Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
2006
Album Summary
Back to Black is the second and final studio album by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse, released on 27 October 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 on capturing the sounds from that time period while blending them with contemporary R&B and neo-soul music. Between 2005 and 2006, she recorded the album's songs with Remi at Instrumental Zoo Studios in Miami and then with Ronson and the Dap-Kings at Chung King Studios and Daptone Records in New York. Tom Elmhirst mixed the album at Metropolis Studios in London. Back to Black was acclaimed by music critics, who praised Winehouse's songwriting and emotive singing style as well as Remi and Ronson's production. The album spawned five singles: "Rehab", "You Know I'm No Good", "Back to Black", "Tears Dry on Their Own" and "Love Is a Losing Game". It has also been cited as being a key influence to the widespread popularity of British soul throughout the late 2000s, paving the musical landscape for artists such as Adele, Duffy, and Estelle. At the 2008 Grammy Awards, Back to Black won Best Pop Vocal Album and was also nominated for Album of the Year. At the same ceremony, Winehouse won four additional awards, tying her with five other artists as the second-most awarded female in a single ceremony. The album was also nominated at the 2007 Brit Awards for MasterCard British Album and was shortlisted for the 2007 Mercury Prize. Back to Black sold 3.58 million copies in the UK alone, becoming the UK's second best-selling album of the 21st century so far. The album has sold over 16 million copies worldwide. A deluxe edition of Back to Black was released in November 2007, containing a bonus disc of B-sides and live tracks. Winehouse's debut DVD I Told You I Was Trouble: Live in London, released that same month, includes a live set recorded at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London and a 50-minute documentary detailing the singer's career over the previous four years. In 2020, Back to Black was ranked at number 33 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
WikipediaI can't help but like this. Especially the Mark Ronson produced tracks - they capture that Phil Spector & Motown vibe so well with just the right amount of modern punch, dynamics, and flair. She has an incredibly soulful voice and her more modern/almost conversational lyrics make the experience more thrilling and not just a revival record. I feel like this is done with absolute reverence for the past while not simply being a reenactment act - similar to the way say the White Stripes' influences are obvious yet they coalesce into something fresh and unique. You can tell this comes from a real place and it is of course a tragedy that she was consumed by her addictions.
Ok straight up for me one of the best albums of its generation.. artistry at its best.. Ronson and Salam killed it in the production as well, knew exactly when to get out of the way of amy and when to support her vocals..
Cela faisait des semaines que je marchais dans un désert d'immondices musicales. Mes jambes étaient lourdes et mes semelles enduites de Minutemen. Alors que des remontées gastriques ne cessaient de rappeler à ma salive l'épouvantable goût des New York Dolls, j'aperçus soudain une oasis : il s'agissait de Back To Black. Je m'y précipitai. Son courant eut à mon contact un effet immédiat ; mes tâches de Sepultura disparaissaient à mesure que je les frottais sous une cascade de Rehab tandis que mes plaies goldfrappiennes cicatrisaient bientôt dans un bain de You Know I'm No Good. J'appliquai enfin quelques gouttes de Love Is A Losing Game sur mon kyste elvis-costellien qui se vida instantanément de son contenu. Une étape inoubliable au cours de cette éprouvante traversée.
“Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse (2006) Always wondered what all the fuss was about. Winehouse’s vocals are interesting enough, a kind of metallic contralto, with little pitch and dynamic range, but adequate control. In terms of composition, there are many familiar jazz, R&B, (early) rock, and even swing structures here, but nothing truly innovative. Some tracks bring to the ear immediate associations with earlier music, especially “You Know I’m No Good”, evocative of the retro swing Squirrel Nut Zippers’ Katherine Whalen on “It Ain’t You” and “Blue Angel” (on the album “Hot” [1996]). Not entirely derivative, but clearly from the same mold. Winehouse’s vocal performance is a distant second to Whalen’s, however. Lyrics aren’t bad—sassiness on display. Not exactly virtue-forming, and attempting to evoke little sympathy, but entertaining enough, if the listener is willing to suspend charitable feelings. A good album and artist, but not great. 3/5
"We only said goodbye with words I died a hundred times" (Back to Black) "All I can ever be to you is a darkness that we knew And this regret I got accustomed to" (Tears dry on their own) Tenía muchas ganas de que me saliese este disco porque SABÍA que tenía que estar en la lista y me gusta un montón.
