Amy Winehouse “Back to Black” 2006. Island Records. Today, September 14th, would have been Amy Winehouse’s 40th birthday (b. 1983, d. 2011). Back to Black was her second, and final, album. Infused with soul, r&b and 60’s American girl-group spirit, Back to Black was a smash hit, going to the top of the charts almost everywhere (though only to #2 in the US). It won the 2008 Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, is the UK’s second-biggest selling record of the current century and is on a ton of best-of lists. The LP is packed with top-picks including its singles: the insanely catchy/cheeky autobiographical “Rehab” (#9 US, #7 UK), “You Know I’m No Good” (#77 US, #18 UK), the title track “Back to Black” (#25 UK and then #8 in 2011 after Winehouse’s death), “Love is a Losing Game” (#46 UK) and “Tears Dry on Their Own” (#16 UK). I also really love the sad and sultry “Wake Up Alone.”

I admit to being somewhat late to the Winehouse party. I certainly was aware of some of the singles in 2006 but didn’t really listen to more than what I’d occasionally hear on the radio. But then we spent 10 days in London in 2019, three of those exploring Camden where she had lived. We took a Rock-n-Roll tour of the neighborhood one evening that visited many of the places where Amy hung out (pubs, mostly). Our tour guide, Alison (who I’m still in touch with), knew Amy tangentially I believe and told us a few personal anecdotes (again pubs, mostly, and boys). I also sort of got my picture taken with Amy Winehouse. Alison said that the statue is exactly to-scale of Winehouse – she was soooooo tiny!