Nick Drake

Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake Review by James Christopher Monger
Edited down from performances in London, Melbourne, and New York City, the 15 tracks that populate the lovely and inspiring Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake feel far more intimate than the live tag would suggest. Drake's original producer, the venerable Joe Boyd, wanted to recapture the intimacy of Drake's recordings while maintaining the late singer/songwriter's evocative spirit, so any instances of applause have been removed, resulting in a set that feels both wildly unpredictable and incredibly reverent, with highlights arriving via Vashti Bunyan's beautiful, Robert Kirby-arranged rendition of "Which Will," Lisa Hannigan's haunting and spare version of "Black Eyed Dog," and Robyn Hitchcock's kaleidoscopic retelling of Pink Moon's spooky "Parasite."

A Treasury is a Nick Drake compilation aimed at the audiophile audience. Released in the UK on 27 September 2004 and in the US on 26 October 2004, it was available as both a hybrid multichannel SACD and a 180 gram vinyl LP. To promote the compilation, a single was issued for the song "River Man", released on CD and 7" vinyl in the UK on 13 September 2004.

A Treasury is a Nick Drake compilation aimed at the audiophile audience. Released in the UK on 27 September 2004 and in the US on 26 October 2004, it was available as both a hybrid multichannel SACD and a 180 gram vinyl LP. To promote the compilation, a single was issued for the song "River Man", released on CD and 7" vinyl in the UK on 13 September 2004.

With every passing year, it becomes a little less accurate to say that Nick Drake has a cult following. Cults, by their very nature, tend to exist on the margins, the subject of their admiration unknown or even unloved by the vast majority of people. "Bryter Layter", Nick Drake’s second album, was released on Island Records in the UK in 1970. Like his debut album, it was engineered by John Wood and produced by Joe Boyd. All brass and string arrangements were by Robert Kirby, Nick’s vocals and guitar were augmented by Fairport Convention’s Richard Thompson on guitar, Dave Pegg on bass and Dave Mattacks on drums. John Cale contributed keyboards and viola, Ray Warleigh played viola and flute, Pat Arnold and Doris Troy added backing vocals, amongst others.

After crafting a debut album full of gorgeous, somber chamber folk, Nick Drake innovated his style with 'Bryter Layter'. First is the change is atmosphere, as the framework is light and airy where 'Five Leaves Left' was dark and foreboding. Moreover, Drake's artfully expressed inner emotions peek through at every turn in the lyrics and in his heartfelt vocal delivery. 'At the Chime of a City Clock' finds Drake facing existential despair at every turn. Perhaps the crucial moment of 'Bryter Layter' occurs on 'Poor Boy', where female backing vocalists literally mock the singer's anguished mournings. Clearly, for as much as Drake's heart and soul were bared in every note of his music, he was aware enough to know that his disillusioned romantic view of the world was one that put him on the fringes of society. Of course, some twenty-five years later, his early seventies work would find a much wider audience, even though the initial era of the sensitive singer/songwriter had long since passed.

Revered British folk singer/songwriter who produced several albums of chilling, somber beauty and gained a cult following after his early death. "Pink Moon", Nick Drake’s third and final album, was released on Island Records in the UK & US in 1972. Recorded November 1971, the album features only Nick’s vocals, guitar and piano. Once again, the set was engineered by John Wood at Sound Techniques Studios in South London. The song “Pink Moon” received tremendous exposure in 2000 when it was featured in the well-received Volkswagen commercial.

With every passing year, it becomes a little less accurate to say that Nick Drake has a cult following. Cults, by their very nature, tend to exist on the margins, the subject of their admiration unknown or even unloved by the vast majority of people. "Bryter Layter", Nick Drake’s second album, was released on Island Records in the UK in 1970. Like his debut album, it was engineered by John Wood and produced by Joe Boyd. All brass and string arrangements were by Robert Kirby, Nick’s vocals and guitar were augmented by Fairport Convention’s Richard Thompson on guitar, Dave Pegg on bass and Dave Mattacks on drums. John Cale contributed keyboards and viola, Ray Warleigh played viola and flute, Pat Arnold and Doris Troy added backing vocals, amongst others.