Love this album; it really is one in a million. Full of soul, full of energy, full of life.
This album feels so classy. Every song fits into an overarching style and theme, yet stand out individually so as to never feel the same as the one before or after. A really neat album that could be at home on vinyl or the crappy headphones provided with your handset (I'm so sorry Amy).
A soulful, beautifully written, beautifully produced record. Definitely bittersweet in retrospect but Amy Winehouse has a beautiful voice and the songs to back it up. Rehab was the big single but Back to Black is absolutely the show-stopper here. All great writing and music, every track.
She came on the scene with an explosive presence. She is indicative of Phil Spector's sound and Ronnie Spector's voice. There's definitely a bewitching quality to her vocals. This is especially present in "You Know I'm No Good." She's one of those artists that could sing the phone book and make it work. "What kind of fuckery is this?" is a question for the ages, and it sounds delightful coming from Winehouse. She sings from the heart as well. No song is a throw-away. Even the minor songs like Just Friends hit that mark of emotion she's going for. The beats are also so catchy on this album. Back to Black is practically iconic now. If Winehouse, Gaga, and Adele could have gotten together...Anyway, this album is a modern masterpiece.
Great album, great voice. Terrible loss at such a young age. She even recognised her own problems in the track 'Rehab', but she obviously had too many demons. Well worth listening to.
3 - Back to Black (2006) - 9/10 Amy Winehouse Wednesday 1st December 1. Rehab - 9/10 ⭐️ 2. You Know I’m No Good - 9/10 ⭐️ 3. Me & Mr Jones - 8.5/10 4. Just Friends - 8.5/10 5. Back to Black - 9.5/10 ⭐️ 6. Love Is a Losing Game - 8.5/10 7. Tears Dry on their Own - 9.5/10 ⭐️ 8. Wake Up Alone - 8/10 9. Some Unholy War - 8/10 10. He Can Only Hold Her - 8/10 11. Addicted - 7.5/10
hands down one of the best albums ever made (also listened to the deluxe version, disc 2 contains a lot of good covers <3)
One of the artists I am still, even today, sad is gone. This is a great album, and a style that wasn't being done in those days. A great loss. The title track is so good, and Rehab, of course. Classic album, all-timer for me.
I've never listened to Amy Winehouse before. Sadly. Her voice is amazing. The song writing was great. This was just a great album.
I think rehab is one of the best songs of the 21st century so far and the rest of album is great as well
Powerful lyrics portrayed by an even more powerful voice. Amy's best piece. Loved it...
Songs I liked Rehab You know i'm no good Tears dry on their own He can only hold her
there isn’t a single song on this album that isn’t good. amy I’m in love with you
Anything I heard between ages 16-24 probably has an advantage over the others due to subconscious bias - this album included. With that caveat, I think this album is a stunner. It also is immortalized by her untimely death, and makes the songs that much more potent. And what a voice! Really love the instrumentation on the album too.
I remember hearing about Amy Winehouse, but I never really listened to any of her music. I like 60s music, and this is inspired by that era, so I liked it pretty well. It was smooth to listen to.
An amazing album from start to finish. Great production and a generational talent. I'd say this is my first 5/5 that would also be a 10/10.
A 5 star album, as simple as that. Takes me back to nights out in Camden and my time at MTV. One of my faves albums of all time.
