Taking Names

New Winehouse album set for December release

A new album of recordings by the late soul singer Amy Winehouse will be released in December, Island Records said Monday.

According to the Associated Press, “Lioness: Hidden Treasures” will contain 12 songs — previously unreleased tracks, alternative versions of existing hits and brand new songs — recorded by the beehive-wearing singer who died at her London home on July 23.

The label said Winehouse’s longtime musical partners Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi had spent time since her death listening to recordings of the singer, who many said never sang or played a song the same way twice.

Island Records said the duo quickly realized that they had “a collection of songs that deserved to be heard, a collection of songs that were a fitting testament to Amy the artist and, as importantly, Amy their friend.”

The album — Winehouse’s third after “Frank” and “Back to Black” — will be released on Dec. 5. Mr. Ronson and Mr. Remi compiled the tracks in collaboration with Winehouse’s family, management and the label.

Winehouse’s final studio recording — a cover of “Body & Soul” sung with Tony Bennett — will be included in the album.

McCartney to help restore 1877 Steinway piano

During a summer visit to a Motown recording studio, former Beatle Paul McCartney wanted to run his fingers along an 1877 Steinway grand piano played by some Detroit music greats he considers idols.

“He was disappointed when we told him it didn’t play,” Motown Historical Museum chief executive Audley Smith Jr. told the Detroit News.

Undaunted, the legendary rock and roller from England told museum officials after a July concert at Comerica Park that he wanted to help restore it, according to the Associated Press.

On Monday, the piano was to be picked up from the Detroit museum and shipped to Steinway & Sons in New York for restoration. The work is expected to take up to five months.

The piano company has to assess the piano’s condition before a cost can be determined.

“Steinway & Sons is honored to restore the historic Steinway piano that was used by such legends as Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder — and to do so in the very same New York factory where it was originally built in 1877,” Steinway & Sons President of Americas Ron Losby told the newspaper in a statement.

Journey’s Perry quashes fans’ hopes for reunion

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