La cover di Back to Black
La data fatidica dovrebbe essere quella del 5 dicembre. In quel giorno dovrebbe uscire il disco postumo di Amy Winehouse, intitolato “Amy Winehose lioness: hidden treasures”. E, udite bene, non si tratta di una speculazione commerciale perché l’album era (quasi) pronto da tempo. Quando Amy ha raggiunto i suoi amici Jimi Hendrix e Jamis Joplin, giusto per citarne un paio, il disco era già a buon punto. Forse andava solo rifinito. E l’attesa era alta. Dopo “Back to black”, uno degli album più geniali e intensi del terzo millennio, era lecito aspettarsi un capolavoro bis. Ci hanno lavorato due mostri sacri quali Mark Ronson e Salaam Remi i quali hanno messo insieme canzoni in fase di produzione al momento del decesso con cover registrate in tempi precedenti. Ci sarà anche “Body & Soul”, quella del duetto con Tony Bennet
Sono 12 le canzoni e i temi sono quelli che hanno accompagnato non solo il percorso artistico ma anche quello umano della Winehouse: amori tormentati e abuso di alcolici fino all’astio nel confronti della vita. Dallo staff delle cantante trapelano poche notizie. Una è che parte dell’incasso andrà alla fondazione, che porta il nome della cantante, e che si propone di supportare giovani bisognosi a causa di malattia, tossicodipendenza e disagi vari.
L’elevata qualità di “Frank”, primo album passato quasi inosservato quando fu pubblicato, poi recuperato e rivalutato da critica e pubblico, e di “Back to Black” sono la garanzia che se questa terza opera-pop non fosse stata all’altezza delle precedenti sarebbe rimasta nel cassetto. Sarà vero?
Ecco la tracklist:
“Our Day Will Come (Reggae Version)” – reggae re-working of classic 60’s doo wop song produced by Salaam Remi. Recorded May 2002
“Between The Cheats” – new Amy composition recorded in London in May 2008 for potential inclusion on album three produced by Salaam Remi.
“Tears Dry” – originally written by Amy as a ballad, this is the original version she recorded in November 2005 in Miami with Salaam. The later uptempo version appears on “Back To Black”
“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
“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” – Amy’s beautiful reading of the Carole King written Shirelles classic. Produced by Mark Ronson and featuring the Dap Kings with string arrangements by Chris Elliott who did all the strings for Mark’s tracks on “Back To Black”. Recorded in September 2004.
“Valerie” – one of Amy’s jukebox favourites. This is the original slower tempo version of the Mark Ronson produced post “Back To Black” single. Recorded in December 2006.
“Like Smoke” featuring NAS – Amy and Nas became really good friends after Amy name checked the New York rapper on “Back To Black’s” “Me &
Mr Jones”. “Like Smoke” is finally Amy doing a song with one of her favourite artists. Produced by Salaam Remi. Recorded in May 2008.
“The Girl From Ipanema” – the first song the 18 year old Amy sang when she first went to Miami to record with Salaam. Salaam remarked that “the way she re-interpreted this bossa nova classic made me realise that I was dealing with a very special talent. Her approach to the song was so young and fresh, it really inspired the rest of our sessions.” Recorded in May 2002.
“Halftime” – Amy had talked to Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson of the Roots about working together. “Halftime” is a song that Amy and Salaam had worked on since the Frank sessions. The result is beautiful. Recorded in August 2002.
“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.
“Body & Soul” with Tony Bennett – cover of 30’s 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.
“A Song For You” – heartbreaking and emotional version of the Leon Russell classic made famous by Donny Hathaway. Hathaway was Amy’s all-time favourite artist and the song was recorded in one take, just Amy and her guitar, at her home in London during the spring of 2009 as she battled her demons. Produced by Salaam Remi.