A classic. Must admit, I didn’t enjoy revisiting as much as I thought I would but still feel it deserves top marks
Por ahí leí el otro día que este disco es el más vendido en vinil, digamos del 2010 para acá, desde el renacimiento del formato. Lo escucho ahora y suena a un clásico. Cuando salió resaltaba mucho del resto, un throwback, un ejercicio de nostalgia, no tan diferente si lo piensan, de The White Stripes o cosas por el estilo. Esto último no es ninguna crítica negativa. Pero la diferencia con otros ejercicios revivaleros de soul aquí el talento y la tragedia personal resltan. Pero me quedo con el talento y la voz, ¿gran voz, no? Parte de la educación sentimental de muchos, supongo. Fue parte de la mía. Back to black, la canción, is some heavy shit. Se siente real. Lloré mucho con esa rola, no por lo que trata, sino por la forma en que canta Back to black, verga. Me mata eso. Qué ganas de irse a la mierda dan a veces. ¿Solo yo? Amy me comprende.
Asså tror typ det blir en femma på denna! Älskar det❤️❤️❤️ Har dock lyssnat sönder det... 5/5
I see this album still being considered a classic in a couple of decades.
Amy Winehouse was a very talented person. Sad she left the world too soon. Great Album. One of a kind voice.
Killer album, should listen more often. Even the songs that aren’t hits are really pleasant. I’m not sure I ever gave enough credit to her band and co.
Would be 4.5. There were 2 tracks I didn't care for, but mostly great.
One of my absolute favourite albums. Regularly listen to this and it never gets old. Every track is excellent.
Lets gooooooo Comeon thats a five and I havent even heard it today yet
Such an incredible talent. It’s a shame she died so young but at least we have this masterpiece to remember her by. 5 stars.
This has been one of my favorites for quite some time now. And that's saying a lot since I was about 11 when it came out. Giving it another listen, I don't really feel that different. It's fresh, full of emotion, raw, and honest. And I couldn't ask for more.
Classic alert! My dad used to play this one when I was a kid, but would skip the bits with the swear words if I was there
One of the most perfect pairings of songwriting and production of the 21st century
I always found "Rehab" annoying, but the rest is very solid. Well worth the listen.
I haven't heard this one in awhile. Love this album so much. R.I.P. Amy
I’ve owned BACK TO BLACK and listened to it regularly since shortly after its release. The album is a masterpiece that propelled the sound of the 60s into the 21st Century. It still feels fresh and modern 15 years after its release. Amy Winehouse’s delivery is spectacular on every song. I could list any song on it as a favorite. "Addicted" may be the best weed song ever. "Rehab" is a revelation. "Tears Dry On Their Own" is a showcase of brilliant phrasing. BACK TO BLACK is perfection.
I freely admit that I've been living under a rock since about 1995. I was of course aware of Amy Winehouse and felt the grief of her fans when she died but I'd never listened to her music. (OK, maybe I saw them do Rehab on Glee...) I didn't know what to expect but it sure wasn't this. Musically, it's a joy to hear such a clear echo of the girl groups and soul singers of the 1960s --- I especially like the sample of Ain't No Mountain High Enough in Tears Dry on Their Own. The music sounds completely modern and nicely retro. Lyrically, it's sometimes hilarious (what kind of fuckery is this?) but mostly it's depressing as hell. I hear a woman trying desperately to numb her pain while trying to sound devil-may-care. And it is obviously so much worse considering how her short life ended. I can't imagine a bleaker sentiment than Love is a Losing Game. One or two songs are misses for me but overall I really like this album. I'm angry that we lost such a talent so early and I hope that she is resting in peace.
