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This article is about the album. For the song, see Back to Black (song).
Untitled

Back to Black is the Grammy Award-nominated second studio album by English singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, released in October 2006 on Island Records. The album has spawned a number of singles such as "Rehab", "You Know I'm No Good", "Back to Black", "Tears Dry on Their Own", and "Love Is a Losing Game". Back to Black has received universal critical acclaim[1], and has been praised for its classic jazz/soul vibe, "vintage production style",[2] accomplished songwriting, and Winehouse's mature and emotive singing style. It has appeared on numerous year-end Top Ten Lists produced by The Austin Chronicle, Billboard Magazine, Blender Magazine, Slant Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times[3] and Time Magazine.[4]

Background

The track "Tears Dry on Their Own" features the backing music from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's 1967 hit, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".

One of the songs on the album titled "Me & Mr Jones" is about rapper Nasir "Nas" Jones. This is based on references in her lyrics, such as "Mr. Destiny, 9 and 14". Destiny is the name of Jones's child with his ex-girlfriend Carmen, and 14 September is the birthday that Winehouse and Nas share. In this song she also compares her lover to Sammy Davis Jr., singing that apart from Davis, he is her "best black Jew". On Winehouse's song "Rehab", she mentions "Ray" and "Mr. Hathaway", in reference to Ray Charles and Donny Hathaway.[5]

Release and promotion

A deluxe edition of the album was released in the United Kingdom on 5 November 2007 and Europe. The re-issue features the original studio album as well as a bonus disc including various B-sides, rare, and live tracks, including the Live Lounge rendition of the single "Valerie", which was originally only available (in studio form) on Mark Ronson's Version album.

Response

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Critical

Back to Black was a critical darling and drew numerous comparisons to Motown-era R&B.[6][7][8] Rolling Stone said the album finds Winehouse "a nervy, witty songstress whom indie rockers, pop fans and hip-hoppers can dig."[6] People magazine called Back to Black "a disc that gets better with every listen."[9] The New Statesmen remarked that the album was better than her last, calling it "an astonishing soul record, soaking up the sounds of Motown and 1960s girl groups and spitting them back with panache, glamour and a contemporary twist."[7] Billboard said Back to Black was a "brutal breakup album that can sit with the best of them, set to the sounds of music's finest early rock moments."[8]

The song "Rehab" won the Ivor Novello Award for "Best Contemporary Song" on 24 May 2007.[10] Time magazine named "Rehab" one of The 10 Best Songs of 2007, ranking it at #1. Writer Josh Tyrangiel praised Winehouse for her confidence, opining, “What she is is mouthy, funny, sultry, and quite possibly crazy” and, "It's impossible not to be seduced by her originality. Combine it with production by Mark Ronson that references four decades worth of soul music without once ripping it off, and you've got the best song of 2007."[11][12]

The album has been nominated for 50th Annual Grammy Awards in the categories "Album of the Year" and "Best Pop Vocal Album", and has helped earn Ronson a nomination for "Producer of the Year, Non-Classical".[13][14] In July 2007, the album made the shortlist for the 2007 Mercury Music Prize. Other nominees included the eventual winners Klaxons, Dizzee Rascal, and the incumbent winner Arctic Monkeys. This is the second time Winehouse has been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize; her debut album Frank was shortlisted in 2004. This album was ranked number forty on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.[15] Entertainment Weekly critic Chris Willman ranked Back to Black #2 in the 10 BEST 'Records of the Year: Music' writing, "Black will hold up as one of the great breakthrough CDs of our time." He adds, "In the end, the singer's real-life heartache over her incarcerated spouse proves what's obvious from the grooves: When this lady sings about love, she means every word."

Commercial

Back to Black went to number one on the UK Albums Chart numerous times from January 2007 having entered at number three upon its release in late October 2006. It debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, becoming the highest debut entry for an album by a British female solo artist, only to be outdone one week later by Joss Stone who debuted at number two with Introducing Joss Stone.[16]

The first single released from the album on 23 October 2006 was the Ronson-produced "Rehab", a song about her past refusal to attend an alcohol rehabilitation centre despite prodding by her management company.[17] On 22 October 2006, based solely on download sales, it entered the UK Singles Chart at number nineteen and when the physical single was released the following week, it climbed to number seven. By the end of 2007, the album was certified five-time platinum by the BPI, making it the best-selling album of 2007.[18]

The second single from the album was "You Know I'm No Good". The single was released on 8 January 2007 with a remix featuring rap vocals by Ghostface Killah. It reached number eighteen on the UK Singles Chart and, in the same week's chart, "Rehab" climbed back up to number twenty. Back to Black was released in the United States in March 2007, with "You Know I'm No Good" as its lead single. A third UK single, "Back to Black", was released on 30 April 2007, and peaked at number twenty-five.

