Unheard Winehouse tracks to be released

A new album containing previously unheard material by British soul singer Amy Winehouse is to be released just months after her death from alcohol poisoning, her record label has confirmed.

Lioness: Hidden Treasures, features unreleased tracks, alternate versions of existing classics as well as a couple of brand new compositions by the songstress, an Island Records statement said.

It will go on sale in December.

The album "proves a fitting tribute to the artist, the talent and the woman and serves as a reminder of Amy's extraordinary powers as a songwriter, a singer and an interpreter of classics," the statement said.

Island Records, which released her debut album Frank and 2006's Grammy-award winning album Back to Black, said the album will be produced by close friends and collaborators Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi.

Winehouse, 27, was found dead at her north London home on July 23 after a long struggle with drink and drugs.

An inquest into her death revealed last week that the troubled singer had suddenly drunk heavily after abstaining for three weeks and was poisoned by alcohol.

She was more than five times over the British drink-drive limit when she died, the inquest heard.

The album was created in association with Winehouse's family and management, the label said.

Winehouse's father, Mitch, told the The Sun that the album lived up to her standards.

"Had the family felt this album wasn't up to the standard of Amy's others, we'd never have agreed to release it," he said.

"We believe it will stand as a fitting tribute to her musical legacy.

"I never realised what a true genius she was ... it took my breath away."

Some of the album tracks were recorded as far back as 2002, before Winehouse began her well-documented struggle with alcohol and drug addiction.

It also includes the last ever song she recorded, Body and Soul, a duet with legendary singer Tony Bennett.

The pair recorded their cover of the 1930s jazz tune at London's famous Abbey Road studios in March.

Following her death, Back to Black became Britain's highest-selling album of the 21st century.

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