Nick Drake was an English musician who released 3 studio albums between 1968-1972. His tracks were mainly comprised of finger picking acoustic guitar and rather depressive lyrics. Drake also played the piano, clarinet and saxophone on some of his tracks but despite this vast musical ability was reluctant to ever play live shows, meaning that his music was largely unknown during his life.
However, since the singer’s death in 1974 his music has gone on to become extremely popular with an ever growing fan base. His music has now featured on many major film soundtracks, such as Garden State and Serendipity, and Nick Drake has become recognised as one of the most influential English singers of the last 50 years.
Nick Drake's Second Album Bryter Layter
In 1968 Drake released his debut album Five Leaves Left and although the record only received minimal praise and a low level of commercial success, due largely to the folk singers unwillingness to perform live shows and do interviews, the musicians producer; Joe Boyd, was keen to build on what little success the album had generated.
In 1970 Drake released his second record Bryter Layter on Island Records and although there were similarities to his first album, with some acoustic and slow melodic songs with somber lyrics, there was more instrumentals and upbeat melodies with a jazzier feel mixed into the album. The shift is style was to try and create more commercial success but this was not to be as the album sold less than 3,000 copies on its release.
Drugs, Depression and Live Shows
Around this time Drake was becoming more and more refusing to perform live concerts and at one of his final shows, performed at Ewell Technical College in London, the musician walked off stage halfway through performing the song Fruit Tree. His family convinced him to see a psychiatrist who prescribed the singer with antidepressants but Drake was reportedly embarrassed about taking the drugs and tried to hide them from the people close to him.
The lack of commercial success of Bryter Layter and the fact that Drakes mentor Joe Boyd moved to L.A. is often believed to be the sauce of the songwriter’s depression. It has also been speculated in recent books about the singer that he was, at this point, using heroin as well as smoking a large amount of marijuana. Drake went on to release just one more studio album; Pink Moon, before dying from an overdose in November 1974.
Recent Commercial Success and Inspiration
Although Drake's 3 albums received minimal commercial success on there initial release in recent times the English musician has become ever more popular with some of his songs appearing on major movie soundtracks including the track Fly from the album Bryter Layter appearing on Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums. As well as this Bryter Layter was named as the number 1 album in the Guardians Alternative top 100 albums ever list in 1999.
Nick Drake has also been cited as inspiring many mainstream and alternative musicians in recent times, including Robert Smith from The Cure and singer-songwriter Elliott Smith, and so although Drakes music was often criticised and was largely unsuccessful during his lifetime, it has lived on and gone on to become classic, inspiring many others and becoming more and more appreciated and loved by an ever growing fan base.
Bryter Layter Track List
- Introduction
- Hazy Jane II
- At the Chime of a City Clock
- One of These Things First
- Hazy Jane I
- Bryter Layter
- Fly
- Poor Boy
- Northern Sky
- Sunday
English Musician's Music Lives OnNick Drake's music only enjoyed a small level of success in his life time but since his death in 1974 his three studio albums; Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon have gathered a large fan base, with increasing sales, appearances on many film and television soundtracks and tribute concerts to the singer taking place across the UK to celebrate his life and musical talent.
Bryter Layter is a fantastic folk album from one of England's greatest ever solo musicians. His acoustic finger picking style, alternative folk/jazz sound and lyrical talent has gone on to inspire many bands and musicians and has cemented him as one England's greatest musical talents of the last 50 years.
Matthew Read - I love writing! Over the last 6 years I have written CD reviews, book reviews, interviews and features for music magazines like No-Title, ...
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