Nick Drake - hype and reality

Subject: RE: Nick Drake - hype and reality
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 03:58 PM

Nick's never appealed to me. I keep comimg back to him hoping that he will "click" with me but to no avail; however, lots of people who I admire think he's the bee's knees, and so I'll have to accept that he must have had something special going.

Subject: RE: Nick Drake - hype and reality
From: Hamish
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 03:26 PM

When I was a student many decades ago, I picked up Five Leaves Left in a cheapy remainder bin. I liked it. But not enough to stop me swapping it for a prog-rock album by somebody who I can't even remember the name of now. Yes, it's all very charming and lovely (Nick Drake, that is) but I can't quite see the reverence is fully justified.

Well done on sticking your head above the parapet, though, Will!!

Subject: RE: Nick Drake - hype and reality
From: Will Fly
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 02:38 PM

The Culture Show is now doing a section on the recently discovered tapes of Scottish crofter Thomas Fraser, who was a secret fan of early country music and made some fantastic recordings on reel-to-reel tape in his house. Wonderful and fascinating stuff! A lovely, natural voice and unforced performances from a poor man who'd contracted polio and lived a hard crofter's life on Shetland. And an extension of the historical link between Scottish music of the Old World and the country music from the New World.

Subject: RE: Nick Drake - hype and reality
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 02:28 PM

Will, I entirely agree. Drake may have had mental problems, but everything I have heard of his has been self-centred schmaltz, and his singing an unfortunate precursor of the "baby-girl" voices that wreck female singing of folk songs and folk-style songs today. I too tuned in hoping to hear something to change my mind - a former law-partner of mine one John Murphy (himself a singer-songwriter who actually spent a lot of the year after graduating in the recording studios being courted by record companies looking for "the next Nick Drake") was at university with Nick and much admired him, and so many fine musicians admire him. But I didn't, and Thompson's remarks were eye-wateringly crass and anodyne.

Oh - and as for the "impoverished singer songwriter bit" - FFS he was not working class or middle class, his family was bordering on county aristocracy.

Subject: Nick Drake - hype and reality
From: Will Fly
Date: 21 Jan 10 - 02:21 PM

I'm just watching a clip on The Culture Show about the Celtc Connections festival and, in particular, the songs of Nick Drake. I dread to say it here, but I must be one of the few people in the whole world who think that Drake has been grossly over-hyped. (I should also add that I have to admit that I'm an ex-jazzer who dislikes much of the music of Billie Holiday).

I generally ignore programmes about Drake because I've never cared for his songs, but I thought I'd give The Culture Show a listen. And - out trotted the clichés from the interviewer: "He was self-taught on guitar, wasn't he...?" (Oh, for God's sake!). He was emotionally at a low ebb (So?). And then the usual chat came out about his unusual tunings, his sensitivity, etc., etc.

Now - I'm really not trying to diminish Drake's artistry, in spite of my cynicism. It's the media hype about it all which is so grating. I have known, in 40+ years of playing, some superb and wonderful musicians, none of whom ever made the "cultural charts". No media hype associated with them.

So (and I await the answers in fear and trembling) - is it just bloody-minded old me?