New Amy Winehouse Album May Never Happen | ‘Back To Black’ Follow-Up?

Back To Black was a massive hit, propelling Amy Winehouse from perennial struggler known by a few people and their dogs in the UK to an international superstar whose name is known by almost everyone in the world. And now it’s time for her to produce a follow-up.

The problem is, this doesn’t exactly seem to be going very smoothly. In fact, friends of Winehouse are said to fear her third studio album may never actually happen, or at least not until she manages to kick her drink and drug habits completely.

The follow-up to Back To Black has seemed to be in question all year. At the end of March, it was claimed that friends who had heard some of Winehouse’s new tracks described them as “suicidal music”.

Then in April, the singer cancelled a booked recording session in the Bahamas to concentrate on writing and recording the new Bond theme. Hmm, well that worked then, as Jack White and Alicia Keys got the gig instead.

It was then reported that Winehouse’s record company had issued her with an ultimatum - get clean or lose your record deal. She still isn’t clean but still has her record deal, probably because Universal Music realise what a guaranteed payday Winehouse is when she’s on form (which is rare these days).

Now, Winehouse has quit touring in an effort to solely concentrate on writing and recording the new album. But, The Sun newspaper claims that she has yet to finish work on one full track for the record, originally due out in 2008 but now put back until 2009… or 2010.

The report claims that Winehouse has only managed two unfinished tracks for the new album. Furthermore, her friends fear that this album may never actually appear. A source said:

“With all the problems surrounding her personal issues and addictions we are really concerned it will never get finished.”

“If six months produces two half-baked tracks how long will an album take? Unless she sorts herself out and gets some focus it might never happen.”

This seems utterly bizarre. The report is either completely fabricated, likely seeing as though it’s by the same newspaper that claimed her friends had heard the new material way back in April, which would be hard if she didn’t have any new material, or it’s true, and Winehouse’s career is about to come crashing down around her beehive.

Whatever you may think of her personal life, drugs, drink, imprisoned husband and all, you cannot fault her music, and Back To Black is an exquisite album. So I really hope there’s to be a follow-up in the near future. Another reason to go to Rehab Amy?

[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]