Guest Marching Children Posted May 16, 2004 Report Share Posted May 16, 2004 Magic is Nick Drake's first ever single release and comes out on May 17th with an album, Made To Love Magic being released on May 24th. This is a compilation of new mixes, previously unreleased versions and Toe The Line, a previously undiscovered song from his last session in 1974 before his death. The tracklisting is as follows: Rider On The Wheel (New Mix) Magic (New Strings) The Riverman (Kirby Cambridge Recording) Joey (New Mix) The Thoughts Of Mary Jane (New Mix) Mayfair (Kirby Cambridge Version) Hanging On A Star (New Version) 3 Hours (New Version With Reebop On Percussion) Clothes Of Sand (New Mix) Voices (New Mix) The Time Of No Reply (New Strings) Black Eyed Dog (New Mix) Tow The Line (New Song) The full press release is as follows... Early in 1967 Nick began to abandon the staple diet of covering other peoples songs supplementing material by Dylan, Bert Jansch and Jackson C Frank with his own material. Nicks studious approach to performing well-chosen standards of the time had allowed him to perfect tunings and techniques that were to serve his own songs well - acting as a signature, making his early recordings distinctive and setting himself apart from the fashionable singer-songwriters of his era. The earliest recordings on this album stem from his time at Cambridge University where he met and performed with fellow student Robert Kirby who managed to record several of Nick's new songs onto a stereo tape recorder in the spring of 1968. Robert would use these tapes to write arrangements for the songs with strings and woodwind to be performed in College. Luckily these tapes have survived the rigours of Robert's potting shed and are released here for the first time ever - with only minimal cleaning up - they sound as fresh as when they were recorded. River Man is the only version known to exist without orchestration and is thought to detail Nick's days in Cambridge, whereas Mayfair exists here in its earliest known format, a wry and light hearted view of the London Nick was getting to know. This was later 'properly' recorded by Nick in a stiffer fashion and was covered by Island ska hitmaker; the girl lollipop - Millie. On leaving Cambridge and entering a recording studio, Nick was writing what was to become his debut album Five Leaves Left. It is presumed that Nick was constantly writing new songs as the recording was carried out in several separate sessions so that some earlier songs were supplemented by later material thought more superior. The Thoughts Of Mary Jane, Joey and Clothes Of Sand all recorded towards the end of 1968, never made it onto the album and it is a testament to Nicks quality control and the impossibly high standards of that debut release that such strong material never made it through the final selection. These three songs appeared on the bonus disc Time Of No Reply that was added to the Fruit Tree boxed set. All three have been re-mastered. In early studio sessions Nick used Richard Hewson as an orchestrator, but his unhappiness with the results led him back to colleague Robert Kirby for most future arrangements. By this time the debut album was already too full for I Was Made To Love Magic and Time Of No Reply so Roberts original arrangements remained on manuscript only. It was to these scores that Robert returned in 2003 and a new original arrangement was recorded. Modern technology allowed Nicks voice to be removed from Magic and the track to be sped up to its proper tempo without altering the pitch. You now hear the song as Nick intended it to be heard. Time of No Reply only ever existed as a vocal and guitar part, so adding the new recording of the original arrangement was easier, and much as would have happened in 1968. The entire session was produced by John Wood. The melting pot that was Island Records in the late 60s caused many artists to collaborate with each other. Label boss and producer Chris Blackwell was a strong believer in cross-fertilisation both in musical styles and personalities. Nick was friends with both John Martyn and Richard Thompson amongst others on the varied roster. In March 1969 Nick found himself in North Londons Morgan Studios - a rare departure from Sound Techniques where most of his work was recorded - to play a version of Three Hours with the late Reebop Kwaakhu Baah on congas and an unknown flautist. This version was recorded 2 months before the one that appears on Five Leaves Left. Reebop went on to perform on Welcome To The Canteen a live OZ Benefit album that featured many Island luminaries including members of Traffic who he later joined. This version was discovered on a multi track and is released in a mixed version for the first time. It is longer and more relaxed than its final version almost amounting to a jam session. After the release of the Pink Moon album Nick returned to the studio to record what was thought to be his last 4 songs. These were hastily mixed onto a mono listening tape and these recordings also appeared on the Fruit Tree bonus disc. The versions here are properly mixed versions by the original recording engineer; John Wood, from the multi track tape in true stereo. Recorded in 1974, Black Eyed Dog, Rider On The Wheel, and Voice From A Mountain would, it seems from Nicks notes, have gone to make up the first tracks of a new album. Hanging On A Star is a newly discovered take of the song with, it was judged, a better vocal; Nick recording voice and guitar separately for the first time. It was during this recent mix that the tape was allowed to run on and TOW THE LINE made itself known, never having been mixed or, indeed, heard since 1974. Nick left us with a song full of assurance and a contemplative calm that adds another dimension to the notion that he was at the end of any tether at that time. By returning to the team of John Wood and Robert Kirby, and with the full co-operation of Nicks sister Gabrielle, we have, in this release, a companion piece to the three studio albums: Five Leaves Left, Bryter Later, and Pink Moon. The CD has been digitally mastered using the very latest technology, and is a fitting addition to the short but all-encompassing canon of work Nick recorded in his few years in the studio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ForbiddenFruitcake Posted May 16, 2004 Report Share Posted May 16, 2004 oh, this sounds very good. damn, more bloody expense!is it going to be on widespread release or will it be hard to get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marching Children Posted May 16, 2004 Report Share Posted May 16, 2004 I cant wait to hear some of these tracks. I think it's going to be released on Island/Polygram so it will be available in any music store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ForbiddenFruitcake Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 nice :] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Doubt Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 he freaks me out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Caught the new version of Joey at the weekend - sounds absolutely identical to the original mix in my opinion... perhaps they played the wrong track though! His voice is the most affecting I've ever heard. It's so damn relaxing I'm surprised the government haven't classified his CDs as a Class C... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hog Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 I have heard good things about Nick Drake, havent actually heard his music though.....sounds good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Hog, send me a PM with your address and I'll include a Nick Drake CD along with the other CD I owe you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morocco Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Ayub Ogadais the african nick drake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrickbateman Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 drake is fantastic. river man is one of my favorate songs ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psydoll Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 I used to think that Nick Drake was held up as another person being touted as legendary 'cause he was dead but then I listened (I mean really listened) to 'Pink Moon' and fell utterly in love with it. Glorious stuff and an interesting new release. I think of him when I think of Jeff Buckley and vice versa. I think it's just the circumstances I found out about these artists under. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cynic Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Not many months ago I was laying lilys on Nick Drake's grave, in the company of his sister and arranger. I've loved his music since he was alive, so this release is very exciting for me.The 7" and CD single is out now, and is cheap in HMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rusty Engine Posted May 22, 2004 Report Share Posted May 22, 2004 Originally posted by Danny Doubt:he freaks me out. you freak me out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stichman Posted July 21, 2007 Report Share Posted July 21, 2007 Bastards. Every nick Drake "album" seems to have a track I haven;t heard on it. The rest are yet more fucking remixes of black eyed dog or hazey jane. It's getting annoying y'know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Gold Posted July 22, 2007 Report Share Posted July 22, 2007 This thread is really old.Nick Drakes still right good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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