‘Record Redux: Spice Girls’ Takes on the World
New book by Quentin Harrison marks the Spice Girls 20th anniversary on the heels of a buzz-worthy U.K. jaunt to connect with fans. Whether you were just becoming a fan when the Spice Girls first landed on the pop scene 20 years ago, or have only a passing knowledge of their biggest hits, there’s no way to miss the impact of the globe’s most successful female pop group.
This summer, music historian and commentator Quentin Harrison aims to make an impact of his own among pop music enthusiasts with ‘Record Redux: Spice Girls’. His debut book, part of a 12-book series documenting the discographies of women musicians, is an accessible reference guide and analysis of all things Spice.
The book acts as a reintroduction to the casual fan; for the faithful, it’s an affirmation of the Spice Girls’ musical prowess. Harrison recently returned from the U.K. where he held the “RRSG Walkabout” on March 26. The event allowed him to meet fans and tour various historical and contemporary “Spice sites.” Locations included the Royal Albert Hall (as seen in Spice World: The Movie), the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel (as seen in the “Wannabe” music video), and Victoria Beckham’s flagship storefront in the West End.
‘Record Redux: Spice Girls’ is available through Amazon.com in soft-cover format. A digital download for any tablet device will be offered through the Selz.com storefront. The book is published through Joy of Sound Publications with the support of Harrison’s hand-picked team: Paul Wolski, creative director and illustrator; and editors Jill Mazzetta and Travis Müller. Highlights include an entire study of the Spice Girls’ output as a unit and individually; compellingly rendered synopses of familiar and lesser-known works; and a foreword by renowned British music journalist David Sinclair, author of ‘Wannabe: How the Spice Girls Reinvented Pop Fame’.
The next ‘Record Redux’ release spotlights singer and songwriter Carly Simon. Simon rose to prominence with the hits “You’re So Vain” and “You Belong to Me” in the 1970s — and her career continued to flourish and develop for three more decades. This second book will be available April 10, 2017. The aim of the series is to draw attention to women recording artists whose musical legacies lack definitive discussion. “It’s about correcting context and the larger sphere of what the Spice Girls and other significant female artists have done,” Harrison says.