Tom Dunne: Rare generational talent of the late Amy Winehouse
A new book successfully reclaims and preserves Amy Winehouse, the friend Tyler James met when they were both kids. Picture: PA Photo/Organic
I still remember the CD. It was in the litter bin, with just its top peeking out. From across the studio I could just about make out the word 'Amy'. "Nah, couldn’t be," I thought. This cannot be the five-track album sampler of Back To Black. In the bin? Surely not.
Earlier that day I had been exposed to Rehab. I was mesmerised. I called the label. "Who on earth is this?" I’d asked. They were giddy with excitement. But in this pre-download age the only other tracks they had were on a five-track sampler. It had already gone in.
