Way more
than just a box set of the key albums from the all-too-short career of Amy
Winehouse – as this massive package also features a wealth of rarities and live
tracks – most making their vinyl debut in this limited collection! The set
leads off with Frank – the stunning debut from UK soul singer Amy Winehouse – a
vocalist with a sound that's instantly captivating, and which will be with us
for years! Amy's clearly cut her chops in jazz, but also has a laidback and
soulful personality – easily shifting between modes for the right mood of each
song, without any of the pretensions that would ruin an album like this.
The
backings have a proud stepping feel that fits well with tunes like "In My
Bed", "What Is It About Men", "F*ck Me Pumps", and
"You Sent Me Flying" – really keeping Amy's spirit fresh throughout
the whole set! Next is Back to Black – an incredible album from Amy Winehouse –
even way better than her fantastic debut! Although a contemporary soul album,
this one's steeped in tradition – soul styles that run the gamut from Detroit
down to Kingston, and which are carried off here with a rougher, sharper-edged
sound than before! The instrumentation on here is really mindblowing – almost
at a Motown level, with isolated instruments really crackling out from the
fuller backings – all set to rhythms that snap and bounce, and are almost a bit
funky at times.
Credit is definitely due to producers Mark Ronson and Salaam
Remi – but Amy's vocals are really tremendous too – classic, but really
personal and fresh! Titles include "Rehab", "Just Friends",
"Back To Black", "Love Is A Losing Game", "He Can Only
Hold Her", "Some Unholy War", and "Me & Mr Jones".
Next is Lioness Hidden Treasures – a (sadly) posthumous release from Amy
Winehouse – a voice we loved for a couple good years before knowing how
troubled she was in real life and now lament the loss of – and this set,
largely put together by producer Salaam Remi turned out surprisingly well! It'd
be pretty easy to bow to cynicism, but for our money, there's more than enough
strong stuff here. It features production by Remi, plus Mark Ronson on a couple
tracks, and it's a mix of styles that ably demonstrate Amy's depth as an
interpreter.
There's some great, kinda late night jazzy soul numbers, classic
level 60s R&B and thoroughly modern hip hop soul – all with strong vocal
performances from Amy. Includes "Our Day Will Come", "Between
The Cheats", "Tears Dry (Original Version)", "Will You
Still Love Me Tomorrow (2011)", "Like Smoke" feat Nas (and some
eerily timely lyricism, as of this album's release date), "Valerie ('68
Version)", "Half Time", "The Girl From Ipanema",
"Half Time", "Body & Soul" with Tony Bennett, "A
Song For You" and more. Next is the 2LP set Live In London – the vinyl
debut of material from the DVD of the same name – with titles that incclude
"Just Friends", "Cherry", "Back To Black",
"Wake Up Alone", "Tears Dry On Their Own", "He Can
Only Hold Her/Doo Wop (That Thing)", "Valerie",
"Rehab", "Me & Mr Jones", "Monkey Man" and
more. Last is the album Rarities – which features three tracks from BBC
Sessions, four tracks from the iTunes festival in 2006, two tracks from Live At
T In The Park in 2004, and a few more live tracks too! (Limited numbered
edition.) ~ Dusty Groove
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