Nick Drake

[Hawksun]

Everybody loves Nick Drake(if not then, skip that last part), and it seems a few people want it on the moon. I myself had made the suggestion about a year ago and thus support this.

However the only album I can picture as fitting for this station is Bryter Layter. Nicely written songs, great orchestrations and one of the best instrumental I ever heard(the title track). That, and I'm sure a ton of people here already like this album.

I'm not much a fan of his first album and I find Pink Moon to be too stripped down musically, even if the album is awesome in itself.

Want the two other ones to be included too? Make yourself heard here! I surely wouldn't mind seeing/hearing all of Nick Drake's stuff for my part. That and more people asking for Nick Drake ups our chances to hear him here one day in the future.

[mossy]

We "lobbied" to have Nick on the Moon before, but final word was that it wasn't Moon material.

I would love to see his stuff here, so well done for bringing it up again Hawk. Who knows, Jim might re-assess.

I wouldn't be able to pick and choose from his work. It's all good.

mossy

[Hawksun]

Originally Posted by mossy

We "lobbied" to have Nick on the Moon before, but final word was that it wasn't Moon material.

Oh... I didn't knew that part. I feel a bit dumb posting this thread now.

[mossy]

It's GREAT that you posted.

When Leo Kottke got added recently I said to Keith maybe there's hope for Nick, so your post is timely.

How's about it Jim?

You all know my feelings on this. Nick should be here. All of his albums.

I have heard Nick played on the Moon but that was during my Birthday party show earlier in the year. The songs fitted in so well with the rest of the (mainly) Moon music and will do again.

I would willingly donate everything he ever wrote if it would help to get these sensational songs added to the playlist but at the end of the day Jim has the final say and we have to (and will) respect that.

Light up my Northern sky!!!!!

Thank you for raising the issue again Hawk.

[Yesspaz]

Originally Posted by mossy

final word was that it wasn't Moon material.

You got that right...

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by Yesspaz

You got that right...

Usually I stay out of a thread when I don't know the music or don't care for the artist in question.

While I do not agree with the premise that "Joe Musicmaker has a CD on the Moon, and he's not prog, therefore Nick Drake should be there", I do admire the passion felt for the music by the supporters.

I am not familiar with ND, but I'm guessing it's along the lines of a lot that I listen to that's not Moon material. Jim and I sometimes don't see eye to eye with what's on the Moon, but I have a ton of respect for what he does (and Keith does too, see his last post) and we usually agree on most things.

The bottom line is that so far it's been decided that it's not going to be on Aural Moon.

I see no need to come into the thread and "pile on" (visual intentional).

It was a cordial and informative thread....excellent job Spaz (sarcasm also intentional).

There's my parting shot, see you in a few days.

[kevishev]

Originally Posted by mossy

When Leo Kottke got added recently I said to Keith maybe there's hope for Nick, so your post is timely.

I've been a Leo Kottke fan since the early 70's. When they started playing Richard "Leo" Johnson stuff on here I wondered why the great stuff from the guy he was named after wasn't played on here.

BTW, I'm not knowingly familiar with Nick Drake.

[mossy]

While I do not agree with the premise that "Joe Musicmaker has a CD on the Moon, and he's not prog, therefore Nick Drake should be there", I do admire the passion felt for the music by the supporters.

Thank you, Rick. Actually I said I thought maybe there was a chance since Leo Kottke had been added. I would never presume that ND should be here because of that.

Kev, if you send me an address I'll get some music to you.

[Yesspaz]

My point is that some artists are tweeners, but I can't see Nick Drake as coming even close. Just because an artist is loved doesn't make them prog. I love Tom Petty - would never try to get him on the Moon.

Originally Posted by Yesspaz

My point is that some artists are tweeners, but I can't see Nick Drake as coming even close. Just because an artist is loved doesn't make them prog. I love Tom Petty - would never try to get him on the Moon.

Spaz.....I think what is being said here is that there are some artists on the moon that others would also consider tweeners eg. Leo Kottke who's inclusion might make those of us who would like to see Nick here hopeful.

It really is no big deal and I can listen to my Nick Drake albums any time I want so I'm not that bothered any more. I've banged my head against a brick wall for more important rhings than this in the past with no result so what the hey. There is plenty more SUPERB music on the playlist.

Do you REALLY like tom Petty? Perhaps you should go to the Guilty Pleasures thread and confess.

[mossy]

amen, k.

I don't think Jim's even seen this thread, or if he has perhaps he's giving it a wide berth

Anyway, out of respect for Mr. Jim and also ND, I'm done.

Putting that wonderful half dead beaten up old horse out to pasture.

mossy

[Yesspaz]

Originally Posted by KeithieW

Do you REALLY like tom Petty? Perhaps you should go to the Guilty Pleasures thread and confess.

