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Articles and Reviews: MUSIC

Back to Black by Amy Winehouse (Universal)

Retro in its own way, albeit in a more soul sister than lounge lizard way, and in a more Stax than Talma Motown vein, is Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black, the biggest selling album worldwide this year. With the season that’s in it, Island/Universal have reissued in a handsome Deluxe edition, with a bonus disc of B-sides, which includes enjoyable readings of songs by artists as diverse as Phil Spector, Sam Cooke, The Maytals, The Specials and The Zutons. Just because she has replaced Pete Docherty as the tabloids’ favourite car crash muso-celeb, shouldn’t obscure the fact that this devil girl is a remarkably talented individual, with an exceptional voice, not to mention those bucketfuls of attitude.

First published in Magill, December/January 2007/8