Nick Drake's Pink Moon (33 1/3)

Nick Drake was one of those artists who barely left any footprints in this world so to speak aside from the three albums he released. There are photos, but no film, he seldom did any live performances and with such a dearth of information, the legend of Nick Drake looms much larger than the quiet life he lead. He's almost the English equivalent of Robert Johnson, a man who led a spectral life, but whose artistic contribution made a massive impact long after their passing.His third album, "Pink Moon," was his sparest. Just Nick, his guitar (and piano at the end of the title track) and that's it. It had 11 tracks and was just barely over 28 minutes total. It's screamingly personal and as delicate as a rare flower.Amanda Petrusich has written a short account of this album for Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series and "Pink Moon," was the subject. She gives the reader a basic background about Nick and the course of his life. In fact, she spends more time discussing the recording of his first album, "Five Leaves Left," than "Pink Moon." In fact, Ms. Petrusich disposes of "Pink Moon's" creation in a sentence or two. Drake showed up to the studio with his songs and they were recorded in about four hours' time. The album was released with an artful cover, but like it's predecessors, failed to attract any notice from the public or the music press. Drake would die two and a half years later in what many consider by a deliberate suicide by overdose. The book's largest section is the 2000 Volkswagen commercial which featured the title track. At times, this section drags, but you can see how key this commercial was in getting Nick the attention that eluded him in his short, tragic life. The author discusses both sides: Was Nick's music exploited for selling cars? Did the exposure give his music the large audience he never received? The answer is yes to both. She doesn't really take sides. But I think that despite the obvious pitch, it did give Drake the audience that his record company (Island) failed to give him and soon, his albums sold like they should have long ago. If you want to know a bit about Nick Drake and his music, this book is a fine little primer.

I always cherish these books. This is a sincere and earnest tribute to an album that resonates in the same way. Nick Drake would definitely dig the lovingly crafted prose aimed at his canon of three albums.

I’ve read 9 titles in the 33 1/3 series over the last decade or so — from Sign O’ the Times and Paul’s Boutique to Selected Ambient Works Vol. II and Donuts — and this entry, published in 2007, really sticks with me.Oddly, I first heard Nick Drake not through an older sibling but from my younger sister, who bought the compilation CD “Way to Blue” after seeing the famous Volkswagen commercial that featured the song “Pink Moon.” I really loved “Northern Sky” from that compilation, but it would be a few years before I came back and bought a couple of Drake’s early albums, including “Pink Moon.” These days, “Pink Moon” is like Jeff Buckley’s “Grace” or My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless,” one of those perfect albums I play obsessively once a year (typically around autumn) before shelving until next time. But I always know there’s going to be a next time.Amanda Petrusich does a great job here balancing the reception to Nick Drake’s work in the early ‘70s with the impact it would have years later. Drake’s life is detailed carefully and sensitively, while Petrusich’s own connections to “Pink Moon” provide a personal layer. Interlude-type reactions from artists who’ve also been inspired by the record turn the book into a kind of mixtape before it concludes with some beautifully written prose.Yes, the “Milky Way” chapter, about the Volkswagen ad, could’ve been edited better (too long; repetitive quotes). And the artist vignettes don’t always add depth or insight. But they do help capture what I think is the spirit of the 33 1/3 series, which is giving authors the freedom to explore their subjects from unique angles and take some chances along the way. “Pink Moon” is a little raw and very enduring, like the album itself.

...against the more negative reviews here.If you love Nick's music, you'll love this little book. There are only limited sources of information regarding Nick to draw from, so Ms Petrusich has done well to fill 118 pages on the third/final album released in his lifetime.Filed along side the other 33 1/3 books in my collection. A good wee read from a great series.

Excellent.

I won't be saying anything new here, but just had to add my voice to dissuading anyone even remotely considering this book. It is a protracted extract from someone's journalism dissertation on how the Drake Family Trust sold a Nick Drake song to advertise Volksvagen with - I kid you not - extensive quotes from the ad agency explaining their motivation for choosing the title. WHO CARES?? Who on earth remembers this ad, only a decade later? Of what interest is it to anyone while likes the music?But that's not the real problem. While most fans of Nick will probably find the commercial exploitation of this quiet, personal music somewhat crass, the author of this book aknowledges no such sentiments, taking it for granted that art can be pillaged and devalued to serve the needs of corporations.It probably isn't fair to blame Amanda Petrusich for the woeful hack job she did on this book. She probably did it for pittance and the series editor probably didn't care much about what went into the books anyway.

...no matter how fond you are of the music of Nick Drake. This...thesis... would get a D if submitted as an A Level essay. It is padded out with tedious digressions. It promotes a fundamental judgemental approach to suicide. It contains frankly wrong information about Nick's alternate guitar tunings. It neglects to discuss the poignant relevance of his experiences in the English public school system. It neglects to discuss the academic pressures of Oxbridge...etc etc.Padded out with anecdotal reflections by zed list indie rockers, I found myself getting seriously depressed. Ooh the irony.