The Spice Girls’ debut album ‘SPICE’ started a massive cultural shift when it was released 25 years ago. The album, which was released on the 4th November 1996, spent fifteen weeks at No.1 on the Official Charts UK Album Chart across four separate spells, spending more than a year in the Top 40. The album also topped the US Billboard 200 album chart and was No.1 in thirteen other countries around the world. Since then, ‘Spice’ has sold more than 23 million copies worldwide.
Now, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this iconic album, Mel B, Mel C, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham will release a special edition of the album. Curated by the Spice Girls themselves, it brings together the original chart topping album with some of their favourite bonus tracks and B-sides, along with previously unreleased recordings from the Virgin archives. A collection rich in highlights, the album includes their four UK No.1 singles as well as a variety of remixes.
The 2CD set comes in an A5 hardback booklet, with a collection of iconic images plus brand new messages from the girls. The 2CD set also includes a set of six Spice Girls postcards, featuring photographs by Tim Roney, taken in Paris in September 1996. The album will come in a number of other formats, including a Zoetrope picture disc and limited edition coloured vinyl and cassettes (containing the audio from the original album only), with each Girl having a specific colour that corresponds across both vinyl and cassette editions. The perfect collectors items for any Spice Girls fan! The full original album has also been recreated in Dolby Atmos/ Apple Spatial Audio which will be available on Apple Music from 29th October 2021. Dolby Atmos is a revolutionary, immersive audio experience that goes beyond the ordinary listening experience and puts you inside the song in a spatial way, revealing every detail of the music with unparalleled clarity and depth.
“All I ever wanted was to be accepted and to make everyone around me – gay, straight, brown, black, shy or loud like me – to feel they can celebrate who they are and to be free to be themselves. All I hope – 25 years on – is that message has been heard loud and clear,” Mel B says of the iconic project. “It’s true that in the end love IS all you need so I thank everyone who has ever bought a Spice Girls record or stood in the rain to greet us or got dressed up in pink, in a tracksuit, a ginger wig, a leopard print catsuit or put on Vic’s iconic pout!”
Emma adds “From the first wannabe baby steps to conquering the whole world with a team of Spices, thank you doesn’t seem enough to all of you who have supported us, followed in our footsteps, walked in our great big shoes and who have shared our dreams. It’s been 25 years of pure magic. Spice Girls forever!!!” Geri continues “To our diehard and loyal fans; without you there is no us – sending endless love and gratitude. Whoever you are, whatever your dreams – live them, be them. The Spice Girls motto is testament to that.”
Meanwhile, Mel C says that the album takes her back to one of the most incredible times of her life. “I have so many wonderful memories of writing, recording, promoting and touring this album and so many people to thank,” she says. “This is the record that set us off on our incredible journey. A huge thank you to our fans and family all around the World. Thank you for always being there with your unrelenting support and making our dreams come true. My love and gratitude always.”
Finally, Victoria Beckham, who opted out of a Spice Girls reunion a few years ago, says “We couldn’t let 25 years pass without thanking the fans for their incredible support. There are so many people who have played a part in the success of the Spice Girls throughout the years, you know who you are and we thank you.”
‘SPICE25’ drops on 29 October 2021.
