Spice (album)

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Spice
Spice cover
Studio album by Spice Girls
Released Flag of Japan 9 October 1996
Flag of the United Kingdom 4 November 1996
Flag of Australia 15 November 1996
Flag of World 4 February 1997
Recorded 1995 - 1996
Genre Pop, R&B, Dance, pop rock
Length 40:07
Label Virgin
Producer Matt Rowe
Richard Stannard
Andy Bradfield
Absolute
Professional reviews
Spice Girls chronology
Spice
(1996)
Spiceworld
(1997)
Alternate covers
Japanese CD cover
Japanese CD cover
Spanish Limited Edition CD cover
Spanish Limited Edition CD cover
Taiwanese CD cover
Taiwanese CD cover
Singles from Spice
  1. "Wannabe"
    Released: July 8, 1996
  2. "Say You'll Be There"
    Released: October 14, 1996
  3. "2 Become 1"
    Released: December 16, 1996
  4. "Mama /
    Who Do You Think You Are"

    Released: March 3, 1997

Spice is the multi-platinum debut album by English pop group Spice Girls, released in 1996 (see 1996 in music) and 1997 (see 1997 in music). It yielded the single "Wannabe" and is the best-selling album ever by a girl group, with worldwide sales of 23 million.[1] [2][3][4]

Contents

[edit] Reception

In November 1996 the Spice Girls released their debut album Spice in Europe. Despite negative reviews from others, it became an enormous success globally. The success was unprecedented and drew comparisons to Beatlemania (it was dubbed "Spicemania") due to the sheer volume of interest in the group.[5] In just seven weeks Spice had sold 1.8 million copies in Britain alone,[6] making the Spice Girls the fastest selling British act since The Beatles. In total, the album sold 3 million copies in Britain[6] and peaked at number 1 for 15 non-consecutive weeks. In Europe the album became the biggest-selling album of 1997 and was certified 8x Platinum by the IFPI for sales in excess of 15 million copies.[7] In the United States Spice became the biggest-selling album of 1997, peaking at number 1 and being certified 7x Platinum (for sales of over 7 million) by the RIAA.[8]

[edit] Tracklist

# Title Time
1. "Wannabe"
Writers: M. Rowe, V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell, R. Stannard
Producers: Richard Stannard, Matt Rowe
2:52
2. "Say You'll Be There"
Writers: Eliot Kennedy, J. Buck, V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell
Producers: Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson
3:56
3. "2 Become 1"
Writers: M. Rowe, V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell, R. Stannard
Producers: Richard Stannard, Matt Rowe
4:00
4. "Love Thing"
Writers: Bayliss, Kennedy, V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell
Producers: Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson
3:37
5. "Last Time Lover"
Writers: V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell, A. Watkins, P. Wilson
Producers: Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson
4:11
6. "Mama"
Writers: M. Rowe, V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell, R. Stannard
Producers: Richard Stannard, Matt Rowe
5:03
7. "Who Do You Think You Are"
Writers: V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell, A. Watkins, P. Wilson
Producers: Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson
3:59
8. "Something Kinda Funny"
Writers: V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell, A. Watkins, P. Wilson
Producers: Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson
4:02
9. "Naked"
Writers: V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell, A. Watkins, P. Wilson
Producers: Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson
4:25
10. "If U Can't Dance"
Writers: J. Castor, G. Clinton, B. Collins, W. "Junie" Morrison, V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell, A. Watkins, D. Stewart, P. Wilson
Producers: Richard Stannard, Matt Rowe
3:50
11. "Seremos Uno Los Dos"+
Writers: M. Rowe, V. Adams, M. Brown, E. Bunton, M. Chisholm, G. Halliwell, R. Stannard
Producers: Richard Stannard, Matt Rowe
4:00

+ Spanish Version of '2 Become 1'. Available on the Latin Edition of the album

[edit] Credits

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Additional personnel

  • Absolute – multiple instruments
  • Jackie Drew – violin
  • Eric Gooden – background vocals
  • Judd Lander – harmonica
  • Greg Lester – guitar, rhythm guitar
  • Perry Montague-Mason – leader
  • Mary Pearce – background vocals
  • Matt Rowe – keyboard
  • Richard Stannard – keyboard, background vocals
  • Tony Ward – cello

