Amy Winehouse – Frank (2003) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

If a series of unfortunate comparisons (like the ones to follow) cause listeners to equate British vocalist Amy Winehouse with Macy Gray, it’s only natural. Both come on like a hybrid of Billie Holiday and Lauryn Hill who’s had a tipple and then attempted one more late-night set at a supper club than they should have. Despite her boozy persona and loose-limbed delivery, though, Winehouse is an excellent vocalist possessing both power and subtlety, the latter an increasingly rare commodity among contemporary female vocalists (whether jazz or R&B). What lifts her above Macy Gray is the fact that her music and her career haven’t been marketed within an inch of their life. Instead of Gray’s stale studio accompaniments, Winehouse has talented musicians playing loose charts behind her with room for a few solos. Instead of a series of vocal mellifluities programmed to digital perfection, Winehouse’s record has the feeling of being allowed to grow on its own — without being meddled with and fussed over (and losing its soul in the process). Simply hearing Winehouse vamp for a few minutes over some Brazilian guitar lines on “You Sent Me Flying” is a rare and immense pleasure. Also, like Nellie McKay (but unlike nearly all of her contemporaries), Winehouse songs like “Fuck Me Pumps,” “Take the Box,” and “I Heard Love Is Blind” cast a cool, critical gaze over the music scene, over the dating scene, and even over the singer herself. With “In My Bed,” she even proves she can do a commercial R&B production, and a club version of “Moody’s Mood for Love” not only solidifies her jazz credentials but proves she can survive in the age of Massive Attack. –AllMusic Review by John Bush

Tracklist:
01. Amy Winehouse – Intro / Stronger Than Me (03:54)
02. Amy Winehouse – You Sent Me Flying / Cherry (06:50)
03. Amy Winehouse – Know You Now (03:03)
04. Amy Winehouse – Fuck Me Pumps (03:20)
05. Amy Winehouse – I Heard Love Is Blind (02:10)
06. Amy Winehouse – Moody’s Mood For Love / Teo Licks (03:28)
07. Amy Winehouse – (There Is) No Greater Love (02:08)
08. Amy Winehouse – In My Bed (05:17)
09. Amy Winehouse – Take The Box (03:20)
10. Amy Winehouse – October Song (03:24)
11. Amy Winehouse – What Is It About Men (03:29)
12. Amy Winehouse – Help Yourself (05:01)
13. Amy Winehouse – Amy Amy Amy (04:14)
14. Amy Winehouse – Outro (00:52)
15. Amy Winehouse – Brother (04:13)
16. Amy Winehouse – Mr Magic (Through The Smoke) (03:56)

Personnel:
Amy Winehouse, vocals, guitar
Jeremy Shaw, Ian Barter, Femi Temowo, guitar
Vincent Henry, flute, alto flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
Robert Aaron, flute, saxophone
Derek Nash, Lisa Grahame, Phil Veacock, Teodross Avery, saxophone
Bruce Purse, trumpet, bass trumpet, flugelhorn, baritone horn
Stefan Skarbek, trumpet, background vocals
Matt Rowe, trumpet, background vocals
Chris Storr, Jason McDermid, Jon Scott, Ben Edwards, Tanya Darby, trumpet
Stafford Hunter, Roger Goslyn, Rico Rodriguez, Winston Rollins, trombone
Timothy Hutton, horns
Luke ‘Lukvatine’ Smith, piano, keyboards
Lenny Underwood, Jason Rebello, Jools Holland, piano
Donovan Jackson, Fender Rhodes piano, organ, keyboards
John Adams, Fender Rhodes piano, organ
Salaam ‘The Chameleon’ Rami, organ, electric bass, drums, percussion, music box
Christopher Holland, organ
MJ Cole, keyboards
Gordon Williams, drums, percussion, programming, turntables
Gilson Lavis, Errol Campbell, drums, percussion
Troy Auxilly-Wilson, Nathan Allen, Stuart Anning, Jeremy Stacey, Richard Wilkinson, drums
Rudy Bird, shaker, percussion
Felix Howard, Jenni Fujita, background vocals