Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.
All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.
Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Jillian (class of 2027) and features Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black album on vinyl. Thanks, Jillian!
Amy Winehouse was a British neo-soul songwriter who received attention in late 2006 and early 2007 after the release of Back to Black on October 27th, 2006, by Island Records. Growing up in London, Winehouse was a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, later signing a publishing deal with major record label EMI and then finally Island Records in 2002. She produced two studio albums, Frank in 2003 and then Back to Black in 2006.
In 2008, Winehouse won 5 Grammys for her Back to Black album, Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year for “Rehab”, and Best Pop Vocal Album. In a world where Soul and Jazz are fading genres, Winehouse incorporates a blend of Soul, Jazz, R&B, and pop in her music, drawing from various timeframes. Songs like “Tears Dry on Their Own” and “He Can Only Hold Her” draw from classic Motown tunes such as Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s 1967 “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and The Icemen’s 1966 “My Girl (She’s a Fox)”, bringing back the 60s. The use of rich horns, dominant bass lines, and big band presence in “Rehab” and “Me & Mr. Jones”, to name a few, demonstrates the artist’s inspiration from 1950’s/60’s Jazz.
The artist’s impact on the world of retro-soul led to the release of the biopic Back to Black in 2024. According to IMDb, the film received a 6.3/10 rating, though focusing more on Winehouse’s romantic relationships than her career, according to the New York Times. The movie paid tribute to Winehouse and her career’s impact after her unexpected death in 2011 due to alcohol poisoning. Her timeless music remains popular today, with 2026 marking the 20th anniversary of the release of this album which brought her to fame.
