We've hit the midweek hump with new releases so one to get the purist's
hackles up as today would have been Amy Winehouse's 39th birthday who died
tragically in Jul 2011 aged only 27.
There seems to be very mixed opinions about her music in soul circles, for
whatever reason, but, if you're being objective, then she has to be one of the
most influential artists of the 21st century whether you like her music or
not.
Plenty has been written about her life so we'll just let her music do the
talking.
Today is the 10th anniversary of the death of
Amy Winehouse
on 23rd July 2011 aged 27. The British media in particular relished
documenting her demise, and must hold some responsibility for it as she was
simply not prepared to cope with the fame that was thrust upon her due to
the success of her sophomore album "Back To Black" in 2006.
Many love her, many don't but undoubtedly she is already a legend and still
much emulated by many 'wannabes'.
For any who doubt her roots in jazz and soul I've posted, what I
believe to be a couple of her best live performances, singing a tribute
to Donny Hathaway at the
Union Chapel 24th Nov 2006, where she sang "We're Still Friends" and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know". The second clip is footage of a performance at Zenith, Paris October 29, 2007 as I can't find a suitable clip at
Union Chapel (there is one
here
but the sound is poor).
Donny Hathaway recorded both tracks in 1972. "We're Still Friends" is a
live recording only, I don't believe that a studio version was ever
recorded?
We will never know whether Amy would have gone on to match the success of
"Back To Black". It may be surprising to know that, despite all the 'hype'
surrounding her, she only had two UK Top 10 singles ("Rehab" and "Back To
Black") from seven Top 40 hits, although "Back To Black" was a worldwide #1
album and "Frank" #3 in UK.
It's quite sickening, and shocking, to witness how she declined since this
interview on Jonathan Ross in 2004, aged 20, after the release
of her debut "Frank".
If anyone had any doubt about the soulfulness of Amy Winehouse and her
ability to perform live before drink, drugs and depression ravaged her,
then this track should dispel any doubt.
It's so sad to witness how she degenerated from this performance in 2004 to how she appeared in her latter years after the success of 'Back To Black' and the incessant pressure from the media and problems in her personal life. It's hard to believe that 23 Jul 2021 will be the tenth anniversary of her death.
Taken from 'At The BBC' which was originally released posthumously on 12
Nov 2012 and it's due for re-issue on vinyl, CD and Digital on 7 May
2021. This track was only available on the CD/DVD version. It was originally on her 2003 album 'Frank'.
Click icons below for further information or to connect with the
artist.
I'm not sure 'why now?' but an EP 'I Told You I Was Trouble: Live In
London' has just been released (5 Feb 2021) which features 4 live tracks
recorded at London's Shepherd Bush Empire on 29 May 2007.
The
DVD
of the full concert was released in 2007 by
Universal
and this EP simply features the first 4 tracks on the DVD. It seems it was
also released on vinyl as part of 'The Collection' an 8 disc box set. Perhaps it's the first time it has been
available digitally?
The track I've posted is the first track 'Addicted', which was the last
track on her groundbreaking 'Back To Black' album from 2006, her second and
ultimately her last album. It will be ten years in July when she was
found dead by her bodyguard in her Camden, London, home.
