Famed R&B Producers For New Album

Acclaimed R&B producers who helped make Janet Jackson a huge star are planning to spice up their musical repertoire this year. The team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who created dark, mechanized soundscapes for Jackson's 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814, is scheduled to produce and co-write several songs for the third album by British dance-pop sensations the Spice Girls, Jam said Friday.

And if that isn't spicy enough for fans, the duo also plan to work with group member Melanie "Scary Spice" Gulzar on an upcoming solo debut, Jam said.

"Yeah, I'm in Spice World now." -- Jimmy Jam, producer. Jam and his partner, who are former members of the Prince-affiliated funk band the Time, have already finished a song with the group, he said. "We hung out with Baby and Sporty and wrote a song that turned out [well]," he said. That as-yet-unreleased collaboration led the Spice Girls, one of the most successful pop groups to come out of England in years, to invite Jam and Lewis to work more extensively with them on their third album, according to Jam.

Both the group -- known for its motto "Girl Power" -- and the producers are "leaving ... open" the question of how many songs will emerge from their work together, Jam said. While that is taking shape, Scary Spice is preparing to spend some time this year with Jam and Lewis in their Minneapolis-based studio, working on songs for her first solo album."Mel's going to come up, bring her baby, and write with us. We're going to hang out," Jam said. The singer gave birth to a baby girl in February.

A spokesperson for Virgin, the group's record label, who asked not be named, confirmed the Spice Girls are beginning work on a new album. The group, which has marketed itself through everything from its music to the movies, is talking to several producers about working with them, the spokesperson said.

In an online chat in October, Emma "Baby Spice" Bunton told fans to expect the first single from the group's third album by Christmas '99. Elizabeth Freund, a publicist working with the group, said she had been unaware that Scary Spice was planning a solo album, but added the news wasn't surprising. The singer has already worked on projects outside of the Spice Girls, including a collaboration with hip-hop star Missy Elliot on the 1998 single "I Want You Back." Sporty Spice (born Melanie Chisholm), is working on a solo album of her own in a Los Angeles studio, Freund said. Sporty sang a duet with Canadian pop rocker Bryan Adams on the song "When You're Gone," for his 1998 album On A Day Like Today.

Jimmy Jam said that his son, a pre-schooler, is particularly delighted that he's working with the Spice Girls, whose fourth member is Posh Spice(born Victoria Addams). "Yeah, I'm in Spice World now," he laughed.

Geri Halliwell is scheduled to release her solo debut in the summer. The album's first single, "Look at Me," comes out May 10 in the U.K. and is scheduled to hit U.S. radio May 17.

My Bootiful Boy

PROUD dad David Beckham showed off his love for newborn son Brooklyn at England's 3-1 victory against Poland. He's had the three-week-old baby's name specially stitched on to his soccer boots. Beckham, 23, kissed his fingers and tenderly touched the name just before kick-off at Wembley on Saturday. And it brought England good luck in the crucial European championships qualifier.

Beckham helped set up one of a hat-trick of goals scored by Paul Scholes. Later, the Man United midfielder celebrated with Brooklyn's mum, Posh Spice, 24. The couple dined at fashionable London restaurant The Ivy. And the doting parents refused to leave Brooklyn at home with a babysitter. They brought him along and took it in turns to hold him.

Beckham, wearing a dark shirt and trendy specs, was also happy to show off his love for his Spice Girl girlfriend, Victoria Adams, 24. He affectionately nuzzled her neck in the back of a limo. And at dinner, he held Brooklyn several times because Victoria, in a skin-tight silver catsuit, was tired. A fellow diner said: "They were pretty quiet throughout their visit and Posh seemed unusually subdued. I wouldn't say they had fallen out, but she appeared a little down. Perhaps it's a slight touch of baby blues."

As they headed home, Posh Spice held Brooklyn tightly while Beckham put a protective arm around his family. A night out for two at The Ivy can easily cost £200, but that won't bother Britain's most glamorous couple. Between them they're worth £22million. Among Beckham's lucrative sponsorships is a £1million soccer boot deal with Adidas.

He sent them back to the factory in Germany to have Brooklyn's name stitched on. And his son could follow in his high-earning footsteps. Publicity experts say he could earn £3million before he's a year old by appearing in ads.

Brooklyn Gives Beckham 'New Perspective'

Footballer David Beckham has spoken for the first time about the joys of fatherhood and family life. His fiancee, Spice Girl Victoria Adams, gave birth to their son, Brooklyn, three weeks ago.

"We're a family now and I'm the happiest I've been in a long time," the England international told the Sunday Times. "Since we've had him I've grown up a lot and he's made me look at life from a new perspective. Things that were important before just don't seem as important now."

Victoria went into labour on March 4 and the Manchester United star was the first to hold his son. "I cried when he was born. I wanted to cut his umbilical cord, but the doctor did it so quickly I didn't get the chance."

He added: "He's got Victoria's nose and colouring but he's starting to go blond like me. He's got my legs, my feet and my toes - exactly the same toes as me."

