Flash Back -B'z Early Special Titles-

Flash Back -B'z Early Special Titles-
Released	April 24, 1997
Genre	Rock
Length	115:34
Label	BMG Japan

Flash Back -B'z Early Special Titles- is an unofficial compilation album released on April 26, 1997 by BMG Japan after B'z had left their label. While B'z retained ownership of the compositions and songs, they did not retain exclusive master rights to the recordings, and thus BMG was legally allowed to publish a collection of material still under their ownership. As such, the two-disc compilation pooled tracks still in their control, all sourced from the band's self-titled debut album, their second album OFF THE LOCK, their third album BREAK THROUGH, and their first mini-album, BAD COMMUNICATION. One year later, as a countermeasure, B'z released their own official compilations under the titles of B'z The Best "Pleasure" and B'z The Best "Treasure" for their tenth anniversary. The pair of official albums would go on to become the second and fifth highest selling albums in Japanese history, respectively, with over ten million copies sold between them in their release year alone.

Neither Tak nor Koshi supported this release. Because BMG were legally prohibited from using either of the band members' images on the packaging or even in promoting the release, Flash Back -B'z Early Special Titles- contains no images or insignias common to the band and instead features generic art in its place. With its unofficial status and controversial nature, the album only debuted at the second spot on the Weekly Oricon Album charts, but would go on to become the twenty-second highest selling album of the year on the B'z brand alone. The release benefited from the fact that demand for B'z items of all kinds was high, and the albums that it contained were ones that had become rarities on their own right. In time, the compilation sold enough to be certified as a "Million" seller by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

While unofficial, the compilation has become a rarity and collector's item amongst fans since its original turbulent release due to the increasing unavailability of the older works. Although official digital releases of the band's full catalogue have decreased such demand, used copies of the collection still routinely appear on auction sites both in Japan and abroad.

Flash Back -B'z Early Special Titles- is not considered part of the official B'z discography, and is not counted with concern to their records and sales due to it being released without the band's consent. The legal entanglement with BMG would continue three years later with the release of B'z The "Mixture" in 2000, which was a new compilation by the B'z that featured remixes and re-recordings of older B'z songs.