"Rehab" rose to number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of 14 June, after a performance of the song at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards. The following week it peaked at number nine.

Two further singles were released from the album. "Tears Dry on Their Own" was released on 13 August 2007, and peaked at number sixteen in the UK, while "Love Is a Losing Game", released on 10 December 2007, reached number forty-six. The album is the number 1 selling album in the UK for 2007, selling over 1.5 million copies in the year and number 1 international album in Greece[19]

Track listing

Main edition

  1. "Rehab" (Amy Winehouse) – 3:35
  2. "You Know I'm No Good" (Winehouse) – 4:17
  3. "Me & Mr Jones" (Winehouse) – 2:33
  4. "Just Friends" (Winehouse) – 3:13
  5. "Back to Black" (Winehouse, Mark Ronson) – 4:01
  6. "Love Is a Losing Game" (Winehouse) – 2:35
  7. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Winehouse, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson) – 3:06
  8. "Wake Up Alone" (Winehouse, Paul O'Duffy) – 3:42
  9. "Some Unholy War" (Winehouse) – 2:22
  10. "He Can Only Hold Her" (Winehouse, Richard Poindexter, Robert Poindexter) – 2:46

British and Irish edition

  2. "Addicted" (Winehouse) – 2:45

American edition

  2. "You Know I'm No Good" (featuring Ghostface Killah) – 4:23

Japanese edition

  2. "Addicted" – 2:45
  3. "Close to the Front"
  4. "Hey Little Rich Girl" (featuring Zalon and Ade) (Terry Hall, Roderick Byers) – 3:35
  5. "Monkey Man" (Frederick Hibbert) – 2:56
  6. "Back to Black" (The Rumble Strips Remix)
  7. "You Know I'm No Good" (featuring Ghostface Killah) – 4:23

Deluxe edition bonus disc

  1. "Valerie" (Radio 1's Live Lounge) (Dave McCabe, The Zutons) – 3:53
  2. "Cupid" (Sam Cooke) – 3:49
  3. "Monkey Man" – 2:56
  4. "To Know Him Is to Love Him" (Winehouse) – 2:25
  5. "Hey Little Rich Girl" (featuring Zalon and Ade) – 3:35
  6. "You're Wondering Now" (Clement Dodd) – 2:33
  7. "Some Unholy War" (Acoustic) – 3:16
  8. "Love Is a Losing Game" (Original Demo) – 3:43

Ltd. Sonderedition

  2. "Rehab" (Live at Kalkscheune / Berlin) – 3:37
  3. "Love Is a Losing Game" (Live at Kalkscheune / Berlin) – 2:45
  4. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Live at Kalkscheune / Berlin) – 3:15
  5. "Take the Box" (Live at Kalkscheune / Berlin – 3:39
  6. "Valerie" (Live at Kalkscheune / Berlin) – 4:14

Credits (British edition)

