Back to Black is the second and final studio album by English singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, released on October 27, 2006 by Island Records. Winehouse predominantly based the album on her tumultuous relationship with then-ex-boyfriend and future husband Blake Fielder-Civil, who temporarily left her to pursue his previous ex-girlfriend. Their short-lived separation spurred her to create an album that explores themes of guilt, grief, infidelity, heartbreak and trauma in a relationship. Influenced by the pop and soul music of 1960s girl groups, Winehouse collaborated with producers Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson, along with Sharon Jones' band The Dap-Kings, to assist her Read more on Last.fm.
There’s a scene I’d like you to picture…if you will. It’s the late 60’s, a breath after the Stones cut Satanic Request (yes I abbreviated the title). Phil Spector, prior to becoming the sort of guy that shoots a woman through her front teeth in his living room, leans against a non-descript alley wall, smoking his hand rolled cigarette and cursing the “new era” of sound, one where his soon to be ex, Ronnie, and her group, The Ronettes, have no place. He hates this because he likes the “old era”, where his “wall of sound” made the voices of gifted young black women sound like heavenly, sexualized choirs. He thinks on it, decides there’ll be someone new to fulfill his ambitions…and he goes back inside….probably to mix Let It Be.
Fast forward to 2006, in the mud and mirth of post-modern pop, a drug adled, fragile little woman with a voice bigger than Diana Ross hits the scene like a loaded dice, breaking every rule in the book and changing the horizon permanently. That bundle of bad news was Amy Winehouse. Despite her terrible sense of purpose, she managed to record what may have been the last great Motown record. (Yes, I like everything on Dap King), Back To Black was a mind fuck, a 100% traditional blend of hard drugs, sex and vintage Motown horn n guitar. It was something of a miracle, dodging the bubblegum bitches and becoming a landmark in three months time.
As we take in the expected news of the little ladies death, remember to respect that record. She was a joke personally, a complete failure as a human being….but motherf***ker…she could sing.