Nick Drake discography

Nick Drake discography
A black-and-white photograph of a man leaning against a brick wall, with his hands resting on his waist.
Nick Drake in 1969
Releases
Studio albums 3
Compilation albums 7
Singles 5
Video albums 1
Box sets 2
Compilation appearances 11
Soundtrack appearances 12

The discography of Nick Drake, an English folk musician and singer-songwriter, consists of three studio albums, five singles, seven compilation albums, two box sets, one video album and various soundtrack and compilation appearances.

Drake was born on 19 June 1948 in Yangon, Burma and returned with his family to England in 1950.[1] He was encouraged by his mother to learn piano and later learned clarinet and saxophone while attending Marlborough College.[2] In 1965, Drake purchased his first guitar and began experimenting with open tunings and fingerpicking,[3] techniques that later became a signature in his music. While Drake was attending University of Cambridge in 1968, he was introduced to the American record producer Joe Boyd and signed a contract to Island Records.[4]

Drake released his debut studio album, Five Leaves Left, in September 1969. The recording sessions and post-production of the album were difficult due to creative differences between Drake and production personnel.[5] Five Leaves Left also received poor marketing from Island[6] and mixed reviews from critics.[7] In November 1970, Drake released his second studio album, Bryter Layter, which featured a more up-tempo and jazz influenced sound. Joe Boyd described that the album had "more of a pop sound" and "imagined it as more commercial".[8] The album sold fewer than 3,000 copies upon its release and received mixed reviews.

Drake suffered from depression following the commercial failure of his first two releases.[9] However, in October 1971 Drake began recording sessions with a new producer, John Wood. Recorded at two midnight sessions at Sound Techniques in London, the sessions resulted in Drake's third and final studio album, Pink Moon. It was released in February 1972 and despite poor sales, Pink Moon received positive critical acclaim.[10] Drake attempted to record a fourth studio album in early 1974,[11] just months prior to his death on 25 November.[12]

Drake failed to reach a wide audience during his lifetime but has since gained wider recognition.[13][14] Compilations of his music have charted worldwide—including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Ireland and the United States—and rereleases of his singles have entered into the UK Singles Chart. All three of Drake's studio albums, and the compilation album Way to Blue: An Introduction to Nick Drake, have been certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry.[15]

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with certifications
Title Album details Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Five Leaves Left
Bryter Layter
  • Released: 1 November 1970 (UK)[16]
  • Label: Island (9134)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
Pink Moon
  • Released: 25 February 1972 (UK)[16]
  • Label: Island (9184)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with peak chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
UK
[17]
IRL
[18]
US Indie
[19]
Nick Drake
  • Released: August 1971 (US)[20]
  • Label: Island (9307)
  • Formats: LP
Heaven in a Wild Flower: An Exploration of Nick Drake
  • Released: 28 May 1985 (UK)[21]
  • Label: Island (9826)
  • Formats: Cassette, LP, CD
Time of No Reply
  • Released: March 1987 (UK)[21]
  • Label: Hannibal (1318)
  • Formats: Cassette, CD, LP
Way to Blue: - An Introduction to Nick Drake
  • Released: 31 May 1994 (UK)[21]
  • Label: Island (74321 21325)
  • Formats: CD
Made to Love Magic
  • Released: 24 May 2004 (UK)[22]
  • Label: Island (986 631)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
27 59
A Treasury
  • Released: 26 October 2004 (UK)[23]
  • Label: Island (986 792)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP, SACD
Family Tree
  • Released: 10 July 2007 (UK)[24]
  • Label: Island (1734 041), Sunbeam (5011), Tsunami Label Group (0003)
  • Formats: 2×LP, CD, digital download
35
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Box sets

Title Album details Peak chart positions
BEL
[25]
Fruit Tree
  • Released: 9 March 1979 (UK)[16]
  • Label: Island (1745700)
  • Formats: 3×LP, 4×CD, 4×LP
92
Tuck Box
  • Released: 9 December 2013 (UK)[26]
  • Label: Island (0602537538546)
  • Formats: 5×CD
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Singles

Retail singles

List of retail singles, with peak chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[17]
"Magic" 2004 32 Made to Love Magic
"River Man" 48

Promotional singles

List of promotional singles
Title Year Album Ref
"Northern Sky" 1993 Way to Blue: – An Introduction to Nick Drake [27]
"Pink Moon" 2000 Pink Moon [28]
"Plaisir d'amour" 2012 Non-album single [29]

Video albums

List of video albums
Title Album details
A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake
  • Released: 4 December 2007 (UK)[nb 1]
  • Label: Island (006025 1745700)
  • Format: DVD

Compilation appearances

List of appearances on various artist compilation albums
Song Year Album Notes Ref
"Time Has Told Me" 1969 Nice Enough to Eat From Five Leaves Left [32]
"Hazey Jane I" 1970 Bumpers From Bryter Layter [33]
"One of These Things First" 1971 El Pea [34]
"Road" 1994 Folk Routes From Pink Moon [35]
"Three Hours" 1995 Troubadours of British Folk, Vol.2: Folk into Rock From Five Leaves Left [36]
"Pink Moon" 2001 As Seen on TV: Songs from Commercials From Pink Moon [37]
"Northern Sky" 2005 Anthems in Eden: An Anthology of British & Irish Folk 1955–1978 From Bryter Layter [38]
"River Man" Late Night Tales: The Flaming Lips From Five Leaves Left [39]
"Hazey Jane II" Acoustic 05 From Bryter Layter [40]
"Time Has Told Me" 2006 The Acoustic Album From Five Leaves Left [41]
"One of These Things First" 2007 Four Decades of Folk Rock From Bryter Layter [42]

