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Amy Winehouse left a lot of unreleased songs

A trove of unreleased music has been left by Amy Winehouse, although sources close to the artist indicate that no decisions regarding its release have been made.

The soul diva, who battled addiction to drugs and alcohol, was found dead at her London home on Saturday, with the cause of death currently unknown. She was just 27 years old.

On Thursday, spokesman Chris Goodman stated that Winehouse left behind “plenty” of material, but discussions about releasing any of it have not yet taken place. The extent of completion for these tracks remains unclear. Though Winehouse released only two albums during her lifetime, she had been in and out of the studio over the past few years. She mentioned in July 2010 that a new album would come out within six months, but it was never completed.

An unnamed representative disclosed that winehouse was ‘close to’ finishing her album according to record label Universal, having left behind a “framework” consisting of about a dozen songs.Producer Salaam Remi, who collaborated on both of Winehouse’s albums – Frank and Back to Black – along with her new material, informed DJ Kim Kane of New York’s Power 105.1 radio station that there were not large quantities of finished tracks available, and Winehouse’s estate still needs to authorize the release of anything.

“We had a lot of things going, there are recordings, but first things first, I think,” he said. “We’re trying to focus on what’s at hand and what her family wants to do.”

There is undoubtedly a strong demand for new material. Just two days after her funeral, numerous mourners continued to gather outside her north London home, laying flowers and taking photographs.

Since her passing, sales of Winehouse’s music have surged. In the U.S., digital sales of her tracks have increased by 2,000 percent over the past week, as reported by Nielsen Soundscan, and Back to Black is projected to re-enter the Billboard album chart at No. 9.

According to Britain’s Official Charts Company, it appears that Winehouse will have seven songs featured in this week’s Top 40, with the announcement set for Sunday.

Releases made after an artist’s death can either solidify their legacy or, if not handled properly, tarnish it.

“The record company is there to tend the musical legacy,” he remarked. “If they release something that is clearly substandard, it will undermine that legacy.”

Using Jeff Buckley, who tragically drowned in 1997 after releasing just one album, the acclaimed Grace, as an example. A substantial amount of material has been issued since his passing. “I don’t think it has particularly enhanced his reputation. The same can be said for Jimi Hendrix; after his death, he began to release records in significant numbers. It’s an extremely risky area to start finishing unfinished music.”

One track anticipated to be released is Winehouse’s rendition of the pop standard Body and Soul, which she recorded in March alongside Tony Bennett for an upcoming duets album.

by Wallace McTavish

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