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Way to Blue: An Introduction
Nick Drake
Way to Blue: An Introduction
Genres: Folk, International Music, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (16) - Disc #1

The options where Nick Drake is concerned are limited, but wholly appealing. The downhearted singer-songwriter released only three albums in his 26 years; the posthumous rarities collection, Time of No Reply, rounds out hi...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Nick Drake
Title: Way to Blue: An Introduction
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Island
Original Release Date: 1/1/1994
Re-Release Date: 5/6/2003
Album Type: Original recording remastered
Genres: Folk, International Music, Pop, Rock
Styles: British & Celtic Folk, Singer-Songwriters, Oldies, Folk Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 044003823921

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The options where Nick Drake is concerned are limited, but wholly appealing. The downhearted singer-songwriter released only three albums in his 26 years; the posthumous rarities collection, Time of No Reply, rounds out his abbreviated oeuvre. The whole lot is contained in the exemplary four-disc Fruit Tree box set. Way to Blue is a scaled-back option for those who are enchanted by Drake's intricate yet cozy lamentations, but feel no need to join the ever-growing legion of Drake completists. But while the 16 songs included here provide a fine introduction to the ill-fated Englishman's work (which seems to fit together no matter how it's sequenced), Drake is one of those rare artists whose entire catalog is worth owning due to its excellence and, sadly, its brevity. --Steven Stolder

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CD Reviews

This is a complicated and demanding form of music
Scott B. Saul | COOPER CITY, FL USA | 11/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love Nick Drake b/c he is fascinating and his music is unusual and enchanting. If you are unfamiliar with his music, it is definetly a bit different and somewhat challenging to fully comprehend.



To understand the music you must understand the artist. This is not commercial b/c the artist had no desire to be commercial. He was a strange, eccentric shy and tortured artist. Drake seemed to have been a pretty bohemian artist simply trying to pursue his muse.



On this introductory sampler, there are a variety of different forms of music most likely b/c of an experimentation on how to actually produce him. There are sparce, purely accoustical numbers, lushly orchestrated numbers and works that fall in between.



Something that is special about his music is the unique manner in which he played guitar and sang. He played in a variety of unusual guitar tunings (therefore the chord and melody structures were unique sounding).



He was a fingerpicker who pulled at the strings with great force which added a lot of texture (not usually heard with other guitar players) tohis playing.



He sang in a strange whisper so you had this muscular accoustic guitar playing which was strangely coupled with wispy vocals.



Nick Drake's love songs have an etheral beauty to them. My favorite song, "Northern Lights" is, without a doubt, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG I HAVE EVER HEARD, BAR NONE. The song is gorgeous.



I also like the raw, Robert Johnson like, bluesy quality of "Black Eyed Dog"



This is not music that you can fall for upon just an intial hearing. This stuff has to sink in. Once you get it, you will see that Nick Drake is an unusual, uncompromising artist that offers stunning beauty, depth and drama."
A good Introduction
Jon Wadsworth | Watseka, IL USA | 12/17/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"There isn't much of the greatest of Nick Drake that isn't on this album, with the exceptions of 'Fly' and 'Rider on the Wheel'.



This is a definitive statement of Nick's thorough grasp of melancholy beauty."
The album I discovered Nick Drake through
A C SHIELDS | melbourne , australia | 07/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had read about this CD , was intrigued by it and wasn't prepared for the music - got it and heard it through headphones , which really gives Nick's voice greater potency .



I now own everything by Nick .



Yes , there is a 'mystique' that probably helps to sell his records , but that wouldn't be much use if the music was terrible .



A haunting performer and one of the most influential .

Highly recommended .



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