Greatest Hits (Spice Girls album)

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Untitled

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by the English girl group Spice Girls. It received a physical release worldwide throughout November 2007,[1] except for the United States where it received a limited release on 6 November 2007 through Victoria's Secret and a full release on 15 January 2008.[2] It was their first album to be released in seven years and was supported by an accompanying world tour. The Spice Girls' Greatest Hits was the world's best selling girl group album of 2007.[3] In August 2012, after the Spice Girls' performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the album re-charted in the top ten, twenty and thirty of most major charts worldwide including the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand and Australia.

Background

The plan to reform and release a greatest hits had long been speculated by the media,[4] but its planned release was first confirmed by Mel B in June 2005.[5] She stated, "We'll get back together because we all want to. I know everyone is up for it. There is going to be a greatest hits album and we've got loads of new songs that nobody has heard yet."[5] On 28 June 2007, the group held a press conference at The O2 Arena revealing their intention to reunite.[6] During the conference, the group confirmed their intention to embark upon a worldwide concert tour, starting in Vancouver on 2 December 2007.[7] "I want to be a Spice Girl again. We are like sisters and we have our arguments, but by the end of the day we get back together", said Emma Bunton, while Melanie Chisholm commented that the tour "will be a proper good farewell to our fans".[8] The group's comeback single, "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)", was announced as the official Children in Need charity single for 2007,[9] and released on radio on 23 October, whilst released digitally on 5 November and commercially on 19 November 2007.[10][11]

Release

The album was released in several different formats, including versions with bonus DVDs and CDs.[1] The limited edition box set includes the normal standard edition CD, a karaoke CD (of all 13 previously released tracks), a remix CD, a DVD of the group's music videos, individual postcards of each Spice Girl and a friendship bracelet bearing the words Spice Girls.

In the United States, the album was initially released only through Victoria's Secret stores (which came with three downloadable remixes of "Wannabe", "2 Become 1" and "Spice Up Your Life"[12]) together with a digital release via the iTunes Store. It was announced that other retail outlets would receive them on 15 January 2008; however, online retailers listed the date as 11 December 2007, and copies of the album were found in retail outlets outside of Victoria's Secret on the release day. Despite the revision of the Billboard charts (beginning the week of 7 November 2007) in the United States, defining that albums sold by exclusive retailers (e.g. Walmart, etc.) were eligible to chart on the Billboard 200,[13] Greatest Hits sold over 600,000 copies through Victoria's Secret stores, but was not eligible to chart in the week of 13 November 2007 due to Victoria's Secret not being SoundScan enabled.[13]

Artwork

The artwork for Greatest Hits was revealed through the group's official website in August 2007. According to the announcement, the group were all involved with the design, and were pleased with the outcome.[14] It features a £1,000,000 jewel encrusted logo, which pays homage to their debut album, Spice (1996). The jewels were designed by David Morris and each letter represents one member of the group. The "S" is made from amber and represents Victoria Beckham; the ruby pink "P" is Emma Bunton; Melanie C's letter "I" is made from a diamond; Geri Halliwell is the "C", made from amethyst stones and the emerald "E" is Melanie B.[15][16] According to a source, they wanted something simple and stylish, and it is one of the most expensive album covers ever made.[16]

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[17]
BBC Musicpositive[18]
IGNpositive[19]
NME[20]
The Daily CollegianA[21]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that the songs featured on the album have aged "exactly as you thought they might".[17] Spence D. of IGN cited Greatest Hits as being "pretty much what you would expect it to be".[19] According to a writer from The Daily Collegian, the greatest hits compilation "shows us that when these five women sing, they sound awesome", while also commenting that its members "have changed in their time away from each other, but the distinctive sound of the Spice Girls remains the same as it always was".[21] Talia Kraines, writing for BBC Music was positive in her review, saying that "if you were one of the many haters of the Spice Girls back in the day, then this CD isn't going to change your mind about them. But if you grew up watching their every move, then this is a slice of nostalgia that miraculously still sounds fresh today".[18] NME gave the compilation a mixed review, stating that "about halfway through this comp it hits home how dramatically the Spice Girls lost the plot, [...] The likes of ‘Say You’ll Be There’ and ‘Goodbye’ are fine songs in any age".[20]