The couple have said they will not hire a nanny for Brooklyn, who was conceived in New York, but look after him themselves. "We had a child so that we can raise him, not a nanny. I love looking after him, too. In fact, I've just changed a nappy."

Beckham denied the couple would be selling pictures of their son or doing a television show about their wedding, which is in August.

Mel Bump To Skinny Spice

It's just five weeks since Spice Girl Mel B gave birth to daughter Phoenix Chi but she's already got her fabulous slim figure back.Like fellow Spice Mum Victoria Adams, she has shaped up with a personal trainer and she sported a skin-tight outfit on a night out with husband Jimmy Gulzar. My snapper spotted them among celebrities including Lennox Lewis at London's Shepherds Bush Empire to see soul diva Beverly Knight.

Posh Spice Takes Baby Brooklyn Shopping

Posh Spice Victoria Adams has taught her three-week-old son his first valuable lesson in life - how to shop.

The pop queen, 23, tucked tiny Brooklyn into a black designer sling as she mingled with crowds in an exclusive children's store, then stopped off to grab a pizza for lunch. The tot was far from excited and promptly fell asleep, reports The Sun.

Victoria, already back in shape following vigorous workouts with a personal trainer, made the trip to the newly-opened Bluewater centre in Dartford, Kent, with her sister Louise and mum Jackie.

But there was no sign of Brooklyn's dad, Victoria's fiance David Beckham, as he geared up to play for England against Poland at Wembley. An insider at Europe's biggest shopping complex told The Sun: 'She was very motherly. She kept Brooklyn nestled into her chest throughout the two-hour visit.

'She only took him out of the sling once to show him to some other shoppers who wanted to have a look. Most people didn't recognise her as she was wearing a baseball cap.'

Geri Halliwell Takes On One Planet in Seven Days

Geri Halliwell is packed and ready to circumnavigate the planet in just seven days.

The Ex-Spice Girl will launch her solo career in London on April 7 and then jet off to romantic, exotic locations like ........... oh, she's going to Sydney.

First stop on the Geri junket will be Rio de Janeriro on the 8th of April and then New York on the 9th. She arrives in Tokyo on the 13th and there she will be thrown a party in her honour by the British Embassy.

Next day, Geri arrives in Sydney where it is expected she will race into a Safeway, buy a jar of Vegemite, some Tim Tams and a packet of Twisties, head to the zoo with a photo op with a kangaroo and then immediately jump back on her plane bound for Milan, Italy.

She arrives back on London on April 16 and will head immediately to Radio One's Breakfast Show for the official airing of the single Look At Me. Capitol Records will release the single on May 10.

Unique Lyric Sheets Raise Cash

Emma Bunton paid £3,100 for a new basement door, complete with the handwritten lyrics to a 1980s chart hit. The Spice Girl beat off other bidders at a charity auction of original song lyrics to grab the words to Our House by Madness written out on an ordinary yellow door.

Band lead singer Suggs autographed the door for Ms. Bunton, who said it would grace the doorway into her basement. The huge sale at a nightclub in London's Leicester Square raised £150,000 for music therapy and disadvantaged children's charities.

Mel C Is Not To Sing on New James Bond Film

Over the weekend a report surfaced in the British press that Spice Girl Mel C would be heard singing the track during the New James Bond Film opening credits. However, spokespeople for the Spice Girls say that the report is false and Mel C is not lined up to sing the track.

Cover Your Eyes

Calls to a child abuse helpline rose by 150% after the launch of a controversial and hard-hitting campaign to end cruelty to children. A spokesman for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said its helpline had been inundated on Tuesday night after the start of its Full Stop television advertising campaign.

The adverts, which are so hard hitting they cannot be shown before 9pm, feature the Spice Girls and England football captain Alan Shearer. The stars, who are icons for many young people, are seen with their hands over their eyes, in a repeated symbol signifying that child abuse is too horrifying to watch. The NSPCC says the Full Stop Campaign is one of its most ambitious challenges since it was founded more than 100 years ago, and is the start of a programme that will run for two decades.

The powerful new television adverts and posters depict shots of a home scene, with the "voice" of an abuser in the background. Children's toys such as a teddy bear and Rupert Bear also feature in the hands-over-the-eyes pose.

Sporty to Sing in New 007 Flick

Melanie Chisholm has been signed up to sing the theme song for the new £70 million James Bond movie. She'll also appear in an epic video for the song to be shot in the next few days - which will feature as part of the movie.

The deal, said to be worth £250,000, has been shrouded in secrecy. But a source close to the singer said yesterday: "Mel could hardly contain her excitement. She has had to keep extremely quiet over the deal - which has been very hard." Melanie, 23, will now join an illustrious list of artists who have sung on Bond films including Paul McCartney (Live And Let Die) and Shirley Bassey (Goldfinger). Action-packed scenes in the movie, The World Is Not Enough, include a £1 million-a-minute river chase on the Thames.Pierce Brosnan as Bond will also be dropped on to the Millennium Dome by balloon.

