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| original cover |
release date: Oct. 30, 2006
format: cd (2007 Deluxe Edition)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,48]
producer: Mark Ronson, Salaam Remi
label: Island Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: Disc 1) 1. "Rehab" - 2. "You Know I'm No Good" - 3. "Me and Mr. Jones" (live) - 4. "Just Friends" - 5. "Back to Black" - 6. "Love Is a Losing Game" (5 / 5) (live) - 7. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (live on Later) - 8. "Wake Up Alone"
Disc 2) 1. "Valerie" (5 / 5) - 2. "Cupid" - 3. "Monkey Man" (live) - 4. "To Know Him Is to Love Him" - 5. "Hey Little Rich Girl" (feat. Zalon & Ade) (live) - 6. "You're Wondering Now" - 8. "Love Is a Losing Game" (Original Demo)
2nd and final studio album by Amy Winehouse released three years after her debut album contains 6 tracks produced by Mark Ronson and the remaining 5 tracks on the standard album is produced by Salaam Remi. The Deluxe Edition released 13 months later is a double disc album with the standard album in a remastered edition and a bonus disc with a collection of B-sides and live recordings.
The original album peaked at number #1 on the UK albums chart list, just as it did in many countries world-wide including in Austria, France, Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and in New Zealand. The album also went as high as to number #7 on the American Billboard 200, and when it was reissued as a double disc it peaked at number #2. It contains a number of great tracks and several singles made it to top-10 on the singles chart, although none ended up on top of the charts. The first single from the album was "Rehab", peaking at number #7 in the UK. This was followed by "You Know I'm No Good", which peaked at number #18, then the title track was released as a single, peaking at number #8, and then two more singles were released: "Tears Dry on Their Own" and "Love Is a Losing Game" peaking at number #16 and number #33, respectively.
Now, how do you pick a short list displaying only the best tracks from this album? It's an impossible task, and with the double disc edition it doesn't become any easier with a bonus disc full of gems including ska revival and rock steady tracks, e.g. "Hey, Little Rich Girl" (org. by The Specials), "Monkey Man" (by Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert) and "You're Wondering Now" (by Clement Seymour 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd). All songs here are wonderful examples of this woman's extraordinary gift and great potential, and although Frank is a mighty fine debut, it's nevertheless overshadowed by the strength of this very album. The songs here showcase Winehouse's songwriter qualities and most of all, it's produced and arranged to support her songs, which makes this a better album.
Despite rumours about a follow-up Back to Black remains the final Amy Winehouse studio album. Following the album release, the success almost appeared without an end, which meant that she kept touring after new nominations and awards, and then her physical conditions began to show when performing on stage. She had recorded some demos that were meant for a forthcoming album but all this was shelved when she passed away Jul. 2011, at age 27.
Back to Black is naturally included in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" as it's one of the most evident top-of-year album releases, you may come across.
Highly recommended.
2006 Favourite releases: 1. Amy Winehouse Back to Black - 2. Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - 3. Band of Horses Everything All the Time
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| 2007 2-Disc Deluxe Edition |
