Paul Vann, Mark HammondDan Muckala3:18
12."That Girl (Will Never Be Mine)"Carlsson, Lundin, Jake SchulzeKristian Lundin, Jake Schulze3:25
13."Falling"Chris Kirkpatrick, Bryan Popin, Gary Brown, Ira SchickmanDavid Foster, Kirkpatrick3:48
14."Feel the Love"Brian Dow, Jonathan StAimee, Bradley YoungBradley Young3:10
15."Selfish"Chasez, Skinner, RennBrian McKnight4:19
16."See Right Through You"Timberlake, Robson, Larry CampbellTimberlake, Wade Robson2:54
17."Believe in Yourself"Joe RaposoTimberlake1:42

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[9] 25
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[10] 12

Certifications

Certifications for The Essential *NSYNC
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Silver 60,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Victoria Moorhouse (29 July 2014). "Surprise! The Guys of NSYNC Didn't Even Know They Were Releasing a New Album Today". OK Magazine. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  2. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "NSYNC - The Essential (AllMusic Review)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  3. ^ Erin Strecker (29 July 2014). "'N Sync Just Dropped A Brand-New Album -- But No One Told The Band". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  4. ^ Rachel Maresca (30 July 2014). "New *NSYNC album drops but record label doesn't tell band members of release". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  5. ^ Sarah Luoma (31 July 2014). "Lance Bass says 'N Sync were unaware of new album released by Sony". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  6. ^ Ariana Bacle (30 July 2014). "Sony releases surprise NSync album; NSync is surprised". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  7. ^ Trust, Gary (February 4, 2018). "Ask Billboard: Justin Timberlake & *NSYNC's Career Album & Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  8. ^ Brown, Harley; Halperin, Shirley (August 8, 2014). "Lance Bass Talks Surprise 'N Sync Album: 'I Was Shocked'". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-08-12.
  9. ^ "Nsync Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  10. ^ "Nsync - The Essential (Awards)". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  11. ^ "British album certifications – Nsync – The Essential". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
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