Currently celebrating its twentieth anniversary, Back to Black is undeniably the definitive Amy Winehouse album.
Released in October 2006, Back to Black details the darkness of Winehouse’s relationship with her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil. The record explores themes of infidelity, addiction and heartbreak through a lens of soul-pop sound that immediately became unmistakably Amy’s.
Winehouse created Back to Black in recording studios throughout London, New York City and Miami, over a two-year period of sessions with producers Mark Ronson, Salaam Remi and funk singer Sharon Jones’ own backing band The Dap-Kings. The organic instrumentation created by a real live band suited Amy’s goal to create a record inspired by 60s girl groups like The Supremes and The Shangri-Las, thanks to their musical presence during her time with the album’s muse Fielder-Civil.
It also came at a pivotal time in Winehouse’s career, as she’d established a name at home in the UK, but was yet to solidify a presence in America, where her 2003 debut album Frank hadn’t even yet seen a release. Her disappointment in the Frank rollout led to a more focused, extensive campaign for Back to Black.
Winehouse promoted the album with five bombastic singles including ‘Rehab’ and ‘Tears Dry On My Own’, and made press appearances that would go down in her musical history, like performing her legendary cover of ‘Valerie’ in the BBC Live Lounge.
In the years since, critics have frequently recognised Back to Black as one of the greatest albums of all time. It sold over twenty million copies worldwide, taking out the 2008 Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album and notably shaping the sound of British soul. There’s no doubt that Back to Black established Amy Winehouse as a cultural icon whose creative vision still radiates through the music industry today.
Celebrate the monumental 20th anniversary with a special 3LP expanded edition here.