Meanwhile, Melanie's former band pal Geri Halliwell is filming her own pop promo video for her debut solo single Look To Me. Geri will, somewhat unbelievably, appear in the £150,000 video dressed as a nun.

Melanie C Snaps Photos

Two weeks after Posh gave birth to a baby boy fathered by her fiance, professional footballer David Beckham, fellow Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm has agreed to go behind the camera lense to snap shots of soccer star Gian Luca Vialli. According to the Girls' camp, Melanie was contacted by Vialli, who plays for the Chelsea Blues in Britain's Premier League, totake his picture as part of an international ad campaign for Kappa sportswear.

Melanie is also satisfied with just receiving a photo credit for her work, and will donate her photographer's fee to YCTV, a London-based charity that helps 11 to 19-year-olds create their own TV shows with the guidance from industry professionals.

No word yet if Melanie plans to extend her "shutterbug" skills for any of the art on the next Spice Girls album, which the group will record with producer Rodney Jerkins.

The new Spice Girls album is expected out by the end of the year.

Good to 'B' Back

Melanie Gulzar has managed to get her shape back so soon after having her baby - it's scary. The fiesty singer left hubby Jimmy Gulzar looking after five-week-old Phoenix Chi while she enjoyed a night on the town with Baby Spice Emma Bunton.

Melanie looked sensational as she arrived at London's trendy Titanic restaurant in a skin-tight see-through red dress with a skimpy G-string underneath. Clumpy eight-inch patchwork platform boots completed the bizarre ensemble.

Melanie and Emma had dinner with six other girl friends at the swanky eaterie in London's West End and were later joined by Noel Gallagher and wife Meg. Emma revealed that she has no plans for her own baby Spice. "People keep saying to me 'I bet you want one now' but I don't. I think I'd like to be married first. I love going to see the babies and cuddling them but then I like to leave them to it and go home," she said.

Meanwhile dancer Jimmy discovered what life as a Spice dad is all about. He spent his evening changing nappies and making up bottles while his missus knocked back the bubbly.

Spice To See You At Last

Mel B and hubby Jimmy Gulzar took it in turns to show off their beautiful tot at a top secret bash for Sporty Spice's mum.

And Scary, 23, installed a cot in her room at the Liverpool Swallow Hotel so she could be with three-week-old Phoenix around the clock. The Sun exclusively showed Mel with the infant last week, but our new picture is the first of her gorgeous face.

The hush-hush celebrity party was for the 50th birthday of Mel C's mum Joan O'Neill. A Spice Girls insider said last night: "Baby Phoenix stole the show."Absolutely everyone wanted to look at her.

"She really is a beautiful child and Mel is so proud of her. Scary said she would not miss the party for the world but was determined Phoenix should come along too."

Mel C, 24, gave a huge wave - and fuelled rumours of a romance - when she arrived for the party with Brookside star Paul Byatt, 27. Soccer nut Mel met Paul - who plays the soap's Mike Dixon - while watchingLiverpool play at home.

Baby Spice Emma Bunton was also at the party but Posh Spice Victoria Adams and fiancé David Beckham stayed away because he was playing for Manchester United at Newcastle.

So Here's Brooklyn At You Kid

POSH Spice Victoria Adams cuddles baby Brooklyn on a night out with fiancé David Beckham to celebrateher first Mother's Day.

Victoria, 24, and David, 23, were on their first public outing since the birth and enjoyed dinner with her family.

The glamorous couple went to a country house hotel with Victoria's dad Tony, mum Jackie, brother Christian, his girlfriend and her sister Louise.

Posh looked stunning in a black designer outfit, just ten days after giving birth to 7lb Brooklyn.

Manchester United ace David, who also wore black, kept a protective arm around the young mum. At one point during dinner, the proud dad took Brooklyn out of his chair for a cuddle.When they left the restaurant, Posh said: "I'm really happy to be with all my family and a great time was had by all."

Baby Brooklyn was well behaved at the dinner in the Downhall County House Hotel in Bishop's Stortford, Herts. But Louise's daughter Liberty kept crawling around the floor of the restaurant and had to be rescued from other diners during Sunday night's trip out.

After dinner, David presented Victoria with a surprise cake from Brooklyn - baked by Jane Asher.

Sister Louise was also celebrating her first Mother's Day. But the proudest of them all was grandmother Jackie who toasted her two daughters. She said: "This is the best Mother's Day a mum could ask for. I'm really proud of them. "

A fellow diner said yesterday: "They were like any ordinary family. There was not a murmur from Brooklyn. He was good as gold."

The Real Deal

It's been sometimes since the Spice Girls appear in their London studio, together as a four. This time, the girls claimed they're back for real, and definitely better than the first.  Still recording and writing their third and fourth release, sources revealed that the Spice Girls' comeback due late this year.

Their long-time pal, Geri Halliwell revealed to the media that her songs  have alomst complete writing and recording sessions. More information on her release will be posted to you soon.