Entertainment

Her last ‘Treasures’

Those who knew Amy Winehouse from her handful of hits — most notably the Grammy-winning single “Rehab” — will be surprised at the eclectic nature of today’s posthumous release of “Lioness: Hidden Treasures.”

This 12-track CD doesn’t have the cohesiveness of her debut, “Frank,” or her career-making “Back to Black.” Yet, despite being cobbled together from various recording sessions over the past decade, it has an old-school vibe in its song selections, on which Winehouse demonstrates skills as an interpreter of jazz, R&B and even doo-wop.

The lion’s share of songs on “Lioness” are risk-free enjoyable covers. Love songs are presented with unexpected warmth and depth. This combination is at its best on “A Song for You,” a fine homage to the Donny Hathaway version of this Leon Russell classic. Hathaway was reportedly Winehouse’s favorite singer, and this stripped-down voice-and-guitar cover was recorded in the spring of 2009.

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More romantic but slightly less heartfelt is Winehouse’s much-praised duet with Tony Bennett on the jazz classic “Body and Soul.” While this was originally recorded for Bennett’s “Duets II” (released earlier this year) it also fits nicely on this record alongside a strings-laced and wholesome rendition of Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.”

Probably the oddest tune on the record is “Like Smoke,” where Winehouse shares a mike with New York rapper Nas. It’s an interesting alliance that would work great as a single, but in the context of the rest of the record, the harsh hip-hop rhymes sound out of place on this collection.

For Winehouse’s longtime fans, there are two alternative versions of songs from the “Back to Black” album. “Tears Dry on Their Own” is up-tempo on “Back,” but in this earlier original, Winehouse presents it as a bump ’n’ grind torch song filled with regret and desire. The arrangement and delivery are so different from what we know, it might pass as a totally new tune. The other nod to “Back” is the original demo of “Wake Up Alone,’’ on which Winehouse’s earthy voice doesn’t hide how vulnerable she can sound.

Since Winehouse never had time to make a proper third album, “Lioness” serves as a commendable tribute that reminds us of her vocal skills as well as what we lost when she died.