Way To Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake

Bob-Dubery

Early this year there was a brief tour of this show in the UK. It was curated by Joe Boyd (Drake's manager/producer) and features various singers, most of them a generation after Drake, performing their interpretations of Drake's songs. One concert was broadcast on TV and a good chunk is now available on youtube.

Drake fans should check this out. Some of the reinterpretations are very interesting.

Here's Lisa Hannigan doing "Black Eyed Dog"

singemonkey

Hey. I didn't know that was by Nick Drake. I was listening to a truly savage version by The Swans the other day on my ipod.

p.s. you didn't mean way too blue by any chance Bob? ? *goosesteps away sniggering*

Bob-Dubery

singemonkey wrote Hey. I didn't know that was by Nick Drake. I was listening to a truly savage version by The Swans the other day on my ipod.

That song was recorded in Drake's last ever recording session in 1974. The interesting thing for me is the way that the string arrangement derives directly from Drake's guitar part on the original. Some of his compositions were so complete. This is one of the reasons I appreciate his final album so much. Pink Moon was just Drake - he wanted to record all by himself, with no string sections, no studio players. The songs are so complete with just Drake's voice and guitar - it's all there (we can forgive him the short piano overdub on the title track).

Not long after that final recording Drake was gone. A later generation of musicians discovered his music and now his name is a fashionable one to drop and he's often cited as an influence (Joe Boyd said that the guys who claim Drake as an influence usually don't get close to either the essence of Drake's music or his form as a player and composer).

I don't know much about many of the artists involved in this show, but I'd love to get a DVD if there is one as some of the reworkings are very good indeed. If they'd just tried to reproduce Drake it would been not 1/10 as interesting.

Bob-Dubery

singemonkey wrote Hey. I didn't know that was by Nick Drake. I was listening to a truly savage version by The Swans the other day on my ipod.

I wonder if this isn't a downside of ipods - that you just get the music and not all the extra information. I am a compulsive reader of liner notes. I like to read it all, see who wrote the songs, who played on what etc etc.

I understand that there are now treatments available.

Riaan-Combrink

I picked up Darker Than the Deepest Sea: The Search for Nick Drake by Trevor Dann at the last Exclusive Books sale for R 50,00 ( ?). Planning to get into it this weekend.

@ Bob: I noted on the ND wiki entry that Solid Air was written for and about Nick. No credible reference was, however, provided. Have you heard this before?

Bob-Dubery

Riaan C wrote @ Bob: I noted on the ND wiki entry that Solid Air was written for and about Nick. No credible reference was, however, provided. Have you heard this before?

Many times, and Martyn himself has said it. Martyn was a great friend and admirer of Drake's. He and his then wife Beverley would often look after Drake when his depression got really bad. Martyn wrote that song for and about Drake. The song, not the entire album.

I'd be interested to hear your views on that book. Did you read White Bicycles by Joe Boyd? I thought that gave a respectful insight into Drake and his music.

Riaan-Combrink

X-rated Bob wrote I'd be interested to hear your views on that book. Did you read White Bicycles by Joe Boyd? I thought that gave a respectful insight into Drake and his music.

I haven't read White bicycles. Will post my impression once I'm further in!