One of contemporary music’s true originals, the inimitable songs of Nick Drake are often difficult to imagine having been influenced by anyone but himself. But as with all true musical giants, Drake’s compositions and style were informed by a diverse range of musicians, songwriters and performers who came before. From the sublime finger-picking and glorious tunes of the wholly under-rated Bert Jansch to the country blues styles of Big Bill Broonzy and Reverend Gary Davis - via Donovan, The Yardbirds and Miles Davis, he listened to all of them and many others besides. The inspiration these mavericks provided motivated the often manically depressed Nick Drake into writing , recording and, on the very rare occasion, performing some of the most beautiful music ever written – albeit, tragically, the process would contribute in no small way to his untimely death at the age of just 26. This compilation traces the roots of Nick Drake’s astonishing music and features all of the above mentioned artists and many others – with 24 superb and moving tracks in all. 24 tracks which now can be appreciated all together on this collection ,enabling the appreciation of where this mysterious and legendary figure found much of his musical muse and hopefully, for a man often tortured by his own existence, at least a little comfort.
1 St James Infirmary Louis Armstrong (Primrose) 3:23 2 Heart Full Of Soul The Yardbirds (Gouldman) 2:21 3 Parchman Farm Bukka White (White) 2:40 4 Gallows Tree Odetta (Trad, Arr Gordon) 2:51 5 Blue In Green Miles Davis (Davis) 5:33 6 Careless Love Josh White (Trad, Arr Handy, Williams, Koenig) 3:19 7 Betty and Dupree Brownie McGhee (Trad, Arr McGhee) 4:00 8 Chega de Saudade João Gilberto (Jobim, De Moraes) 1:55 9 Summertime Billie Holiday (Gershwin, Heyward) 2:55 10 If You Leave Me Pretty Mama Dave Van Ronk (Trad) 3:07 11 Black Mountain Blues Dave Van Ronk (Johnson) 4:02 12 Little Woman Your So Sweet Blind Boy Fuller (Allen) 2:46 13 Cocaine Blues Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (Tard, Arr Davis) 2:11 14 Samson and Delilah Reverend Gary Davis (Tard, Arr Davis) 4:05 15 Guinevere Donovan (Leitch) 2:55 16 Girl From The North Country Bob Dylan 3:13 17 Gypsy Davey Woody Guthrie (Trad) 2:51 18 Black Girl Pete Seeger (Ledbetter) 2:31 19 I Ain’t Marching Anymore Phil Ochs (Ochs) 2:48 20 I Wish I Was a Mole In The Ground Bascom Lamar Lunsford (Trad, Lunsford) 3:21 21 Blackwaterside Bert Jansch (Trad, Arr Jansch) 4:44 22 Wedding Dress Pentangle (Trad, Arr Jansch, Renbourn, McShee, Thompson, Cox) 2:24 23 When Do I Get To Be Called a Man Big Bill Broonzy (Broonzy) 3:19 24 Hellhound On My Trail Robert Johnson (Johnson) 2:38