Commercial performance

In the group's home country of the United Kingdom, the album missed the top spot, peaking at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.[22] To date, it has sold in excess of 400,000 in the country. Despite missing number one in the United Kingdom, it managed to become the group's first number-one album in Australia,[22] and was certified platinum there (for shipments of over 70,000 units). For reasons stated above, despite selling over 600,000 copies through Victoria's Secret stores in the United States,[13] the album barely made the top 100 of the Billboard 200, peaking at number 93. Elsewhere, the album peaked at number 9 in Ireland,[22] number 15 in New Zealand,[22] and managed to peak inside the top 20 in Italy, the top 50 in Sweden, and the top 75 in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands.[22] The album made the top 10 at number 7 on the European Top 100 Albums chart, published by Billboard.[23] In August 2012, after the Spice Girls' performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the album re-charted in the top ten, twenty and thirty of most major charts worldwide including the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand and Australia.

Promotion

Main article: The Return of the Spice Girls
Victoria Beckham and Emma Bunton in Las Vegas, Nevada, performing "2 Become 1" during their reunion tour

In November 2007, the group performed together for the first time in nearly a decade at the 2007 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, held in Los Angeles, California. The group dressed in military-themed outfits performed "Stop" and "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" miming to a backing track, in front of giant glittering lights that spelled out "Spice" in the background.[24] A taped performance of the group lyp-synching the songs, while dressed in blue sailor outfits, aired on 17 November 2007 for the Children in Need 2007 marathon.[25] The song was also the official Children in Need single of 2007.[26] In addition, they performed "2 Become 1" on the finale of the fifth season of the British television show Strictly Come Dancing. They wore floor-length gowns and used microphones covered in glitter, while professional dancers did a choreography in front of them.[27] Filmmaker Bob Smeaton, directed an official documentary on the reunion. It was entitled Spice Girls: Giving You Everything and was first aired on Australia's Fox8 on 16 December 2007,[28] followed by BBC One in the United Kingdom, on 31 December.[29]

On 28 June 2007, the group held a press conference at The O2 Arena revealing their intention to reunite and embark upon a tour.[30] They announced The Return of the Spice Girls tour on their website, and it would start in Vancouver on 2 December 2007.[7] Ticket sales for the first London date of the tour sold out in 38 seconds.[31] It was reported that over one million people signed up in the UK alone and over five million worldwide for the ticket ballot on the band's official website.[31] Sixteen additional dates in London had been added and sold out.[32] In the United States, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Jose shows also sold out, prompting additional dates to be added.[33] It was announced that the Spice Girls would be playing dates in Chicago, Detroit and Boston, as well as additional dates in New York to keep up with the demand. On the first concert in Canada, they performed to an audience of 15,000 people, singing twenty songs and changing a total of eight times.[34] On 1 February 2008, it was announced that due to personal and family commitments their tour would come to an end in Toronto on 26 February 2008, meaning that tour dates in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Cape Town and Buenos Aires were cancelled.[35]

Singles

The album features two new songs: "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" and "Voodoo". "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" was released as a single on November 5, 2007 and peaked at number 11 in the United Kingdom. Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell described "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" as a "big love song" and "a Spice Girl classic".[11]

