Back to Black (soundtrack)

Back to Black (Songs from the Original Motion Picture) is the soundtrack to the 2024 biographical film of the same name. It was released on 12 April 2024 under the Island Records label in two editions—the standard edition featuring 12 tracks and an extended edition consisting of 26 tracks. The album primarily featured original recordings by Amy Winehouse and other vocal performances from artists The Shangri-Las, Billie Holiday, Minnie Riperton, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Thelonious Monk, The Specials, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Donny Hathaway, The Libertines, Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson. Another album consisting of the score composed by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis was also released on the same day, as the film's theatrical release in the United Kingdom.

Background
The soundtrack was curated with the licensing from The Amy Winehouse Estate along with the music publishing companies Universal Music Group and Sony Music Publishing. Most of the songs in the film were performed by Marisa Abela who plays Winehouse; the soundtrack, however, featured original recordings from Winehouse along with contributions from other artists. Giles Martin served as the music producer.

Cave and Ellis also composed "Song for Amy" which was included in the soundtrack. Cave also performed and arranged the song, which used piano and strings. Taylor-Johnson described the song, saying "I watched him sit at the piano and just sort of conjure up this incredible song, which is now at the end of the film. He sings it with such raw purity. It's so incredibly moving."

Release
The soundtrack was announced on 20 March 2024 by Universal Music Group-owned Island Records which had published and licensed most of Winehouse's albums and singles. The soundtrack which had a 12-track standard edition and a 26-track extended edition was made available for pre-order on the same day. Both editions were released on 12 April 2024 through music streaming services and compact discs, with a vinyl edition set to be released on 17 May 2024.

Original score
Back to Black marked Cave and Ellis' maiden cinematic collaboration with Sam Taylor-Johnson; the duo had previously worked with the director on contributing the text for Still Lives (2015). According to Taylor-Johnson, "their sensibility as well as understanding of this story has led to a profoundly deep and moving film score". Cave and Ellis underscored around 20 minutes of the film's music for the film. The score album was released by Back Lot Music on 12 April 2024.

Reception
Anna Smith of Rolling Stone UK wrote that the score "enhances the feeling of intimacy with its impressionable young protagonist". Damon Wise of Deadline Hollywood described it as "surprisingly unobtrusive". Jonathan Romney of Screen International wrote "Nick Cave and Warren Ellis offer an uncharacteristically unobtrusive and conventional score, although there is the bonus of a sombre, lushly orchestrated new ballad that Cave sings over the end credits." Roger Graham of Little White Lies wrote "Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' score adds an aggravating wistfulness".