[Please note that these numbers are for retail store pre-orders and are not counted when it comes to determining first week sales. Albums pre-ordered from online stores do count towards first week sales. If you want to help BSB break the record for first week sales then make sure you get out and buy your B&B CD on or before November 26. 98 Degrees had over 2 million pre-orders but only managed to sell around 270,000 CDs in their first week out so don't assume the Boys will break the record based on the numbers presented below.]

Pre-orders from U.S. music retailers for the Backstreet Boys upcoming album Black & Blue (due November 21) are near an astounding 5 million copies already, report sources at Jive Records. The Backstreet Boys are looking to topple the record set by Jive labelmates 'N Sync, who sold more than 2.4 million copies of their latest album No Strings Attached in its first week, according to Soundscan.

Backstreet Boys hope to shatter not only the domestic record for first-week album sales, but also numerous worldwide first-week sales records as well. Such aspirations might explain why the Backstreet Boys have planned a two-day promotional tour visiting six continents right before the release of Black & Blue. The whirlwind promo jaunt will culminate with the group's arrival in New York City.

The official track list for Black & Blue includes: "The Call," "Shape Of My Heart," "Get Another Boyfriend," "Shining Star," " I Promise You (With Everything I Am)," "The Answer To Our Life," "Everyone," "More Than That," " Time," "Not For Me," "Yes I Will," "It's True," and "How Did I Fall In Love With You." Calls to official sources at both Jive Records and MSO were not returned by press time.