  • "Rehab"
    • Vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Bass guitar – Nick Movshon
    • Drums – Homer Steinweiss
    • Guitars – Amy Winehouse, Thomas Brenneck, Binky Griptite
    • Piano and Wurlitzer – Victor Axelrod
    • Trumpets – Dave Guy, Steve Sidwell
    • Tenor trombone – Richard Edwards
    • Alto saxophones – Andy Mackintosh, Chris Davis
    • Tenor saxophones – Neal Sugarman, Jamie Talbot, Mike Smith
    • Baritone saxophones – Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Dave Bishop
    • Claps – Victor Axelrod, Mark Ronson, Vaughan Merrick
    • Violins – Perry Montague-Mason, Chris Tombling, Mark Berrow, Warren Zielinski, Liz Edwards, Boguslav Kostecki, Peter Hanson, Jonathan Rees, Tom Piggott-Smith, Everton Nelson
    • Violas – Bruce White, Jon Thorne, Katie Wilkinson, Rachel Bolt
    • Cellos – Anthony Pleeth, Joely Koos, John Heley
    • Harp – Helen Tunstall
    • Percussion – Frank Ricotti
    • Band arrangement – Mark Ronson, Gabriel Roth
    • Orchestral arrangement and conducting – Chris Elliott
    • Orchestra leader – Perry Montague-Mason
    • Orchestra contractor – Isobel Griffiths
  • "You Know I'm No Good"
    • Vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Bass guitar – Nick Movshon
    • Drums – Homer Steinweiss
    • Guitars – Thomas Brenneck, Binky Griptite
    • Piano, Wurlitzer and claps – Victor Axelrod
    • Trumpet – Dave Guy
    • Tenor saxophone – Neal Sugarman
    • Baritone saxophone – Ian Hendrickson-Smith
    • Band arrangement – Mark Ronson, Gabriel Roth
  • "Me & Mr Jones"
    • Vocals and background vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Upright bass, Drums and Piano – Salaam Remi
    • Guitars – Amy Winehouse, Vincent Henry
    • Baritone saxophone and tenor saxophone – Vincent Henry
    • Bass trumpet and flugelhorn – Bruce Purse
  • "Just Friends"
    • Vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Bass guitar – Salaam Remi
    • Drums – Troy Auxilly-Wilson
    • Guitars – Amy Winehouse, Vincent Henry
    • Rhodes and organ – John Adams
    • Clarinet and bass clarinet – Vincent Henry
    • Bass trumpet, trumpet and flugelhorn – Bruce Purse
  • "Back to Black"
    • Vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Bass guitar – Nick Movshon
    • Drums – Homer Steinweiss
    • Guitars – Thomas Brenneck, Binky Griptite
    • Piano – Victor Axelrod
    • Tambourine – Mark Ronson
    • Violins – Perry Montague-Mason, Chris Tombling, Mark Berrow, Warren Zielinski, Liz Edwards, Boguslav Kostecki, Peter Hanson, Jonathan Rees, Tom Piggott-Smith, Everton Nelson
    • Violas – Bruce White, Jon Thorne, Katie Wilkinson, Rachel Bolt
    • Cellos – Anthony Pleeth, Joely Koos, John Heley
    • Alto saxophones – Andy Mackintosh, Chris Davies
    • Tenor saxophone – Jamie Talbot
    • Baritone saxophone – Dave Bishop
    • Percussion – Frank Ricotti
    • Band arrangement – Mark Ronson, Gabriel Roth
    • Orchestral arrangement and conducting – Chris Elliott
    • Orchestra leader – Perry Montague-Mason
    • Orchestra contractor – Isobel Griffiths
  • "Love Is a Losing Game"
    • Vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Bass guitar – Nick Movshon
    • Drums – Homer Steinweiss
    • Guitars – Thomas Brenneck, Binky Griptite
    • Piano – Victor Axelrod
    • Violins – Perry Montague-Mason, Chris Tombling, Mark Berrow, Warren Zielinski, Liz Edwards, Boguslav Kostecki, Peter Hanson, Jonathan Rees, Tom Piggott-Smith, Everton Nelson
    • Violas – Bruce White, Jon Thorne, Katie Wilkinson, Rachel Bolt
    • Cellos – Anthony Pleeth, Joely Koos, John Heley
    • Harp – Helen Tunstall
    • Trumpet – Steve Sidwell
    • Tenor trombone – Richard Edwards
    • Alto saxophones – Andy Mackintosh, Chris Davies
    • Tenor saxophones – Jamie Talbot, Mike Smith
    • Baritone saxophone – Dave Bishop
    • Percussion – Frank Ricotti
    • Band arrangement – Mark Ronson, Gabriel Roth
    • Orchestral arrangement and conducting – Chris Elliott
    • Orchestra leader – Perry Montague-Mason
    • Orchestra contractor – Isobel Griffiths
  • "Tears Dry on Their Own"
    • Vocals and background vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Bass guitar and piano – Salaam Remi
    • Drums and tambourine – Troy Auxilly-Wilson
    • Guitars – Salaam Remi, Vincent Henry
    • Baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute, clarinet, piano and celesta – Vincent Henry
    • Bass trumpet, trumpet and flugelhorn – Bruce Purse
  • "Wake Up Alone"
    • Vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Bass guitar – Nick Movshon
    • Drums – Homer Steinweiss
    • Guitars – Thomas Brenneck, Binky Griptite
    • Piano – Victor Axelrod
    • Band arrangement – Mark Ronson, Gabriel Roth
  • "Some Unholy War"
    • Vocals and background vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Bass guitar and drums – Salaam Remi
    • Organ – John Adams
    • Guitars – Amy Winehouse, Salaam Remi, Vincent Henry
  • "He Can Only Hold Her"
    • Vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Bass guitar – Nick Movshon
    • Drums – Homer Steinweiss
    • Guitars – Thomas Brenneck, Binky Griptite
    • Piano – Victor Axelrod
    • Percussion – Sam Koppelman
    • Trumpet – Dave Guy
    • Tenor saxophone – Neal Sugarman
    • Baritone saxophone – Cochemea Gastelum
    • Snaps – Mark Ronson
    • Background vocals – Zalon, Ade, Heshima
  • "Addicted"
    • Vocals and background vocals – Amy Winehouse
    • Bass guitar – Salaam Remi
    • Guitars – Amy Winehouse, Vincent Henry
    • Drums – Salaam Remi, Troy Auxilly-Wilson
    • Rhodes and organ – John Adams
    • Saxophones – Vincent Henry
    • Bass trumpet, trumpet and flugelhorn – Bruce Purse

