Today RollingStone.com premiered a heart-wrenching rendition of Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black,ecorded by generation-defining rock icon Ronnie Spector and produced by the legendaryRichard Gottehrer and Phenom. Following in the wake of Winehouse’s tragic passing this weekend, Spector’s take on the soulful single serves as a memorial to the British songstress who carried a torch lit by artists like Spector herself in the 1960s. “Every time I saw Amy, I saw my youth — the eyeliner and beehive,” says Spector of her initial encounters with Winehouse. “I felt so proud to have inspired such a unique talent.”
Listen To “Back to Black” By Ronnie Spector On RollingStone.com
http://www.rollingstone.com
Dubbed the “original bad girl of rock and roll,” Ronnie Spector is widely known as the leader of the quintessential girl group The Ronettes, who performed such hits as “Be My Baby” and “Baby I Love You” and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in March 2007. Gottehrer connected with Spector in 2008 to work on new material. Spector had added a cover of “Back to Black” to her live sets in 2007. “We always hoped that the day would come when Ronnie and Amy could get together and perhaps work together in some fashion,” says Gottehrer, who began recording the track with Spector three years ago as a B-side for a since-shelved “Be My Baby” dance single. “It was a surprise and shock to hear the news about Amy’s passing. We immediately went in to finish this version of ‘Back to Black’ in memory of someone special whose talent has been lost to the world far too soon.”
“Every show I performed I would acknowledge Amy before singing ‘Back to Black,’” says Spector. “I felt a connection to her.” That very connection is on mournful yet celebratory display today at RollingStone.com.
The single will be released at all digital retailers Tuesday, August 2nd via Spector’s own Bad Girl Sounds. “Two weeks ago, when I saw her on stage, I saw a lost girl. I could relate to that with my own battle with alcoholism.” With that in mind, proceeds from the release will be donated to one of Spector’s favorite charities, Daytop Village. The Manhattan-based company’s mission is to provide compassionate, family oriented substance abuse treatment for adults and teens.
For More Information:
http://www.daytop.org/
http://www.ronniespector.com
http://www.facebook.com/ronniespector
