Occasional Albums Thing 021 - Nick Drake “Made To Love Magic”

If you are still to be seduced by the beauty of Nick Drake’s music you may want to begin with his three studio albums, my thoughts on those can be found at the links below.

“Made To Love Magic” is a compilation album released in 2004. It contains outtakes and remixes, some of which had been previously issued on the 1986 collection “Time Of No Reply” which had been included as the fourth disc in the “Fruit Tree” box set. Most of the songs on “Made To Love Magic” are remasters of the versions on “Time Of No Reply” but it does contain a few songs that are exclusive to this release.

Those being…“River Man” and “Thoughts Of Mary Jane”, demo’s recorded in Nicks dorm room at Cambridge University around 1968; “Three Hours”, an alternate version of the song released on Nick’s first album “Five Leaves Left”, this time featuring the marvellously named Ghanaian percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah (who went on to work with Traffic and Can) on congas; the title track now has a posthumously added string arrangement by longtime collaborator Robert Kirby; and final song, “Tow The Line”, is believed to be the last recording Nick Drake made, sometime in July 1974. Just 4 months later he was gone.

It really is a Nick Drake obsessive’s release, which I have no problem in admitting I have become in the 9 years or so since first hearing “Pink Moon”. I find the demo of “River Man”, one of my favourite songs from his debut album “Five Leaves Left”, utterly entrancing, especially after reading in Richard Morton’s recent (and highly recommended) biography how and why it was recorded.

I remember Miles being most surprised that I liked Nick Drake as it’s not the sort of thing I would generally take to, earnest, folky singer-songwriters aren’t usually my bag. But as soon as you hear Nick Drake play you are immediately struck by his style, it’s unique. He’s wasn’t the worlds greatest singer but his guitar playing added to his melodies and lyrics make for an instantly engaging listen, for me anyway. His spellbinding music, added to his tragic personal story keep me coming back for more.

I’m not going to add a link to a track to this post. The likelihood is that many people reading this will be unfamiliar with Nick Drake’s music and “Made To Love Magic” isn’t the place you want to begin. Read about his 3 studio albums at the links below, have a listen to the songs I linked on there and, if you’re lucky, you’ll be ensnared by Nick Drake’s beautiful music, just as I have been, and you’ll find your way back to this one.

Five Leaves Left - https://www.whiterabbitrecords.co.uk/blog/read_203991/2023-albums-thing-113-nick-drake-five-leaves-left.html

Bryter Later - https://www.whiterabbitrecords.co.uk/blog/read_204005/2023-albums-thing-114-nick-drake-bryter-later.html

Pink Moon - https://www.whiterabbitrecords.co.uk/blog/read_204011/2023-albums-thing-115-nick-drake-pink-moon.html