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Nick Drake

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Scobie:
Nick Drake was a brilliant fingerstyle guitarist and songwriter, criminally overlooked while he was alive but has a wide audience now due in part to that Volkswagen commercial but also to some high profile followers like Paul Weller and (yes) Brad Pitt. His use of phrasing, melody, unique tunings combined with a hauntingly understated voice makes for some of the most beautiful folk music of the 70's.

There is a documentary called "A Skin Too Few" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BagOmL_Sv4  that serves as a great intro but if you are a music fan just grab his 3 albums. They are always on high rotation on MC at my place and I'm forever on the lookout for similar artists - Alexi Murdoch, Iron and Wine to name a couple - since sadly there'll be nothing more from Nick. 

mwillems:
I enjoyed this thread quite a bit.  Nick Drake is a long time favorite of mine.  All the albums are good, but "Five Leaves Left" is one of my "desert island albums."   I wake up singing "Way to Blue" a few times a year and always reach right for the album.

I found him through a friend, but most of the people I met who know him heard him on the "Garden State" soundtrack for the first time, so that's another pop culture point of entry (aside from the VW commercial).

BryanC:
He was also featured on the Garden State soundtrack, which was very popular among college kids in the 2000's. Saturday Sun is a great driving song. Also a fan of Hazey Jane I and Time of No Reply in addition to his biggest hits (Way To Blle, etc). He's in the same vanguard of haunted folk singers like Elliott Smith.

Scobie:
Also the mid 80's hit by The Dream Academy, "Life in a Northern Town" was a tribute to Nick Drake and the song's success resulted in some interest back then.

My first exposure was the Way To Blue compilation and the song "Northern Sky" was what really hooked me to his music - even played it at our wedding. It's an extraordinary track and really showcases Drake's gift for melody.  Others like "Fly" also off Bryter Later and "Which Will" and "Place to Be" off Pink Moon make me stop and listen every time. A wonderful talent.

Scobie:
Nick Drake also pops up on Radio Paradise Mellow.

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