This was yet another time when I had known and (really) loved a few songs, but wishing so much I'd gotten the album back in the day!! Upon listening, I was so happy to hear the familiar first two songs: the always incredible "Rehab" and the glorious, sultry "You Know I'm No Good" (I forgot how much I love that song). THEN! THEN! THEN! A glorious, soulful, retro intro leads to "What kind of fuckery is this?" and I think I laughed and yelled and I immediately listened to that intro about 7 times over again and this is when I knew I should have bought the damn album a long time ago. I listened to the song "Back to Black" about 12 times today, because I forgot it was one of my favorites ever and I missed it lots. (I also had missed some of those lyrics! Whoa!) "Tears Dry on Their Own" with the homage to "Ain't no Mountain High Enough" was so cool and good (ran out of adjectives, sorry). I was going to say that "Addicted" wasn't my favorite until I heard what she rhymed that word with. I was so glad to have listened to Solomon Burke the day before, because Winehouse's connection to 60s soul music is so loving and spot on. I read that she wouldn't listen to anything from after 1967. I absolutely love her voice and her songs. I love the instrumentation and the retro feel that still seems fresh and new. I loved getting a top of the tops album at this point in this project. How I wish she were still with us.
Easy to get lost in the lifestyle bullshit, but jesus, what a voice. Fantastic album.
CLASSIC. Amy winehouse is a modern pop icon that establishes its influece well in a new light
One of my constants when I'm working. Great album from a phenomenal artist who's gone too soon.
I mean, it's not Frank, which I believe is the better album lyrically (there is a rawness to it that I feel was polished off in this album), but it's still a superb piece of music. Hearing this the year of its 15 anniversary, when I'm personally 6 years older than Amy ever will be, just underscores how much of a musical talent she was. I know this will be stuck in my head for days now.
Love the soulful vocals on this, really elevated the lyrical content a lot more. Production also kicked ass with its shmancy asthetic for the whole duration of the album. Favorites: You Know I'm No Good, Back To Black, Tears Dry On Their Own, Valerie (from deluxe)
Damn this is a good one. I knew so many of these songs individually but have never listened to the whole thing through. It's really good. The Jazz and soul vibes are great, but there's even some Reggae mixed in on the deluxe version that really is fantastic
Full of amazing tracks, realized to their full potential by an excellent production team. Original and innovative, propelled by Amy's desire to take from the best of 60s soul and R&B, which matches insanely closely in each of the songs. At first, "Tears Dry On Their Own" kept messing with me due to the Gaye interpolation, but eventually, it established its own identity and became a groovy highlight of the album for me. The main highlight is Amy's ability to combine her powerful vocals with equal emotions that cover autobiographical themes of depression, alcoholism, and loneliness. There's a lot of diversity in these tracks, but most are able to grab your attention. There's ska in "Just Friends," swing in "Addicted," and jazz overlaying Motown-inspired R&B in many of the rest. This is the first album I really loved hearing the deluxe edition, just because I love the unique combination of soul and ska... and also because several of those ska covers are from a favorite of mine: The Specials. Shame "Valerie" isn't included in the normal album, it's just as perfect. Favorite tracks: You Know I'm No Good, Back to Black, Tears Dry On Their Own, He Can Only Hold Her
i worked in hmv as a christmas temp while this was a new album. it was played every hour. despite suffering the type of forced overplaying that would usually make me pierce my eardrums with knitting needles this album is just really fucking good. one of the other albums forced upon me was a buble christmas one and some killers album that hmv had a million copies of that no one wanted to buy so it 100% isn't stockholm syndrome. mark ronson is a nuclear grade cunt though.
Great performer and album. Tragic we'll never get to see what she would have done with a whole life's worth of music. This album is and will continue to be a classic. When she hit the scene, it was the right vibe at the right time to be so huge. An updated take on a classic style. I don't listen to Amy Winehouse too often but it's nice knowing this music is there whenever I do want to listen.
Really good. I had only ever heard the first two songs before. The album was great. Her voice is unique.
Needs no comment. Flawless from composition to lyrics to delivery to production.
Soulful and somber, while still remaining quite fun and explosive at times. The record is a 5, but Rehab is like a 2 at best though.