Way Too Blue: Nick Drake

On the occasion of reading the new bio. Heath Ledger would approve.

We can mock Rolling Stone’s “500 Best All-Time Greatest No Doubt For Sure Albums” rankings (and we have) but it’s somewhat notable that Nick Drake recorded only three albums—and they all made the list. I wonder how many other artists batted 1000 with three or more lps? Anyway, long before a Nick cult developed after that VW “Pink Moon” commercial and all those movie soundtrack excerpts, I was a huge fan dating back to the early 1970s (he would die by his own pills at the age of 26 in 1974).

With my return-to-vinyl in recent weeks I have replaced those three lps and they have not lost a thing. And he remains one of the finest guitarists (and with odd tunings) of our era. You can find several docs on YouTube or streaming although there’s still no video of Nick playing live, which he did rarely outside his bedroom in the house he grew up in. (A ten-second glimpse of a mystery man, allegedly Nick in his trademark velvet jacket, at a folk festival—mind you, just walking through a crowd, alone, not even playing—became known as the Bigfoot Video. But not him.)

Speaking of home, I’ve found fascinating in recent years the discovery and release of his mum’s home recordings, in which she sounds so much like her son, who obviously adapted some of her vocal and writing style.

New to me recently, however, is this Heath Ledger connection. Apparently the actor loved his music, in fact was “obsessed” with him, and hoped to make a movie about him, see short interview clip below. Heath went so far as shoot a video for one of Nick’s very last and bleakest songs, “Black-Eyed Dog,” which ended with a shot of Heath drowning in a bath tub. A little later, Ledger, like Nick, would OD and die young. His “Black-Eyed Dog” film would air at a festival or two but then disappear from screenings and even the internet.

Then there’s this: In his final weeks, Heath announced plans to open a bar/restaurant near his home in Brooklyn. This did happen after his death, and its name—to this day—is Five Leaves, which comes from Drake’s stunning debut album, Five Leaves Left. It became a a hipster paradise and is still much appreciated today.

Below, a few tunes mainly from Five Leaves Left plus Nick’s final statement on his depression, “Black-Eyed Dog.” Bonus example of fingerpicking genius here, recorded at home.

When I was in London this month visiting my daughter, her husband and son Jules, the first major bio of Nick in years (maybe ever) happened to be published and I scored a copy on opening day and brought it back to USA, where it is not yet available. It is quite complete, haunting and terrific—and one of the saddest tales ever to arrive—but among the dozens of things I learned was that “Five Leaves Left” is what appears when you are getting to the end of package of rolling papers. Also see my John Cale note below. Enjoy, then subscribe—it’s still free but I need to be encouraged to keep this going!

Here’s Heath Ledger at Venice Festival briefly on Nick.

As I noted, was surprise to read details in the new bio on how John Cale volunteered to save two songs on Nick’s second album, coming to the studio around 1970 (Nick may have never heard of him even though, ahem, he loved to wear velvet). One song was the great “Northern Sky,” the other was this stunning “Fly,” where Cale added viola, harpsichord and more. Incredible song. Thanks John.

From Nick’s debut, the indelible “Cello Song.”

The oft-covered “Time Will Tell Me.”

One of the most gorgeous songs ever, “Way to Blue.” He knew the way, unfortunately. Here’s an obscure piano demo.

Also from the first album, “River Man.” Nick was sui generis.

One of Nick’s few upbeat tunes, “Hazy Jane II,” from his second album, got me out the door at Barrow St. and on the way to Crawdaddy many a morning in mid-1970s.

And finally, one of his last songs, after his third and final “Pink Moon” album and unreleased for years, the aforementioned Heath Ledger obsession, “Black-Eyed Dog.” Apparently it was no less than Winston Churchill who gave this name to severe depression.