Needless to say I really did not want to be writing this tribute and obituary, on a beautifully sunny Sunday afternoon that Amy Winehouse was destined never to see. A few days ago I was pondering who would be next on the Rock and Roll conveyor belt heading towards the door marked “premature deaths” and I have to say Amy Winehouse slipped my less than forensic examination of the likely suspects. It was only two weeks ago that I wrote an article on this Record Press  Blog marking the 40th anniversary of Jim Morrison’s premature death. Little did I think that Amy Winehouse would be shortly joining Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones and Kurt Cobain in the “Forever 27 Club”!!

Unfortunately there is a sad inevitability about Amy Winehouse’s early passing. A prodigious talent, but a fragile one. Tragically no one could help her, because fundamentally she could not help herself!! She no more had control over her life and destiny, than she did over the innate vocal talent that she was born with. The writing was on the wall right from the start with the single that she will be best remembered for – “Rehab”. Sadly for all the talent, the sentiments that she expressed in that song were the overriding issues that defined her all too short life.

Amy Winehouse was the original tortured, vulnerable, lost soul and without that torment she would not have been able to summon such an incredible depth of emotion in her vocals. It was as if she wrenched every last drop of pain from the deepest recesses of her tormented soul. The tragedy for her is that whilst we could all enjoy the beauty of her songs and carry on with our lives, she was left imprisoned in her own mind with only her demons for company!! That is so often the sacrifice and human condition of the artist and Amy Winehouse was no different.

Let’s focus on the short but wonderful musical legacy Amy Winehouse left for us all to enjoy. Amy Winehouse was one of the most successful and critically acclaimed British vocalists of all time. Her music incredibly incorporated three musical genres – the blues, soul and jazz!! I would put her soulful voice up there in a British Top Two with the equally tortured, vulnerable Dusty Springfield, who again I wrote about recently on this Record Press Blog. In some ways, such was her omniscience, popularity and influence, it seems unbelievable that Amy Winehouse only released just two albums during her tragically short career, but she sold them in multi millions around the world and was a multiple Grammy winner.

Amy Winehouse was raised listening to veteran, jazz-inclined singers such as Dean Martin and Julie London and indeed her Grandmother dated Ronnie Scott in the 1940s. Her passion for that genre and era of music is displayed on her debut album “Frank”, which was released in the UK in October 2003 to rave reviews. Apparently Amy Winehouse was very flattered by comparisons to Minnie Riperton. This was prophetic as the fragile Minnie Ripperton also died prematurely!!

Amy Winehouse’s second album “Back to Black” established her as a major, global superstar, spearheaded by the Mark Ronson produced “Rehab”. “Back to Black” won five Grammys, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. “Back to Black” was to go platinum six times in the UK and twice in the US. In 2007, Amy Winehouse admitted to Entertainment Weekly that “Back to Black” was an extremely personal and emotional experience, stating: “When I went into this album, I just felt really sad. I felt really bad. I was clinically depressed, and I put it into music”.

Ironically only a couple of weeks ago Tony Bennett, who had recorded a track with Amy Winehouse for his forthcoming album of duets, told the Guardian that he was “worried about her and I’m praying for her.” He recorded the classic pop standard “Body And Soul” with Amy Winehouse at Abbey Road Studios only last March. With the 20 / 20 vision and benefit of hindsight, how right he was!!

I think the final fitting words should be left to one of the greatest singers of all time, who has enjoyed longevity of life, unlike Amy Winehouse. On hearing of her death, Tony Bennett issued this statement last night: “Amy Winehouse was an artist of immense proportions and I am deeply saddened to learn of her tragic passing. She was an extraordinary musician with a rare intuition as a vocalist and I am truly devastated that her exceptional talent has come to such an early end. She was a lovely and intelligent person and when we recorded together, she gave a soulful and extraordinary performance”. He continued:  “I was honoured to have the opportunity to sing with her. It had been my sincere hope that she would be able to overcome the issues she was battling and I send my deepest sympathy to her father Mitchell, her entire family and all of those who loved her”.

At the end of most Blogs on Record Press, it is customary to advertise vinyl products available from MyFirstRecord.co.uk, but it would not be appropraiate on this occasion, such is the immediacy, rawness of emotion and sadness we all feel at Amy’s passing. Amy Winehouse RIP……..