Soundtrack appearances

List of appearances on film and television soundtrack albums
Song Year Appears in Notes Ref
"River Man" 1997 Dream with the Fishes From Five Leaves Left [43]
"Horn" Star Maps From Pink Moon [44]
"Road" 1998 Hideous Kinky [45]
"Black Eyed Dog" Practical Magic From Time of No Reply [46]
"Northern Sky" 2001 Serendipity From Bryter Layter [47]
"Fly" The Royal Tenenbaums [48]
"Cello Song" Me Without You From Five Leaves Left [49]
"One of These Things First" 2004 Garden State From Bryter Layter [50]
"Northern Sky" 2005 Fever Pitch [51]
"Pink Moon" 2007 Driving Lessons From Pink Moon [52]
"Poor Boy" 2008 What Just Happened From Bryter Layter [53]
"Road" 2009 Bandslam From Pink Moon [54]
"Pink Moon" 2011 The Way From Pink Moon [55]

Notes

  1. A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake was originally a BBC Four documentary, initially broadcast in 2002.[30] It was later released as a video album with limited repressings of Fruit Tree in 2007.[31]

References

  1. Brown, Mick (12 July 1997). "The sad ballad of Nick Drake". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  2. Humphries 1997, p. 36.
  3. McGrath, T.J. (October–November 1992). "Nick Drake: Darkness Can Give You the Brightest Light". Dirty Linen. Visionation. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  4. Paphides, Peter (2004). "Like a Heart with Legs on". Western Mail (Trinity Mirror) (21 May 2004).
  5. Dann 2006, p. 59–60.
  6. Dann 2006, p. 133.
  7. Humphries 1997, p. 101–102.
  8. Dann 2006, p. 142.
  9. Dann 2006, p. 157.
  10. McKnight, Connor (June 1974). "In search of Nick Drake". ZigZag Magazine (Northern & Shell) (42).
  11. Dann 2006, p. 180.
  12. Humphries 1997, p. 213–214.
  13. Unterberger, Richie. "Nick Drake – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  14. "Entertainment | Brad Pitt fronts Nick Drake show". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 April 2004. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 December 2012. NB User must either enter "Nick Drake" into Keywords, select "Artist" from Search by, check Exact match and click Search.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Humphries 1997, p. 241.
  17. 17.0 17.1 "Nick Drake | Artist". The Official Charts Company. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  18. "Discography Nick Drake". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  19. "Nick Drake | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  20. "Album Reviews Continued: Pop, Nick Drake". Billboard (Billboard Publications). 7 August 1971. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 Humphries 1997, p. 242.
  22. Unterberger, Richie. "Made To Love Magic – Nick Drake | Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  23. Monger, James Christopher. "A Treasury – Nick Drake". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  24. Unterberger, Richie. "Family Tree – Nick Drake | Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  25. "Nick Drake – Fruit Tree". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  26. Thomas, Fred. "Tuck Box – Nick Drake | Songs, Reviews, Credits and Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  27. "Northern Sky" (Sleeve notes). Nick Drake. Island Records. 1993. DRAKECD1.
  28. "Pink Moon" (Liner notes). Nick Drake. Hannibal Records. 2000. VHNCD 4436/1.
  29. "Plaisir d'amour" (Sleeve notes). Nick Drake. Antar. 2012. 11 103512H1/A.
  30. "Nick Drake: A Skin Too Few". BBC Four. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  31. "Fruit Tree (Limited) – Nick Drake". Amazon. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  32. "Nice Enough to Eat [Island] – Various Artists: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  33. "Bumpers – Various Artists: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  34. "El Pea – Various Artists: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  35. "Folk Routes [Island] – Various Artists: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  36. "Troubadours of British Folk, Vol.2: Folk into Rock – Various Artists: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  37. "As Seen on TV: Songs from Commercials – Various Artists: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  38. "Anthems in Eden: An Anthology of British & Irish Folk 1955–1978 – Various Artists: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  39. "LateNightTales: The Flaming Lips – The Flaming Lips: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  40. "Acoustic Vol.5: Acoustic 05: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  41. "Acoustic Album [EMI] – Various Artists: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  42. "Four Decades of Folk Rock – Various Artists: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  43. "Dream with the Fishes – Original Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  44. "Star Maps – Original Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  45. "Hideous Kinky – Original Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  46. "Practical Magic: Music from the Motion Picture – Various Artists: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  47. "Serendipity – Original Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  48. "The Royal Tenenbaums [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] – Original Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  49. "Me Without You [Original Soundtrack] – Original Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  50. "Garden State – Original Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  51. "Fever Pitch [2005 Original Soundtrack] – Original Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  52. "Music – Driving Lessons – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Various Artists". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  53. "What Just Happened? – Marcelo Zarvos: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  54. "Bandslam – Original Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  55. "The Way – Original Soundtrack: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 December 2012.

Bibliography

External links