Chart performance

During its first two weeks on sale, Back to Black, which entered at number three, sold a total of 70,784 copies in the UK, including 43,021 in its first week. By the end of the year, the album had been certified platinum (300,000 copies shipped, with 297,703 actually sold). To date, the album has sold more than 1.8 million copies in the UK (reaching the million mark on 13 June 2007), and for the week ending 27 January 2007, sold 30,000 copies more than any other album. If sales of the deluxe edition of the album (released in November 2007) are combined, the UK sales of the album amount to more than 2.1 million copies.

It achieved its peak of number one on the UK Albums Chart for the week ending 20 January 2007, and with sales of 1,586,194 was confirmed as the UK's biggest-selling album of 2007 (selling its millionth 2007 copy in the week of 17 September 2007). Its nearest rival was Leona Lewis' debut album Spirit, which finished with 1,550,037. On 25 February 2007, Back to Black climbed from a number two position to number one, staying three weeks atop. Between January and July 2007, the album spent twenty-seven consecutive weeks inside the UK top ten. On 12 October 2007, Back to Black was certified five-time platinum in the UK in recognition of over 1.5 million shipments.[20]

The deluxe edition of the album, released on 5 November 2007 with a bonus disc of B-sides, covers, and live songs, has sold a total of 265,327 copies in the UK to date. It debuted at number twenty-two on the UK Albums Chart, and climbed to number nine in its seventh week.

In December 2006 the album was released in Canada and on February 3, 2007 in Australia. It was released in the United States officially on 13 March 2007 via Universal Republic. The album debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 at number seven, selling about 51,000 copies in its first week on the chart.[21] The album was certified platinum by the RIAA in August for shipments of more than one million, making it the twenty-third best-selling album of 2007.[22] Upon the week of release in the U.S., copies had the same cover as all other versions, however, the following week copies with alternate covers were found in store. The album has now sold over five million copies worldwide.

