Unheard demos and rarities will feature on a 20th anniversary edition of Amy Winehouse's classic album Back To Black later this year.
Special formats and unreleased material
UMR/Island will be reissuing the seminal album in a series of special formats, which will include unreleased demos, rare B-sides, as well as a live performance from Paradiso, Amsterdam (February 8, 2007) from the Back To Black tour. The formats will also include never-before-seen photos by original album photographers Mischa Richter and Alex Lake, plus brand new and poignant liner notes from producers and friends, Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi.
The reissue will be released on October 23, just days before the 20th anniversary of the album's original release date of October 27, 2006.
Producers reflect on Amy's genius
Mark Ronson, who produced much of the record, recalled the speed at which they worked: "It's crazy that six songs made in a fit of furious musical infatuation would matter so deeply to so many people twenty years later."
Salaam Remi, who also helmed her music, added: "Amy was one of one. One-of-a-kind artist. One-of-a-kind spirit. One-of-a-kind soul. Experiencing that level of talent, passion, humour, honesty, and love for what she created was a gift."
Formats and exclusives
A special 3LP clear vinyl and accompanying 3CD collates the Back To Black era in a definitive package, featuring four unreleased demos, plus rare B-sides alongside the deluxe tracks. The third disc features the notable live performance from the Back To Black tour, never released in full on vinyl or streaming before. These editions feature brand new alternative cover artwork, an image from Mark Ronson's archives of Amy's hand-written lyrics, and never-before-seen photos by original album photographers Mischa Richter and Alex Lake, plus exclusive liner notes from Ronson and Remi.
To complete the anniversary suite of formats, limited edition 1LP variations of the original album include a 1LP Chalkboard Marble colour vinyl, plus a very special webstore exclusive 1LP Zoetrope vinyl featuring moving footage of Amy.
Chart success and legacy
Back To Black, Amy's deeply personal, lyrical and musical masterpiece, was not only a huge critical sensation but also became a major commercial success. In the UK, the album debuted at No. 3 and later reached No. 1 on the Official Albums Chart before going on to be the best-selling album of 2007.
The album, which has now sold over 4.5 million copies in the UK earning a 15× Platinum certification, debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 eventually peaking at No. 2 following Amy's infamous 5-Grammy haul. Amy swept the board that memorable night winning the prestigious Record Of The Year & Song Of The Year awards as well as Best Pop Vocal Album, Artist of The Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance with Rehab.
Now 20 years on and a double-Platinum RIAA certification later, Back To Black has since topped charts across Europe — including Austria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland — and has sold well over 25 million copies worldwide. Amy Winehouse, a once in a generation talent, is rightly revered around the world for her extraordinary songwriting ability, her honesty, her remarkable voice, and the purity of her artistry.
