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Nick Drake - gryphon - 09-06-2010
The Beginners Guide To Nick Drake
In his life time, Nick sold few albums, made only a handful of live performances , made around three albums and had little commercial impact on the music industry…………………..and yet today he is regarded with special affection by many and has healthy music sales , a high profile in the advertising industry and is a enigma and a legend.
He is an enigma ……………..regarded as maudlin by many people, and difficult to “get into” Nick does not present an easy face to the beginner ……………………….
To understand a little about Nick and his music , it is important to look into Nick’s short life and understand he character who became the legend Nick Drake
It is for that reason that the first port of call for anyone trying to listen to his small repertoire to first read about Nick ……………….
So the first thing I would recommend would be one of the following autobiographical books:
Nick Drake: The Biography by Patrick Humphries
or
Nick Drake: Complete Guide to His Music by Peter Hogan
Once this has been digested, the best place to start with Nick’s work might well be: a commercial
[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIOW9fLT9eY&feature=related"]
[/URL]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIOW9fLT9eY&feature=related
Nick’s first call to the limelight came through commercials for VW. I eel it is the atmosphere that is created by the song which prompted VW to choose Pink Moon as the song that would head their advertising campaign………………..As far as I can tell this and started life in Europe and may well has spread out around the world …………astounding VW and the ad bureau that suggested it .
The track is taken from Nick’s third album ad is amongst one of his darker offerings…
From here on , it was the quest to find out more about this forgotten artist that drew the story forward.
Nick’s original three albums had been recorded for Island records in the Early seventies. Island had a strong reputation for delivering quality music and upon signing Nick, Chris Blackwell ad the team had a strong belief in Nick and his talent. Initially he was coupled with producer Joe Boyd and it is the strong belief in his talent that lead Island records to stick with Nick and his work no matter what.
At the time of writing, Nick’s albums are still current product with Island and have remained on catalogue ever since their first release……………………IT was the belief that Nick would be recognized that caused this and when the VW ads hit it was this fact that allowed Nick’s smoldering image to slowly catch light and turn into the inferno it is today…………………
So, what did those people find:
Well normally I would go on to recommend a starting point but I think the following helps more:
There are four possible starting points , each has its own strengths and weaknesses:
· Five Leaves Left……………….Early days at home, the countryside and Tanworth in Arden, public school days, Cambridge, Friends, Dreams of being a successful artist , France………………………..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6zCmCIsoAE&feature=fvw
· Bryter Later….The process of trying to break through, Life in London, Love, The City, The people, Nick Drake’s persona , performing live……Hopefulness…….Possible failure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtyLL_BE-oo
· Pink Moon ………..Life in a dingy bedsitter, physical and emotional problems, demons that haunt , simplistic approach, despair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT17fInnJ_I
· Made To Love Magic……………The beginnings………The possible start of a fourth unfinished album
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhkeXOjqiPs&feature=related
To finish, Nick is a curiously English phenomenon…….His songs reflect himself , his life , his feelings and his England……………………..
He was an excellent guitarist some of his secrets have died with him and still baffle many experts today.
There is an official Nick Drake Web site:
http://www.nickdrake.com/albums.html
There is no known footage of Nick, live but I have talked to someone who saw Nick live: They tell of a nervous performer whose performance was excellent but who was so scared, who faced the ground, mumbled and had no self confidence despite having very high quality material.
Overall Nick was not just a musical but a soul, one too gentle for this world maybe but he still lives on in that form.
For a final comparison, he is like The War Poets of The Great War, he was what was around him , experienced , what was happening, used it in his artwork and may well have died as a result of the passion he felt ,........................
Nick Drake - carbon_psycho - 09-06-2010
thanks.. love Nick Drake
Nick Drake - Music Head - 09-06-2010
very nice one
Nick Drake - Tiggi - 10-06-2010
I agree. Good Choice, Edwin...
Nick Drake - CRAZY-HORSE - 27-08-2010
'five leaves left' is a classic album, havent heard much else by mr.drake, but the few tracks i have heard, i wouldnt bother with personally. its a shame he went so early, there was definately a lot of talent we never got to experience
Nick Drake - lora - 18-11-2010
yeah nick has a really nice voice
Nick Drake - jules_mv - 24-11-2010
Thanks. It was really nice to read this. There is something peaceful and at the same time hartbreaking in all Nick's songs ... "Day Is Done" is one of my favorite. Just perfect.
Nick Drake - Wilfried - 09-12-2010
Yep, the Patrick Humphries biography is worth checking out with memories of Nick from people such as John Martyn, Danny Thompson and Joe Boyd. A wonderful read.