Monday, October 31, 2011

NEW ALBUM COMING FROM AMY WINEHOUSE - AMY WINEHOUSE LIONESS: HIDDEN TRASURES

Breaking news out of London…the late Amy Winehouse will release a new album on December 5th! Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures includes 12 tracks recorded over the course of her career. Producers Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson, Amy's close pal, have been locked in studios across the world for the past few weeks pulling the album together. Salaam said: "When I listened back you would hear some of the conversations in between — that was emotional. It has been hard, but it has also been an amazing thing. Amy was a gifted girl. I believe she has left something beyond her years. She has put a body of work together that will inspire an unborn generation. I'm blessed to be part of that process, to have known that person and to continue her legacy with this album." Amy, who scored a string of hits and won five Grammy awards despite battling drink and drugs, died at her home in Camden, North London.

The posthumous album will be released on December 5 and £1 from every sale will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which is helping children's charities. The most emotional track for the singer's family and fans is her cover of A Song For You, a Leon Russell tune made famous by Amy's favourite artist Donny Hathaway. The song, on which Amy plays guitar, was recorded in a single take at her London home in 2009 as she battled to overcome her addiction to Class A drugs. Her voice can be heard quaking as she tearfully delivers the lyrics. Another cover, of Carole King's Shirelles classic Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, was produced in 2004 — months before Amy embarked on her drink and drug hell. And a further track, Between The Cheats, was recorded as the star emerged from her turbulent marriage to Blake Fielder-Civil.

Amy Winehouse Lioness: Hidden Treasures:
1. Our Day Will Come (Reggae Version): Re-working of classic '60s doo-wop song produced by Salaam Remi. Recorded May 2002.

2. Between The Cheats: New Amy composition recorded in London in May 2008 for potential inclusion on album three, produced by Salaam Remi.

3. Tears Dry: First written by Amy as a ballad, this is the original version she recorded in November 2005 in Miami with Salaam. The later up-tempo version appears on Back To Black.

4. Wake Up Alone: The first song recorded for the Back To Black sessions. This is the one-take demo recorded in March 2006 by Paul O'Duffy.

5. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow: Beautiful reading of the Carole King-written Shirelles classic. Produced by Mark Ronson and featuring the Dap Kings with string arrangements by Chris Elliott. Recorded in September 2004.

6. Valerie: One of Amy's jukebox favourites, the original slower tempo version of the Mark Ronson-produced post-Back To Black single. Recorded in December 2006.

7. Like Smoke: Featuring Nas: Amy and Nas became good friends after Amy name-checked the New York rapper on Back To Black's Me & Mr Jones. Like Smoke is Amy finally doing a song with one of her favourite artists. Produced by Salaam Remi. Recorded in May 2008.

8. The Girl From Ipanema: The first song 18-year-old Amy sang when she went to Miami to record with Salaam. He remarked that "the way she re-interpreted this bossa nova classic made me realise I was dealing with a very special talent. Her approach to the song was so young and fresh, it inspired the rest of our sessions". Recorded in May 2002.

9. Halftime: Amy had talked to Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of the Roots about working together. Amy and Salaam worked on Halftime since the Frank sessions. The result is beautiful. Recorded in August 2002.

10. Best Friends: Frank-era live set opener produced by Salaam Remi. Probably the first song that early Amy fans would have heard live. Recorded in February 2003.

11. Body & Soull with Tony Bennett: Cover of '30s jazz standard with hero Tony Bennett. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios London in March 2011 and produced by Phil Ramone. Amy's final studio recording.

12. A Song For You: Heartbreaking and emotional version of the classic made famous by Donny Hathaway, Amy's favourite artist. The song was recorded in one take, just Amy and her guitar, at her home during spring 2009 as she battled her demons. Produced by Salaam Remi.

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