The songs are not all based on one specific relationship, as in Jane, and also have a different sound than their first album, being more electric and drawing inspiration from such artists as Talking Heads, Michael Jackson and Prince.

Guitarist James Valentine stated that the goal was to make the songs sound more "up-tempo" than the ones on their previous record.

"[10] According to Levine, working with other artists had influences on the album: "Kanye West and Alicia Keys are amazing talents, in totally different ways.

"[11] The chorus of "Nothing Lasts Forever" is the same as the one used in the Kanye West single "Heard 'Em Say", which features Adam Levine, with exclusion to the line: "...the distance between us makes it so hard to stay...".

[12] It Won't Be Soon Before Long debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 429,000 copies in its first week of release.

It Won't Be Soon Before Long sold 102,000 copies digitally, breaking a record set the week before when Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight (Machine Shop/Warner Bros.) moved 84,000 via that format to debut at No.

It Won't Be Soon Before Long was certified Gold in Ireland, Italy and New Zealand, platinum in Australia, Canada, Japan and the UK.

The fourth single, "If I Never See Your Face Again" was re-recorded to feature singer Rihanna, and released digitally on May 2, 2008,[28] to promote the June 2008 re-issue of the album, impacting mainstream radio stations on May 15, 2008.

[29][30] It was directed by Marc Webb and featuring actress Candace Bailey, playing the love interest of Adam Levine.

[31] The band also performed the song in the television series CSI: NY, where they guest star in the episode "Page Turner".

[39] It Won't Be Soon Before Long was reissued in expanded form on June 29, 2008, in Australia and July 8, 2008, for the rest of the world via A&M/Octone.

The package included a bonus DVD with four music videos and a full concert recorded on June 13, 2007, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The reissue contained the original 12 tracks plus five B-sides: "Infatuation", "Miss You Love You", "Until You're Over Me", "Story" and "Losing My Mind".

[45] The Australian and UK versions included one more track, a remix of "Wake Up Call" by Mark Ronson featuring Mary J. Blige.