# Now or Never (Nick Carter album)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Entertainment Weekly | C |
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, 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. 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. "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.

## Background

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. 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.

## Personnel

Credits for Now or Never adapted from AllMusic.
* 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

## Charts

Chart performance for Now or Never :
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 66 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 41 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 25 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI) | 44 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 4 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) | 25 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 41 |
| Swiss Albums (Swiss Hitparade) | 85 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 91 |
| US Billboard 200 | 17 |

## Certifications

Certifications for Now or Never :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 50,000$^^$ |
| Japan (RIAJ) | Gold | 100,000$^^$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||