[edit] Production

  • Producers – Absolute, Andy Bradfield, Matt Rowe, Richard Stannard
  • Engineers – Adrian Bushby, Al Stone, Jeremy Wheatley
  • Assistant engineers – Adam Brown, Patrick McGovern
  • Mixing – Absolute, Andy Bradfield, Mark "Spike" Stent, Al Stone, Dave Way
  • Programming – Pete Davis, Matt Rowe, Richard Stannard, Statik, Paul Waller, Dave Way
  • Arrangers – Craig Armstrong, Mark Beswick
  • Orchestra contractor – Isobel Griffiths

[edit] Certifications, peaks & sales

Country Peak Position Certification (If Any) Sales/shipments
Australia 3 6x Platinum [9] 420,000+
Austria 1 (2 Weeks) Platinum[10] 50,000+
Belgium 3x Platinum[11] 150,000+
Brazil 1 2x Platinum[12] 500,000+
Canada 10x Platinum[13] 1,000,000+
Dutch Albums Chart 3x Platinum[14] 180,000+
European Albums Chart 8x Platinum[15] 8,000,000+
Finland 4 (4 Weeks) 2x Platinum[16] 76,000+[17]
France 2 (3 Weeks) 3x Platinum[18] 1,050,000+[19]
Germany 6 (5 weeks) 3x Gold[20] 450,000+
Hong Kong Platinum 15,000+
Mexico Gold[21] 100,000+
Netherlands 1 (6 Weeks) 3x Platinum[22] 300,000+
New Zealand 1 (1 Week)
Norway 1 (2 Weeks) 2x Platinum[23] 80,000+
Poland 2x Platinum[24] 80,000+
Russia 8
Spain 1 13x Platinum 1,300,000+
Sweden 1 (1 Week)
Switzerland 5 (3 Weeks) 2x Platinum[25] 100,000+
Thailand 1 (6 Weeks)
United Kingdom 1 (15 Weeks) 10x Platinum[26] 2,900,000+
United States 1 (5 Weeks) 7x Platinum[27] 7,400,000+[28]

[edit] Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1996 "Wannabe" UK Singles Chart #1
1997 "Wannabe" Canadian Singles Chart #1
1997 "Wannabe" Polish Chart #1
1997 "Wannabe" Billboard Hot 100 #1
1997 "Wannabe" Top 40 Mainstream #4
1997 "Wannabe" Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1
1997 "Wannabe" Maxi-Singles Sales #1
1997 "Wannabe" Rhythmic Top 40 #1
1997 "Wannabe" Adult Top 40 #27
1997 "Wannabe" Latin Pop Airplay #9
1997 "Wannabe" Thailand Chart #1
1996 "Say You'll Be There" UK Singles Chart #1
1997 "Say You'll Be There" Canadian Singles Chart #1
1997 "Say You'll Be There" Polish Chart #1
1997 "Say You'll Be There" Billboard Hot 100 #3
1997 "Say You'll Be There" Top 40 Mainstream #2
1997 "Say You'll Be There" Maxi-Singles Sales #9
1997 "Say You'll Be There" Rhythmic Top 40 #3
1997 "Say You'll Be There" Adult Top 40 #24
1997 "Say You'll Be There" Latin Pop Airplay #12
1996 "2 Become 1" UK Singles Chart #1
1997 "2 Become 1" Polish Chart #1
1997 "2 Become 1" Canadian Singles Chart #1
1997 "2 Become 1" Billboard Hot 100 #4
1997 "2 Become 1" Top 40 Mainstream #4
1997 "2 Become 1" Maxi-Singles Sales #24
1997 "2 Become 1" Rhythmic Top 40 #4
1997 "2 Become 1" Adult Top 40 #27
1997 "2 Become 1" Adult Contemporary #8
1997 "Mama" Polish Chart #1
1997 "Who Do You Think You Are/Mama" UK Singles Chart #1

[edit] References

Preceded by
Carrying Your Love with Me by George Strait
Billboard 200 number-one album
May 24 - June 20, 1997
July 12 - July 18, 1997
Succeeded by
Wu-Tang Forever by Wu-Tang Clan