Amy Winehouse’s New Album Inspired By St. Lucia
June 5, 2009 by Dave Parrack
I’m sure I’m not the only one eager to hear a new album from Amy Winehouse. In fact, I know I’m not the only one because her record label has been on at her for months about getting it finished and released. But Winehouse isn’t a lady (at all, arguably) to be rushed, and seems to be taking her sweet time over the follow-up to Back To Black.
Winehouse has been spending a lot of her time in St. Lucia, the Caribbean island where she has been living since December. So maybe it’s no surprise to hear that she’s been inspired by her new home when writing the new album. Although that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a good move. Winehouse the reggae artist, anyone?
The Sun newspaper reports that Winehouse is basing the album not on her troubled love life or dalliances with substance abuse, but on island life and the folk stories surrounding St. Lucia. Not only that but she’s also hired three local musicians, who play traditional Caribbean instruments, to record the album with her.
Surprise Surprise, Winehouse Cancels Gig
May 23, 2009 by Dave Parrack
Booking tickets for an Amy Winehouse gig is becoming increasingly like playing the lottery. You pay your money, get your little slip of paper, and then anxiously wait to see the outcome. Unfortunately these days you’ll likely to be bitterly disappointed.
There’s a very real chance Winehouse will either pull the gig or not turn up. And even if she does manage to find her way to the venue she could then give a performance which leaves you and the rest of the crowd mystified and miffed.
Winehouse has had some time away from the spotlight recently, having a break from gigging to spend some time in her new adopted home of St. Lucia. But she’s due to start touring again very soon and would seem to need rehearsal time.
Mark Ronson Rescues Amy Winehouse’s New Album After Label Rejects Demos
March 28, 2009 by Dave Parrack
Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse were, at one point, a kind of musical dream team. Ronson produced Winehouse’ ultra-successful Back To Black album, which made her a superstar the world over, and in return, Winehouse provided the vocals for Ronson’s Version version of The Zutons’ Valerie.
And then their relationship soured while the pair were working on a theme for the latest James Bond flick, Quantum of Solace. At the time, Ronson claimed that Winehouse wasn’t “ready to work on music yet.” The pair fell out and haven’t worked together since.
Circumstances look to have thrown the pair back together, with the demos of new material Winehouse gave the record label being reportedly rejected. Island Record bosses were thought to be unhappy with the direction Winehouse was taking the new album.
Enter Mark Ronson, who The Sun claims is now going to work his magic on the tracks Winehouse has prepared in order to make them more viable for inclusion on her next album.
No New Amy Winehouse Album In 2008 - Singer Cancels Bahamas Recording Session
April 12, 2008 by Dave Parrack
The chances of a new album from Amy Winehouse being released in 2008 took a downward turn today when it emerged that the singer had cancelled a recording session in the Bahamas.
According the The Sun, Island Records had booked a trip to the Bahamas for Winehouse, where she was meant to start laying down the bulk of her new album with producer Saleem Remi.
Remi is the man behind Winehouse’ first album Frank, and also had a big hand in the hugely successful Back To Black, which although being released back in 2006, is still Top Ten in the UK Album Charts.
Winehouse decided not to go on the trip, and is instead spending time in the studio with friend and producer Mark Ronson working on the theme tune for Quantum Of Solace, the new James Bond film.