A collection of B-sides to
Amy Winehouse's massive
Back to Black album, this eight-track set features a range of material (nearly all consisting of covers) and functions at nearly the same high level as the A-sides and album tracks -- no small feat. The first track is a slower version of
the Zutons' song "Valerie" that
Winehouse had done earlier with
Mark Ronson for
Ronson's
Version album (and also featured in the film 27 Dresses). The second is
Sam Cooke's "Cupid," done refreshingly simply, and bolstered most by
Winehouse's expressive voice. The third is
Toots & the Maytals' "Monkey Man," and here too
Winehouse shows her talents and adeptness sailing the waters of other genres and other traditions. (Reggae and ska are touchstones here -- also included are versions of
the Specials' "Hey Little Rich Girl" and
the Skatalites' "You're Wondering Now," the latter of which was also done by
the Specials.) Other notables include
Phil Spector's "To Know Him Is to Love Him" and a demo of "Love Is a Losing Game." ~ John Bush