Sinister: RE: the Nick Drake biography
I have the book in my hand. it's yellow, it's called: Nick Drake the Biography Patrick Humphies ISBN 0-7475-2976-0 I haven't started reading it yet. The sad thing is though that Gabrielle Drake (his sister) and Joe Boyed (producer) didn't help with the writing of the book. I got into B & S because nearly every b&s review mentioned Nick. The dust cover has the following words: Nick Drake was barely 26 years old when he died in 1974. The British singer-songwriter made only three albums during his short life - Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon. All are now recognised as classics. Since his death, Nick has been cited as a seminal influence by stars as diverse as REM, Elton John, Paul Weller, Jackson Browne, Everything But The Girl, Tom Verlaine and Matt Johnson of The The. While the lives of other musicians who died before their time, such as Jim Morrison, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Gram Parsons, have been amply documented, there has never before been a biography of Nick Drake. Patrick Humphries' illuminating text includes exclusive interviews with friends, colleagues and musicians who knew and worked with Nick. It provides an unprecedented insight not only into the life and work of Nick Drake, but also into the music scene of the 1960s that formed his backdrop. The author's lifelong appreciation of and interest in Nick Drake were further fuelled when he discovered that his uncle Dr. James Lusk actually delivered Nick into the world and remained a friend of the Drake family. In these Pages he draws on a long letter from Nick's father to Dr. Lusk, in which he describes how his wife, Nick's mother, discovered Nick's body during the morning of 25 November 1974, following an accidental overdose of prescribed drugs. I a week is a long time in politics, then the 23 years since Nick's death represent a lifetime in the transitory world of pop. But the music of Nick Drake has never lost its place in his fans' affections, and still its haunting beauty reaches out to fresh generations. This book is for all of them. Writer and journalist Patrick Humphries is the author of acclaimed biographies of Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and Richard Thompson. He lives in London. Happy Christmas - Benjamin ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net . We're all happy bunnies humming happy bunny tunes. Aren't we? -----------------------------------------------------------------------
A brief return to the list after the giddy excesses of the chat room. On Tue, 16 Dec 1997 16:41:32 -0000, Benjamin wrote:
I got into B & S because nearly every b&s review mentioned Nick.
There are vague similarities. They're both wonderful. And 'I was made to love magic' is pretty damn close to perfect.
The dust cover has the following words: Nick Drake was barely 26 years old when he died in 1974. The British singer-songwriter made only three albums during his short life - Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon. All are now recognised as classics.
He went to school in the same town as me. He went to the public school, I had an old-fashioned comprehensive education. Never did me any harm.
Since his death, Nick has been cited as a seminal influence by stars as diverse as REM, Elton John, Paul Weller, Jackson Browne, Everything But The Girl, Tom Verlaine and Matt Johnson of The The. While the lives of other musicians who died before their time, such as Jim Morrison, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Gram Parsons, have been amply documented...
In the case of Jim Morisson, a suitable tribute would involve going to his grave and laughing at the fat drunken wanker. Poet my arse. And Janis Joplin was a wailing harpie smackhead. And Jimi Hendrix couldn't sing to save his life. Oh, I do hope that didn't offend anyone. How did Nick Drake influence Elton John? Now that is puzzling. 'Daniel' is good though. Love Tag xxxxx ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net . We're all happy bunnies humming happy bunny tunes. Aren't we? -----------------------------------------------------------------------
On Tue, 16 Dec 1997, Tag wrote:
A brief return to the list after the giddy excesses of the chat room.
On Tue, 16 Dec 1997 16:41:32 -0000, Benjamin wrote:
I got into B & S because nearly every b&s review mentioned Nick.
There are vague similarities. They're both wonderful. And 'I was made to love magic' is pretty damn close to perfect.
The dust cover has the following words: Nick Drake was barely 26 years old when he died in 1974. The British singer-songwriter made only three albums during his short life - Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon. All are now recognised as classics.
He went to school in the same town as me. He went to the public school, I had an old-fashioned comprehensive education. Never did me any harm.
Since his death, Nick has been cited as a seminal influence by stars as diverse as REM, Elton John, Paul Weller, Jackson Browne, Everything But The Girl, Tom Verlaine and Matt Johnson of The The. While the lives of other musicians who died before their time, such as Jim Morrison, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Gram Parsons, have been amply documented...
In the case of Jim Morisson, a suitable tribute would involve going to his grave and laughing at the fat drunken wanker. Poet my arse. And Janis Joplin was a wailing harpie smackhead. And Jimi Hendrix couldn't sing to save his life. Oh, I do hope that didn't offend anyone.
How did Nick Drake influence Elton John? Now that is puzzling. 'Daniel' is good though.
FYI Elton John released a record of 4 Nick Drake covers in the early 70's. PS - I saw the Nick Drake tribute concert at St. Ann's church in Brooklyn back in November. It was a mixed bag. Peter Holsapple did a great job conducting the musicians but the whole event was entirely too reverential. Not that Nick doesn't deserve reverence. It was all just a little too stiff - with the remarkable exception of the great Peter Blegvad who performed Been Smokin Too Long. The show was recorded for radio broadcast - which may account for the National Public Radio vibe. Some of the other performances were good - Richard Barone, Duncan Sheik. Chris Blake, NYC
Love Tag xxxxx ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net . We're all happy bunnies humming happy bunny tunes. Aren't we? -----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net . We're all happy bunnies humming happy bunny tunes. Aren't we? -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Christopher R Blake -
Coombs, Benjamin (B.J.) -
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