Track listings

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Greatest Hits.[36]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Wannabe" (from Spice, 1996)
  • Rowe
  • Stannard
2:54
2."Say You'll Be There" (from Spice)
Absolute3:58
3."2 Become 1" (from Spice)
  • Spice Girls
  • Stannard
  • Rowe
  • Rowe
  • Stannard
  • Andy Bradfield (add.)
4:04
4."Mama" (from Spice)
  • Spice Girls
  • Stannard
  • Rowe
  • Rowe
  • Stannard
3:42
5."Who Do You Think You Are" (from Spice)
Absolute3:46
6."Move Over" (from Spiceworld, 1997)
  • Spice Girls
  • Clifford Lane
  • Stannard
  • Mary Wood
  • Rowe
  • Stannard
2:44
7."Spice Up Your Life" (from Spiceworld)
  • Spice Girls
  • Stannard
  • Rowe
  • Rowe
  • Stannard
2:56
8."Too Much" (from Spiceworld)
  • Spice Girls
  • Watkins
  • Wilson
Absolute3:53
9."Stop" (from Spiceworld)
  • Spice Girls
  • Watkins
  • Wilson
Absolute3:26
10."Viva Forever" (from Spiceworld)
  • Spice Girls
  • Stannard
  • Rowe
  • Rowe
  • Stannard
4:14
11."Let Love Lead the Way" (from Forever, 2000)
  • Mason Jr.
  • Daniels
  • Jerkins
4:16
12."Holler" (from Forever)
  • Beckham
  • Brown
  • Bunton
  • Chisholm
  • Daniels
  • Jerkins III
  • Jerkins
  • Daniels
  • Jerkins
3:57
13."Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" (new recording)
  • Spice Girls
  • Stannard
  • Rowe
  • Rowe
  • Stannard
3:31
14."Voodoo" (new recording)
  • Spice Girls
  • Stannard
  • Rowe
  • Rowe
  • Stannard
3:11
15."Goodbye" (from Forever)
  • Spice Girls
  • Stannard
  • Rowe
  • Rowe
  • Stannard
4:22
Total length:54:54
iTunes Store bonus tracks[37]
No.TitleLength
16."Wannabe" (Junior Vasquez Gomis Dub)6:38
17."Tell Me Why" (Jonathan Peters Edit)3:24
18."Say You'll Be There" (Junior's X-Beats)6:57
19."Girl Power" (video)5:26
Special edition DVD[38]
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Wannabe"Jhoan Camitz3:56
2."Say You'll Be There"Vaughan Arnell3:52
3."2 Become 1"Big TV!3:56
4."Mama"Big TV!3:37
5."Who Do You Think You Are"Greg Masuak3:42
6."Spice Up Your Life"Marcus Nispel3:05
7."Too Much"Howard Greenhalgh3:50
8."Stop"James Brown3:31
9."Viva Forever"Steve Box4:10
10."Let Love Lead the Way"Greg Masuak4:18
11."Holler"Jake Nava4:15
12."Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)" (US edition only)Anthony Mandler3:56
13."Goodbye"Howard Greenhalgh4:35
Box set remix disc[39]
No.TitleLength
1."Wannabe" (Motiv 8 Vocal Slam Mix)6:21
2."Say You'll Be There" (Junior's Main Pass)8:35
3."2 Become 1" (Dave Way Remix)4:02
4."Mama" (Biffco Mix)5:50
5."Who Do You Think You Are" (Morales Club Mix)9:31
6."Spice Up Your Life" (Murk Cuba Libre Mix)8:07
7."Too Much" (SoulShock & Karlin Remix)3:54
8."Stop" (Morales Remix)7:25
9."Viva Forever" (Tony Rich Remix)5:21
10."Holler" (MAW Remix)8:32
11."Goodbye" (Orchestral Mix)4:16

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[55] Platinum 70,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[56] Gold 30,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[57] Gold 50,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[58] Platinum 15,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[59] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[61] Gold 600,000[13]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Japan[62] 7 November 2007
EMI Music Japan
Germany[63] 9 November 2007
EMI
United Kingdom[64] 12 November 2007 Virgin
Canada[65] 13 November 2007 CD Virgin
United States[66] Virgin
Japan[62] 28 November 2007 Box set EMI Music Japan
United States[66] 15 January 2008
  • Box set
  • CD
  • CD+DVD
 Virgin
Japan[67] 10 February 2010 CD EMI Music Japan
5 December 2012
11 June 2014 SHM-CD