Charts

Chart (2006) Providers Peak
position[23] 		Certification Sales
UK Albums Chart BPI
The Official UK Charts Company 		1 6xPlatinum 1,900,000+
UK R&B Albums Chart 1
Chart (2007)
Australian Albums Chart ARIA 14 Platinum 70,000+
Austrian Albums Chart ARIA 3
Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop 3 Platinum 70,000+
Canada Albums Chart CRIA 9 Platinum 100,000+
Danish Albums Chart IFPI 1 Platinum 30,000+
Dutch Albums Chart Mega Charts BV 1 Platinum 70,000+
European Albums Chart IFPI 1 2x Platinum[24] 2,000,000
Finnish Albums Chart GLF 2 Gold 15,000+
French Albums Chart IFOP
SNEP 		1 2xGold 250,000+
German Albums Chart Media Control 1 Platinum 200,000+
Greek International Albums Chart IFPI 1 Platinum 20,000
Irish Albums Chart IRMA 1 Platinum 15,000+
Italian Albums Chart M&D 3 Platinum 100,000+
Japan Albums Chart Oricon 30 35,000+
New Zealand Albums Chart RIANZ 9 Platinum 15,000+
Norwegian Albums Chart VG Nett 1 Platinum 40,000+
Polish Albums Chart OLiS 1 Gold 10,000+
Portuguese Albums Chart AFP 13 Gold 10,000+
Spanish Albums Chart Promusicae 4 Gold 40,000+
Swedish Albums Chart GLF 5 Platinum 40,000+
Swiss Albums Chart Media Control 1 3x Platinum 90,000+
U.S. Billboard 200 Albums Chart Billboard 6 Platinum 1,436,447
U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart 5
U.S. Modern Rock/Alternative Albums Chart 2
U.S. Comprehensive Albums Chart 6
U.S. Digital Albums Chart 1
U.S. Internet Albums Chart 4
United World Chart Media Traffic 2 3x Platinum 6,289,000+
United World Chart (2007 Year-End) 1 5,510,000
Preceded by UK Album Chart number-one album (first run)
January 14 - January 22, 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by UK Album Chart number-one album (second run)
February 26, 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Délinquant by Lim
 French Album Chart number-one album
October 29, 2007 		Succeeded by
Lunatique by Jenifer
Preceded by Norwegian Album Chart number-one album
February 14, 2007 - March 14, 2007 		Succeeded by
No Går Det Så Det Suse by D.D.E.
Preceded by
De Fedeste by Fede Finn and Funny Boyz
 Danish Album Chart number-one album
April 27, 2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Swiss Album Chart number-one album
December 16, 2007 - January 20, 2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Irish Album Chart number-one album
January 17 2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by German Album Chart number-one album
January 11 2008 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ Back to Black. Metacritic. Retrieved January 23. 2008.
  2. ^ Back to Black. New York Times. March 12, 2007. Retrieved January 23. 2008
  3. ^ Back to Black. Metacritic. Retrieved January 23. 2008.
  4. ^ Time Magazine. "Top 10 Albums". Retrieved January 27, 2008
  5. ^ A New British Invasion? The Wall Street Journal May 9 2007. Accessed May 9 2007
  6. ^ a b Hoard, Christian (2007-02-22), "Back to Black". Rolling Stone (1020):76
  7. ^ a b Rogers, Jude 2006-12-11, "Year of the woman". New Statesman. 135 (4822):36-38
  8. ^ a b Mason, Kerri (2007-03-17), "Back to Black". Billboard. 119 (11):51
  9. ^ Chang, Joyce (2007-03-01), "BACK TO BLACK". People. volume and issue unknown:64
  10. ^ Winehouse wins best contemporary song ninemsn 2007-05-27. Accessed 2007-05-27
  11. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh; "The Best Top 10 Lists of the Year"; "The 10 Best Songs"; Time magazine; December 24, 2007; Page 39.
  12. ^ Time magazine's Top 10 Songs of 2007 at time.com
  13. ^ (6 December 2007). "The Envelope Please" Los Angeles Times Retrieved 6 December 2007
  14. ^ The Envelope Please Los Angeles Times 6 December 2007
  15. ^ ROBERT CHRISTGAU, DAVID FRICKE, CHRISTIAN HOARD, ROB SHEFFIELD (December 17, 2007). "The Top 50 Albums of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-12-20
  16. ^ "Joss Beats Winehouse". MTV.co.uk. 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2007-03-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Wine, Woman and Song The Sun 27 October 2006. Accessed 10 December 2007
  18. ^ Amy Winehouse - I Told You I Was Trouble - Documentary & Live Concert DVD ilikemusic.com 25 October, 2007
  19. ^ http://www.ifpi.gr/chart01_annual.htm
  20. ^ www.bpi.co.uk BPI
  21. ^ Katie Hasty, "Musiq, Lloyd Usher Six Big Debuts Onto Album Chart", Billboard.com, March 21, 2007.
  22. ^ Jonathan Cohen, "Winehouse, Nutini Team For September Shows", Billboard.com, June 19, 2007.
  23. ^ "Amy Winehouse - Back To Black chart positions", aCharts.us, May 5, 2007.
  24. ^ "IFPI Platinum Awards 2007"
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