diff --git a/mopidy/backends/base.py b/mopidy/backends/base.py
index dc8a87ad..ef6ca20f 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/base.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/base.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import time
 
+from mopidy.exceptions import MpdNotImplemented
+
 class BaseBackend(object):
     PLAY = u'play'
     PAUSE = u'pause'
@@ -65,36 +67,72 @@ class BaseBackend(object):
 
 # Control methods
     def next(self):
-        pass
+        self.stop()
+        if self._next():
+            self.state = self.PLAY
+            self._play_time_accumulated = 0
+            self._play_start = int(time.time())
+
+    def _next(self):
+        raise MpdNotImplemented
 
     def pause(self):
-        self.state = self.PAUSE
-        self._play_time_accumulated += int(time.time()) - self._play_start
+        if self.state == self.PLAY and self._pause():
+            self.state = self.PAUSE
+            self._play_time_accumulated += (
+                int(time.time()) - self._play_start)
 
-    def play(self):
-        self.state = self.PLAY
-        self._play_time_accumulated = 0
-        self._play_start = int(time.time())
+    def _pause(self):
+        raise MpdNotImplemented
 
-    def play_pos(self, songpos):
-        self.state = self.PLAY
-        self._play_time_accumulated = 0
-        self._play_start = int(time.time())
+    def play(self, songpos=None, songid=None):
+        if self.state == self.PAUSE and songpos is None and songid is None:
+            return self.resume()
+        self.stop()
+        if songpos is not None:
+            result = self._play_pos(songpos)
+        elif songid is not None:
+            result = self._play_id(songid)
+        else:
+            result = self._play()
+        if result:
+            self.state = self.PLAY
+            self._play_time_accumulated = 0
+            self._play_start = int(time.time())
 
-    def play_id(self, songid):
-        self.state = self.PLAY
-        self._play_time_accumulated = 0
-        self._play_start = int(time.time())
+    def _play(self):
+        raise MpdNotImplemented
+
+    def _play_id(self):
+        raise MpdNotImplemented
+
+    def _play_pos(self):
+        raise MpdNotImplemented
 
     def previous(self):
-        pass
+        self.stop()
+        if self._previous():
+            self.state = self.PLAY
+            self._play_time_accumulated = 0
+            self._play_start = int(time.time())
+
+    def _previous(self):
+        raise MpdNotImplemented
 
     def resume(self):
-        self.state = self.PLAY
-        self._play_start = int(time.time())
+        if self.state == self.PAUSE and self._resume():
+            self.state = self.PLAY
+            self._play_start = int(time.time())
+
+    def _resume(self):
+        raise MpdNotImplemented
 
     def stop(self):
-        self.state = self.STOP
+        if self.state != self.STOP and self._stop():
+            self.state = self.STOP
+
+    def _stop(self):
+        raise MpdNotImplemented
 
 # Current/single playlist methods
     def playlist_changes_since(self, version):
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/spotify.py b/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
index d5a0b312..e742f827 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
@@ -112,43 +112,44 @@ class SpotifyBackend(BaseBackend):
 
 # Control methods
 
-    def next(self):
+    def _next(self):
         self._current_song_pos += 1
-        self.play()
-
-    def pause(self):
-        super(SpotifyBackend, self).pause()
-        self.spotify.pause()
-
-    def play(self):
-        if self.state == self.PAUSE:
-            return self.resume()
-        if self._current_track is not None:
-            super(SpotifyBackend, self).play()
-            self.spotify.play(self._current_track)
-
-    def play_pos(self, songpos):
-        super(SpotifyBackend, self).play_pos(songpos)
-        self._current_song_pos = songpos
         self.spotify.play(self._current_track)
+        return True
 
-    def play_id(self, songid):
-        super(SpotifyBackend, self).play_id(songid)
+    def _pause(self):
+        self.spotify.pause()
+        return True
+
+    def _play(self):
+        if self._current_track is not None:
+            self.spotify.play(self._current_track)
+            return True
+        else:
+            return False
+
+    def _play_id(self, songid):
         self._current_song_pos = songid # XXX
         self.spotify.play(self._current_track)
+        return True
 
-    def previous(self):
+    def _play_pos(self, songpos):
+        self._current_song_pos = songpos
+        self.spotify.play(self._current_track)
+        return True
+
+    def _previous(self):
         self._current_song_pos -= 1
-        self.play()
+        self.spotify.play(self._current_track)
+        return True
 
-    def resume(self):
-        super(SpotifyBackend, self).resume()
+    def _resume(self):
         self.spotify.resume()
+        return True
 
-    def stop(self):
-        if self.state != self.STOP:
-            super(SpotifyBackend, self).stop()
-            self.spotify.stop()
+    def _stop(self):
+        self.spotify.stop()
+        return True
 
 # Unsorted
 
diff --git a/mopidy/handler.py b/mopidy/handler.py
index ad9bd527..706c537c 100644
--- a/mopidy/handler.py
+++ b/mopidy/handler.py
@@ -236,11 +236,11 @@ class MpdHandler(object):
 
     @register(r'^play "(?P<songpos>\d+)"$')
     def _playpos(self, songpos):
-        return self.backend.play_pos(int(songpos))
+        return self.backend.play(songpos=int(songpos))
 
     @register(r'^playid "(?P<songid>\d+)"$')
     def _playid(self, songid):
-        return self.backend.play_id(int(songid))
+        return self.backend.play(songid=int(songid))
 
     @register(r'^playlist$')
     def _playlist(self):