I was introduced to the music of the late Nick Drake the other night ,who i had never heard before .
His first album  " Five Leaves Left " is one of the best records ive ever heard, from begining to end it's simply the work of a genius .
Cello Song inparticular ive not been able to stop playing . Anyone heard this album ?

DaveRam

I've been a big fan for years Dave. A few years ago I was lucky enough to be involved in a show that was staged to celebrate the life of Nick, in music, dance, and film. There is a very famous series of still photographs of him leaning up against a brick wall, as people walk by. We hired a lookalike and made a film of it, but didn't tell anyone. When it came on there was audible surprise all round. It sent shivers down my spine, and I knew it was a fake!

He only has 3 albums - get them all. There is also a pretty good CD of outtakes plus a 'new' song. The producer was listening to an old reel to reel and when it finished just left it running. About 20 minutes later when he'd forgotten all about it this song started playing that nobody had ever heard before!

I could talk all day about him, but I'm going out to watch the cricket, so it'll have to be tomorrow. Happy listening.

Btw, I don't know if you know any John Martyn, but the song Solid Air was written about Nick.

I have his three regular albums and a rarities compilation (something with Magic in the title, I believe). Bryter Layter is hands down my favorite album of his. I never really understood what everyone hears in Pink Moon, I'm not a big fan of that album. And my favorite Nick Drake song is Hazey Jane II.

I'm glad that there are other fans of his on this board! I think that he's fantastic and I think that none of his albums falls short of genius. Like BlueMeanie said, you should definitely pick up all three of his albums, and perhaps a compilation of rarities like I did (Made To Love Magic). A new album of his came out last week called Family Album, it's a collection of home made tapes he made in his home. If you're a guitar player, it will inspire you write your own songs and record them, if you're not a guitar player, you're going to want to learn how.

Thanks BlueMeanie ive been and bought the other 2 cds Bryter Later and Pink Moon , have listend to Bryter Later and im very impressed quite a talent our Nick
Im supprised from the bit ive been reading about him that he sold only a few thousand records in his lifetime ?
He was as good in my opinion as Elton John and Cat Stevens ?
It's sad about his mental health problems ,which i understand from reading about him will become clear when i listen to Pink Moon
I can see im going to become a big fan as i love what ive heard so far , can't believe after buying and listening to records for the last 30 odd years ive missed somebody as good as this guy  

DaveRam

I agree with Blue Meanie, get all the Nick Drake albums.  

I like a quote from Richard Thompson (who played on some of Nick's songs).  He said that when he met the Queen with a bunch of other rock music people, she asked something like, "So what was Nick Drake really like?"

Thompson really did meet the Queen, but made up her quote.  Brilliant!

I bought all 3 of his albums about 2 or 3 years ago & liked some of his work.
Fives Leaves Left is my fav stuff of his & i do have a soft spot for
Bryter Lyter but never got Pink Moon. i think that record is too overated!
Damn shame he left us so young!

Ive listend to all three albums now and although Pink Moon is a bleak album i like it .
Out of the three i like Five Leaves Left Best , it's just a stunning record and will become a favourite album of mine
I can see Nick was a rare talent , it's sad that due to his illness he was not able to continue , but one more album like the first could have broken him into the big time.
Five Leaves Left reminds me a bit of Bowie's Hunky Dory , which itself was over looked on initial release and like Bowie ,Nick maybe should have hung in there a bit longer ,as he clearly had the talent to do it .
Ive a friend who's been mentally ill for many years and it's terrible to see someone suffer in such a way.
But what he was able to produce in his short lifetime im really impressed with, and genius is the correct word to apply to Nick Drake  

DaveRam

there's a new Nick Drake album out actually...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Tree_%28Nick_Drake_album%29

It's a fairly grotty collection of badly recorded, badly sounding home demo's and family recordings. Really, this kind of stuff should stay in the attic collecting dust.

BlueMeanie which album as the track on it that had laid undiscoverd for years ? and what was the song called ?

DaveRam  

Quoted from 679

BlueMeanie which album as the track on it that had laid undiscoverd for years ? and what was the song called ?

DaveRam  

The song is 'Tow The Line' and the album is 'Made To Love Magic':

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Made-L.....185099521&sr=1-5

And if you really want to know everything, there's a biography by Patrick Humphries - 'Nick Drake: The Biography'

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nick-D.....185099805&sr=1-2

One more thing, if you're an Elton John fan. Elton recorded 4 Nick Drake songs in 1970 - 'The Sweet Suggestions of the Pink Moon':

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sweet-.....85100284&sr=1-48

Nick Drake displays such a fine voice and sense of song-writing...i absolutely adore Riverman. I must, I must get these albums.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

It's a fairly grotty collection of badly recorded, badly sounding home demo's and family recordings. Really, this kind of stuff should stay in the attic collecting dust.

That's exactly what I loved about the album. It allows you to hear him play the music that he loves in his own way, recorded in his own way. I liked the DIY feel of the album and I'm glad the producers didn't intend on deleting the hiss from the record. It would be, to me, like remastering Robert Johnson.

Quoted from Leopard Skin Pill Box Man

That's exactly what I loved about the album. It allows you to hear him play the music that he loves in his own way, recorded in his own way. I liked the DIY feel of the album and I'm glad the producers didn't intend on deleting the hiss from the record. It would be, to me, like remastering Robert Johnson.

I guess I'm not that obsessive then. Is any of it the same as that that's on 'Tamworth-in-Arden 1967/68'?