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The story of Back to Black is one in which celebrity and the potential of commercial success threaten to ruin Amy Winehouse, since the same insouciance and playfulness that made her sound so special when she debuted could easily have been whitewashed right out of existence for this breakout record. (That fact may help to explain why fans were so scared by press allegations that Winehouse had deliberately lost weight in order to present a slimmer appearance.) Although Back to Black does see her deserting jazz and wholly embracing contemporary R&B, all the best parts of her musical character emerge intact, and actually, are all the better for the transformation from jazz vocalist to soul siren. With producer Salaam Remi returning from Frank, plus the welcome addition of Mark Ronson (fresh off successes producing for Christina Aguilera and Robbie Williams), Back to Black has a similar sound to Frank but much more flair and spark to it. Winehouse was inspired by girl group soul of the '60s, and fortunately Ronson and Remi are two of the most facile and organic R&B producers active. (They certainly know how to evoke the era too; Remi's "Tears Dry on Their Own" is a sparkling homage to the Motown chestnut "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and Ronson summons a host of Brill Building touchstones on his tracks.) As before, Winehouse writes all of the songs from her experiences, most of which involve the occasionally riotous and often bittersweet vagaries of love. Also in similar fashion to Frank, her eye for details and her way of relating them are delightful. She states her case against "Rehab" on the knockout first single with some great lines: "They tried to make me go to rehab I won't go go go, I'd rather be at home with Ray" (Charles, that is). As often as not, though, the songs on Back to Black are universal, songs that anyone, even Joss Stone, could take to the top of the charts, such as "Love Is a Losing Game" or the title song ("We only said good bye with words, I died a hundred times/You go back to her, and I go back to black").
© John Bush /TiVo
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Mark Ronson, Producer, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Gabriel Roth, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Homer Steinweiss, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Brenneck, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Hanson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Edwards, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Ricotti, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Gladstone, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Elliott, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Pleeth, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Perry Montague-Mason, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sidwell, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Rees, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Davies, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Movshon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Thorne, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Bishop, Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Tombling, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Pigott-Smith, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Boguslaw Kostecki, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Bolt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Neal Sugarman, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Liz Edwards, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Berrow, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Helen Tunstall, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Zielinski, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Vaughan Merrick, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Guy, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Katie Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - John Heley, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Talbot, Tenor Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Binky Griptite, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Axelrod, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Winehouse, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mike Smith, Tenor Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Joely Koos, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Dom Morley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Paul, Unknown, Other - Andy MacKintosh, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Makowski, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2006 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Mark Ronson, Producer, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Gabriel Roth, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Homer Steinweiss, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Brenneck, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Gladstone, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Movshon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Neal Sugarman, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Guy, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Binky Griptite, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Axelrod, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Winehouse, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Matt Paul, Unknown, Other - Mike Makowski, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2006 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
James Wisner, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - SALAAM REMI, Producer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Winehouse, Guitar, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Noble, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Vincent Henry, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Franklin Socorro, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gleyder Disla, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shomari Dillon, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Clayton Purse, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2007 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
James Wisner, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Adams, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - SALAAM REMI, Producer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Winehouse, Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Noble, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Vincent Henry, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Franklin Socorro, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Troy Auxilly-Wilson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gleyder Disla, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shomari Dillon, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Clayton Purse, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2007 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Mark Ronson, Producer, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Gabriel Roth, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Homer Steinweiss, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Brenneck, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Hanson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Ricotti, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Gladstone, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Elliott, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Pleeth, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Perry Montague-Mason, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Rees, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Davies, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Movshon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Thorne, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Bishop, Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Tombling, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Pigott-Smith, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Boguslaw Kostecki, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Bolt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Liz Edwards, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Berrow, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Zielinski, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Vaughan Merrick, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer - Katie Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - John Heley, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Talbot, Tenor Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Binky Griptite, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Axelrod, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Winehouse, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Joely Koos, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Paul, Unknown, Other - Andy MacKintosh, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Makowski, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2006 