No guilt here. We'd all be better off if we owned a copy of Wallflowers

[progdirjim(Admin)]

Jim has just now read this thread. See Vax's post in the SBB thread about being ridiculously busy, change many of the details, and there you have my life lately.

I seriously doubt we'll be adding any Nick Drake. I like him a LOT. I have Pink Moon and Bryter Later, and both of those rank high on my favorite albums of all time. But generally, I see Nick as a singer/songwriter, and not prog. I don't quite get the Kottke comparison - Leo is a SICK (in the good way) guitarist, and that virtuosity puts him easily in the prog realm to me. Nick Drake speaks to me, but in a much different way. For those who are not familiar, and like well-done singer/songwriter stuff, try Pink Moon, written and recorded just before his death from terminal cancer or some other horrific affliction. If you can't feel the passion on that album, well you probably need therapy. Good stuff.

Never a problem to suggest music Hawksun, even if it's been suggested before. Aural Moon continues to evolve, and I pride myself on being open-minded, so that means reconsidering previously held opinions...

I'll have to listen to Bryter Later (title track) - I'm always more inclined to include instrumentals. There is a chance I'd throw that one song on the Moon...

[gmknobl]

From the mostly accurate Wikipedia:

In 1974, Drake felt well enough to write and record a few new songs. However, on November 25, he died of an overdose of the antidepressant Tryptizol. The coroner concluded that the cause of Drake's death was suicide, although this was disputed by friends and relatives. Antidepressants of that type (tricyclic) are lethal if ingested at doses higher than as typically prescribed. His mother recounts that he must have had difficulty sleeping and had got up in the night to have a bowl of cornflakes. It's unclear whether he took more pills to help him sleep or to take his own life.

endquote -

I won't vouch for the veracity of that but it is pretty much what I've heard.

God, that must be terribly hard having a child die before the parent. I know the reverse is something most of us go through and it isn't easy, particularly for those of us who are personally familiar with depression.

[mossy]

Yes, nobody has ever said whether it was suicide, or an accident. Both his parents are dead and his sister, who's an actress in the UK, has said nothing.

This is a cut and paste from IGUANA on the making of Pink Moon in 1972:

Nick has a lot of music running through his head, but he can't write, can't get it down. Chris Blackwell at Island Records offers him an apartment on the Spanish coast. When he returns to England in October 1971, he calls John Wood, telling him he wants to make a new album. Wood has received instructions from the company to record anything with Nick - anytime - so he tells Nick to come over. He arrives at midnight, pale faced, looking like a man who's been losing too much sleep. Nick sits down in the studio, perfectly in tune as always, and plays his songs in an unbroken suite. The record, 'Pink Moon', is recorded in two hours. Other sources claims that the songs were cut in two days, which actually sounds more reasonable.

A couple of days later, they meet to work out the arrangements. Nick puts on some piano on the title track, Pink Moon, but that's it. "I don't want them arranged", says Nick, "no frills".
The album is short, about 30 minutes, but Nick haven't got any more songs. In Robert Kirby's eyes 'Pink Moon' is the finest work Nick ever did. And an astonishing achievement: during the recording he was so depressed that he could barely speak, so confused that he would stand helplessly at an intersection, unable to cross.

Nick is now in possession of the finished tape, but one problem remains: he must bring it to Island Records. And explain why there are no arrangements. Nick drives to the office, but when he reaches the door, he can't go through with it. Without a word, he leaves the tape with the receptionist. A few days later, someone actually decides to open the package and they realize that it's the new Nick Drake album.

I suppose we all have music which reaches a place so deep inside that we ourselves can't define it, explain it, or compare it to anything else. I'll always be grateful to ND who, either in spite of or because of his emotional pain, was able to share something so profound.

Sorry to wax on. I've said my bit now.

[Hawksun]

I remember reading that article Mossy about a year ago, two tops maybe. That creeped me out. I more than ever felt that Pink Moon was a really dark album.

Thought some of you might like to see a few of the pictures I took when I visited Nick Drake's grave a while back.

It was a very emotional day out for me. Pam was very understanding and went and sat in the local pub while I paid my (huge) respects.

The Tree is an English Oak tree under which Nick was buried. I took a leaf and have it in a frame on my desk. I feel somehow that a bit of Nick's spirit is with me whenever I look at it.

The Grave stone is very simple, almost delicate, as you can see.

The Church is beautiful both inside and out. I took a photo of a plaque that is on the Church Organ which was placed there to commemorate his music.

I'm going to go and play Northern Sky now. That was the song that I sang as I sat by his grave that day.

Hope you like the pictures.