References

  1. ^ a b CDJapan – SPICE GIRLS Complete releases. CDJapan. Retrieved 15 September 2007.
  2. ^ Article confirming release details for the United States Billboard. Accessed 8 January 2008.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 2011-09-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link). Accessed 25 November 2016.
  4. ^ Finn, Natalie (8 June 2007). "A Well Seasoned Rumour". E! Online. Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Spice Girls Plan Greatest Hits". Contactmusic.com. 5 June 2005. Retrieved 27 June 2007.
  6. ^ "They're back... Spice Girls to play London in December (and earn £10m each)". London Evening Standard. Evgeny Lebedev. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Spice Girls". TheSpiceGirls.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
  8. ^ Norman, Pete (28 June 2007). "The Spice Girls Reunite for World Tour". People. Time Inc. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Girls' new single adds Spice to Children in Need". BBC. 8 October 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) - Spice Girls". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Spice Girls to release new single". BBC. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
  12. ^ "Spice Girls - Greatest Hits (CD, Limited Edition)". Discogs. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d "Spice Girls' 'Greatest' already gold". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 9 April 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "Spice Girls". Web.archive.org. 22 August 2007. Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Spice Girls Get Glittery | MTV UK". Mtv.co.uk. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  16. ^ a b "$2.84m to decorate new Spice Girls album". Stuff.co.nz. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  17. ^ a b Thomas, Stephen. "Greatest Hits - Spice Girls : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  18. ^ a b Kraines, Talia (12 November 2007). "Music - Review of Spice Girls - Greatest Hits". BBC. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  19. ^ a b "Spice Girls - Greatest Hits Review - IGN". Ca.ign.com. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  20. ^ a b "NME Album Reviews - Spice Girls". NME. IPC Media. 9 November 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  21. ^ a b "'Spice Girls Greatest Hits'". The Daily Collegian. Collegian Inc. 7 December 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Spice Girls – Greatest Hits worldwide chart positions". aCharts.us. Retrieved 19 November 2007.
  23. ^ a b Billboard.com – Charts – Albums – European Top 100 Albums
  24. ^ Elsworth, Catherine (17 November 2007). "Spice Girls in Hollywood gig sneak preview". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  25. ^ "Prime time mime? Spice Girls back in black for Children in Need". Daily Mail. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  26. ^ "Spice Girls support Pudsey with new single". Retrieved 9 October 2007.
  27. ^ "Spice Girls add their own seasonal sparkle to Strictly Come Dancing, performing their first Christmas No.1". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. 23 December 2007. Archived from the original on 16 August 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Spice impersonators hit OZ. news.com.au. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  29. ^ New Spice Girls documentary on BBC One on 31 December. BBC Press Office. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  30. ^ Statement regarding Spice Girls' future from 19 Entertainment[dead link] The Washington Post, 22 June 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  31. ^ a b BBC News. Fans snap up Spice Girls tickets. BBC. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
  32. ^ Spice Girls add more dates to tour. The Press Association. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  33. ^ BBC News. Spice Girls add new London dates. BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  34. ^ Spice Girls wow Canada in first of reunion concerts. The Times. Retrieved 15 December 2007.
  35. ^ BBC News. Spice Girls cut short world tour. BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2008.
  36. ^ Greatest Hits (CD liner notes). Spice Girls. EMI Music. 2007. 5099951017224.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  37. ^ "iTunes - Music - Spice Girls - Greatest Hits by Spice Girls". Itunes.apple.com. 9 November 2007. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ Thomas, Stephen (11 December 2007). "Greatest Hits [Bonus DVD] - : Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  39. ^ "Spice Girls - Greatest Hits (Box Set, Limited Edition)". Discogs. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  40. ^ CAPIF Charts – Argentina Archived 2 May 2006 at archive.today
  41. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Spice Girls – Greatest Hits" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  42. ^ "Ultratop.be – Spice Girls – Greatest Hits" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  43. ^ "Ultratop.be – Spice Girls – Greatest Hits" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  44. ^ "Associaусo Brasileira de Produtores de Disco". ABPD. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  46. ^ Greek Intern. Albums Chart Archived 2 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  47. ^ Italian Albums Chart Archived 30 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ スパイス・ガールズのアルバム売り上げランキング (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ "Mexicancharts.com – Spice Girls – Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  50. ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20071118/40
  51. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Spice Girls – Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  52. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Spice Girls – Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  53. ^ Swiss Albums Chart
  54. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2007". ARIA. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  55. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  56. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Spice Girls – Greatest Hits" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  57. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Spice Girls – Greatest Hits". Music Canada. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  58. ^ NO certyear WAS PROVIDED for Ireland CERTIFICATION.
  59. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Spice Girls – Greatest Hits". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  60. ^ "British album certifications – Spice Girls – Greatest Hits". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 September 2011. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Greatest Hits in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  61. ^ "American album certifications – Spice Girls – Spice". Recording Industry Association of America.
  62. ^ a b Release of Greatest Hits in Japan:
  63. ^ Release of Greatest Hits in Germany:
  64. ^ Release of Greatest Hits in the United Kingdom:
  65. ^ http://www.amazon.ca/Greatest-Hits-Spice-Girls/dp/B000WS4T34
  66. ^ a b Release of Greatest Hits in the United States:
  67. ^ Reissues of Greatest Hits in Japan:
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