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Mark Ronson, Producer, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Gabriel Roth, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Homer Steinweiss, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Brenneck, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Hanson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Everton Nelson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Edwards, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Ricotti, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Gladstone, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Elliott, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Pleeth, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Perry Montague-Mason, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sidwell, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Rees, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Davies, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Movshon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Thorne, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Bishop, Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Tombling, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Pigott-Smith, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Boguslaw Kostecki, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Bolt, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Bruce White, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Liz Edwards, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Berrow, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Helen Tunstall, Harp, AssociatedPerformer - Warren Zielinski, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Vaughan Merrick, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer - Katie Wilkinson, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - John Heley, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Jamie Talbot, Tenor Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Binky Griptite, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Axelrod, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Winehouse, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mike Smith, Tenor Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Joely Koos, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Dom Morley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Paul, Unknown, Other - Andy MacKintosh, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Makowski, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2006 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
NICKOLAS ASHFORD, ComposerLyricist - Valerie Simpson, ComposerLyricist - SALAAM REMI, Producer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Amy Winehouse, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Vincent Henry, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Franklin Socorro, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Paul, Unknown, Other - Troy Auxilly-Wilson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gleyder Disla, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shomari Dillon, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Clayton Purse, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Mark Ronson, Producer, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Gabriel Roth, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Homer Steinweiss, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Brenneck, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Gladstone, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Movshon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Binky Griptite, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Axelrod, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Winehouse, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul O'Duffy, ComposerLyricist - Matt Paul, Unknown, Other - Mike Makowski, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2006 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
James Wisner, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Adams, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - SALAAM REMI, Producer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Winehouse, Guitar, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Noble, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Vincent Henry, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Franklin Socorro, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gleyder Disla, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shomari Dillon, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2006 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Robert Poindexter, ComposerLyricist - Richard Poindexter, ComposerLyricist - Mark Ronson, Producer, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Gabriel Roth, Co-Arranger, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Homer Steinweiss, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Brenneck, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jesse Gladstone, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Movshon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Elmhirst, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Neal Sugarman, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Guy, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Binky Griptite, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Axelrod, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Winehouse, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - John Harrison, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Dom Morley, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Paul, Unknown, Other - Mike Makowski, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cochemea Gastelum, Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Kopelman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
James Wisner, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Adams, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - SALAAM REMI, Producer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Amy Winehouse, Guitar, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Noble, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Vincent Henry, Alto Sackbut, AssociatedPerformer - Franklin Socorro, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Troy Auxilly-Wilson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gleyder Disla, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shomari Dillon, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Clayton Purse, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Universal Island Records Ltd. A Universal Music Company.
Album review
The story of Back to Black is one in which celebrity and the potential of commercial success threaten to ruin Amy Winehouse, since the same insouciance and playfulness that made her sound so special when she debuted could easily have been whitewashed right out of existence for this breakout record. (That fact may help to explain why fans were so scared by press allegations that Winehouse had deliberately lost weight in order to present a slimmer appearance.) Although Back to Black does see her deserting jazz and wholly embracing contemporary R&B, all the best parts of her musical character emerge intact, and actually, are all the better for the transformation from jazz vocalist to soul siren. With producer Salaam Remi returning from Frank, plus the welcome addition of Mark Ronson (fresh off successes producing for Christina Aguilera and Robbie Williams), Back to Black has a similar sound to Frank but much more flair and spark to it. Winehouse was inspired by girl group soul of the '60s, and fortunately Ronson and Remi are two of the most facile and organic R&B producers active. (They certainly know how to evoke the era too; Remi's "Tears Dry on Their Own" is a sparkling homage to the Motown chestnut "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and Ronson summons a host of Brill Building touchstones on his tracks.) As before, Winehouse writes all of the songs from her experiences, most of which involve the occasionally riotous and often bittersweet vagaries of love. Also in similar fashion to Frank, her eye for details and her way of relating them are delightful. She states her case against "Rehab" on the knockout first single with some great lines: "They tried to make me go to rehab I won't go go go, I'd rather be at home with Ray" (Charles, that is). As often as not, though, the songs on Back to Black are universal, songs that anyone, even Joss Stone, could take to the top of the charts, such as "Love Is a Losing Game" or the title song ("We only said good bye with words, I died a hundred times/You go back to her, and I go back to black").
© John Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:34:53
- Main artists: Amy Winehouse
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal-Island Records Ltd.
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
© 2006 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited ℗ 2015 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
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