#451 – Amy Winehouse, ‘Back to Black’

Back to Black (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: 27 October, 2006
Label: Island
Genre: Soul, R&B
Producer: Mark Ronson, Salaam Remi

Back to Black was one of the first CD’s Andrew ever bought me, and it’s been on high rotation at our place ever since, so this was a familiar one. A record that was so original at the time, Winehouse inspired a soul-sister renaissance which is still being felt, 7 years after this record’s release, and a couple of years following her too-soon death. Stylistically it’s 50’s and 60’s but lyrically this is oh-so modern: these are noughties estate problems with drink and drugs, mixed with the timeless, ever-present heartache and heartbreak. Winehouse’s passing is so much sadder with this album delivering so much. Imagine what else she could have done.

Top tracks: “Rehab”is surely everyone’s favourite, tragic, though it seems like it was never going to be any other way.. “Tears Dry On Their Own” is the most upbeat and it’s a killer tune with some fantastic piano. But the album’s title track is the best – a thumping, grand, fuck-it surrender.

#455 – Los Lobos, ‘How Will the Wolf Survive’

How Will the Wolf Survive? (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: 1984
Label: Slash, Warner Bros.
Genre: Chicano rock, R&B, blues rock, heartland rock
Producer: T Bone Burnett

I thought this was going to be another latin-Mexican-confused infused album along the lines of Manu Chao’s back at #474, but this was a lot better, and a nice surprise. Sitting somewhere between country and rock and rockabilly, with obvious latin influences, this is a pleasant, simple record. Too constantly upbeat for me to take seriously (need that light and shade…), but still, this was nice enough.

#459 – The Drifters, ‘Golden Hits’

Live Through This (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: 1968
Label: Atlantic
Genre: R&B, doo-wop
Producer: Bert Berns, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

There’s nothing really surprising here which, I suspect, is a testament to The Drifters’ impressive catalog and influence on 60’s music. For anyone born too late, or whose parents didn’t play music like this, chances are you still heard these songs in countless romantic comedies of the 90’s and 00’s. For me, it reminds me of sitting in the back of Mum and Dad’s car driving home late on a Saturday night in Perth, with 1080 6IX AM radio playing “good time oldies”, which would inevitably feature a few of these songs. From the days when pop and boy band weren’t such dirty words.

Top tracks: I’m not such a huge fan of this type of music (even I’m not this idealistic). “On Broadway”, though, really is awesome (Stranger’s With Candy anyone?).

This week: Merry Christmas! And that’s (almost) another year down… Christmas this year was spent at The Bridge Hotel in Richmond with Andy and his little brother who flew in from Perth plus our friend Matt. Armed with pre-prepared lists we spent lunch discussing/defending our top ten movies of all time – a separate post covering this to come soon. But next: 2013 and the year that was.

#472 – George Michael, ‘Faith’

Faith (album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: October 30, 1987
Label: Colombia, Epic
Genre: Pop, pop rock, R&B, British soul, adult contemporary
Producer: George Michael

I love this album. As in, I freakin’ love this album.

This was Michael’s debut solo album after Wham!, and he produced the thing by himself, he penned all of the songs bar one (which he co-wrote), he experimented with different sounds and arrangements and vocal styles, and he played many of the instruments, including all on “I Want Your Sex Pt. 1”), proving to the world that he wasn’t just a fluffy pop figurehead…

A quarter of a century later and Michael is one of the greatest pop stars in history, and this album has certainly stood the test of time.

Faith still feels fresh and new somehow – the finest part of 80s synth and experimentation. Faith is also bold and accomplished and mature (he made it when he was 24 by the way). These were songs for adults, and so any of his Wham! fans had to grow up and come along with him or get left behind.

As a lyricist I think Michael deserves some real accolades, and especially on here with the third and fourth singles “Father Figure” and “One More Try”. Of course it’s interesting to pick apart these songs now that we know Michael is gay, but more than this, these are a couple of stand-outs that display his raw talent for songwriting (the vocals on “One More Try” are especially brilliant also), and remember, he was 24.

A real gem of a commercial pop album.

Top tracks: “Father Figure” – there’s almost no other song like it, and “One More Try” where Michael gets all-soul with an amazing vocal performance (and listen to what the song’s about..).