by Charity Stafford
The deluxe two-disc edition of Amy Winehouse's 2003 debut album, FRANK, will startle those who only discovered the young British singer with 2007's Mark Ronson-produced smash BACK TO BLACK, or unfortunately with the tabloid-press headlines that have followed the troubled singer ever since. Unlike the retro soul vibe of BACK TO BLACK, the more understated FRANK has a strong jazz and blues influence that showcases the Winehouse's talents in more subtle ways. The lavishly packaged two-disc deluxe edition comes with a second 18-track disc that includes demos of several of the album's most popular songs, a haunting version of the standard &Someone To Watch Over Me,& dance-oriented remixes of four of the album's singles, and a passel of live tracks and BBC sessions. Taken together, the two discs prove once again that there is much more to Amy Winehouse than a collection of horrifying paparazzi photos and blaring tabloid headlines.