Nick Drake

Drake's story has reached mythological proportions: shy, insecure artist feels he is a loner, feels unsure of his musical abilities; releases only three albums, falls into a deep depression and is found dead of an overdose of antidepressants. Whether this was a suicide or not is still being debated, but what is most fascinating is the fact that his popularity has skyrocketed only after his death. His soft, autumnal folk tunes have become hymns to countless gloomy kids throughout the world; they had found someone with whom to share their misery, the ultimate loner that no one understood.

His songs have been used in commercials and movies ever since his new found fame and this has also contributed to exponentially boost the sales of his albums. Countless re-editions have since been released, documentaries have been made, you name it. Even though I am not big on analyzing lyrics (some even hear prophetic allusions), I decided to purchase his albums due to the dark and gloomy aura around his music and the fact that he is a major influence on the psych-folk music of today.

Five Leaves Left Label: Island Records Release: 1970 Format: CD Cat. no: IMCD 8/842 915-2
Song list:
Time Has Told Me (4:27) River Man (4:22) Three Hours (6:15) Way To Blue (3:11) Day Is Done (2:28) 'Cello Song (4:48) The Thoughts Of Mary Jane (3:22) Man In A Shed (3:55) Fruit Tree (4:49) Saturday Sun (4:05)

Bryter Layter Label: Island Records Release: 1970 Format: CD Cat. no: IMCD 71/846 005-2
Song list:
Introduction (1:32) Hazey Jane II (3:46) At The Chime Of A City Clock (4:45) One Of These Things First (4:51) Hazey Jane I (4:29) Bryter Layter (3:22) Fly (3:00) Poor Boy (6:09) Northern Sky (3:45) Sunday (3:43)

Pink Moon Label: Island Records Release: 1972 Format: CD Cat. no: IMCD 94/842 923-2
Song list:
Pink Moon (2:06) Place To Be (2:43) Road (2:02) Which Will (2:58) Horn (1:23) Things Behind The Sun (3:57) Know (2:25) Parasite (3:36) Free Ride (3:06) Harvest Breed (1:37) From The Morning (2:32)