I greatly appreciated this ambitious but readable biography detailing the complicated short life of the musical artist Nick Drake, a man whose songs and talent were unknown to many until years after his death. The author, with the help of family records and recollections, delved tirelessly into the lifetime of a quiet and emotional young artist. Reading his story will acquaint you with his legacy. But if you are unfamiliar with his music, I suggest you first listen to Drake’s entire catalogue, three albums: Five Leaves Left, Bryter Later, and Pink Moon.

For whatever reason the soulful and ambient music of Nick Drake avoided my ears back when his debut album Five Leaves Left came out in 1969. Fact is, the record evaded most of us, not just me. Then the albums Bryter Layter and finally Pink Moon followed. Had I heard any of these songs along with the ones already on my turntable, singer-songwriters the likes of Bob Dylan, Shawn Phillips, Cat Stevens, Neil Young, and Van Morrison among so many others, I would have immediately fell in love with his sound. But sadly I missed out on such a great opportunity in discovering his original work. Eventually Drake’s music did find its way to my ears and I was forever changed. The music and spirit of Nick Drake will now, and for as long as I live, stand out unequivocally among my all-time favorites.

Please read the rest of my review here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/msarki/p/nick-drake-the-life-by-richard-morton?r=jo10o&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

**Five Stars**

The story of Nick Drake has been teasing at the edges of my mind for several years as I would skim snatches of articles about this tragic artist from decades ago. All I gleaned to date was that he was a British musician, extremely talented, not appreciated globally during his time, a tortured soul who committed suicide in his twenties- but remarkably- achieved mass appreciation for his music many years after his death.

The book opens with a foreward by Nick's sister Gabrielle Drake, where she clarifies that this biography was not technically authorized, but absolutely has her blessing. She came to trust the author Richard Morton Jack, introducing him to many contacts who knew Nick, and credits him with treating this project with such love and respect to detail. In fact, she marvels that even she, his own sister, learned new things about Nick, and considers this subject now "closed" with this comprehensive biographical offering.

I was swept away with minute details of Nick's days documented by his father Rodney's own diary entries, which added such depth and authenticity to understanding Nick's sad decline into a psychological, dark abyss. There are no videos in existence of Nick performing, but each public performance was described to a tee, as if you were there. I came to know a reluctant, solitary performer, of masterful dexterity and skill picking on his Martin acoustic guitar, who would quietly get up and leave the stage without once having uttered a word (other than his soft and understated vocals). He would often be upset at gigs when people would talk, drink, and not pay attention to his artful, soulful performances that were quiet in nature, but where he was giving his all. Another common refrain from friends was his penchant for not talking and thus being hard to know, yet he kept visiting and reaching out to all these friends who loved him very much but honestly did not know how to help him.

This book is truly a journey through Nick's life and death, augmented throughout by commentary from his many friends, fellow musicians, record label personnel, and family. We know that he died by suicide in 1974 at the age of 26, and it feels like a tumultuous climax towards that end as the book comes to a close. I will be thinking about Nick and his artistry for a long time after reading this excellent biography.

Thank you to the publisher Hachette Books who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

My thanks to both NetGalley and Hachette Books for an advanced copy of this biography that tells the life, the music and the mental struggles of the artist Nick Drake, and the legacy Drake left behind that is still being found and adored by music fans.

In 1999 I was out of the record stores when a commercial for Volkswagen began to appear. The ad was typical good looking people doing things that good looking people in ads do with a car to take them there. The music though was atypical. Dreamy, sparse, a singer, a guitar, with lyrics about a Pink Moon. I'm not sure how the car sales were, but I do know that sales, even at the height of Napster went through the roof for the artist Nick Drake. Pink Moon was the name of the song, the eponymous title of the Drake's third and final album, his life brought to an end two years later, a loss to music, but much more of a loss to his family who survived him, and friends who watched him fade away. An artist of rare talent, but an artist who shared those demons so many of us do, which destroyed him. Richard Morton Jack in Nick Drake: The Life has written the book on the artist, looking at his life from beginning to end, studying influences, Drake's musical ability, and painting a picture in words of an artist whose talent could stand so tall.

Nicholas Rodney Drake was born in the country of Burma in 1948. Drake's parents were British citizens his father an engineer who worked in the British colony, and his mother whose parents worked in the civil service. Nick was the second child, his sister was eight years older, and upon returning to England moved to Warwickshire in England. Nick was pretty travelled for a child after World War II which gave him a sort of rootlessness in his early days, something that might have explained a lot of his music, and some of the steps he took, right and wrong in life. Nick's family was well-off sending him to boarding school with hopes for Cambridge. Nick while testing well, was a not a very good student, his sudden growth sport giving him a foot up in track, rather than in schooling Music had become important to Nick, busking during school breaks around Europe had feed the need to entertain, along with giving him a musical education. Nick's first album came out while he was in school, to middling reviews and not much in sales, something that followed with his next albums. This lead to problems, both mentally and musically, problems that followed him to his end.

A grand book about an enigmatic singer. Fame came after Nick left the world, with people becoming aware of his music slowly, and the music becoming more appreciated. Fans made pilgrimages to his parents home, and his parents did their best to keep his memory alive. The book is exhaustive interviewing everyone that Drake seemed to cross, tracking down leads, and presenting a lot of new information. Jack has done a fantastic job of bringing all this information to light, and writing a book that never bogs down even while detailing school life, or track events. Jack really makes Drake seem alive, even after fifty plus years. This is no hagiography though, Jack details Drake's many mistakes, but with the understanding that Drake was dealing with a lot of problems, mentally and emotionally. A fascinating book that really captures the subject and tells so much about the music, where it came from, and how for Drake it went away.

Nick Drake was a man who wanted to entertain others, but found the act of entertaining a drain, both to his body and mind. Books like this make one happy and sad. Happy to know the music will outlive the artist, sad to think the artist can never really share what the music meant to them. A wonderful book for Nick Drake fans, music historians, and people who enjoy books on creative people.

Being a fan of Nick Drake, I could not wait to read Richard Morton Jack’s biography and am pleased to say it was illuminating.
Through the generosity and support of Drake’s sister Gabrielle, the author gained access to Nick’s papers and correspondence, their fathers diaries and friends, acquaintances, collaborators and family.
Nick was a talented troubadour, a writer of beautiful prose, a man of romance and turmoil. Through his music he shared his life, his innermost feelings, his wonder and despair, all revealing the fragility behind his soul. He had dark moments and fresh starts while navigating through mental illness.
His magnificently crafted catalog, however small was well reviewed but did not reach the critical acclaim or fan base it so deserved.
Morton Jack leaves no stone unturned. His research and dedication to his subject is meticulous and admirable. It is difficult to ever truly know someone but through this very honest, revealing and much recommended read Nick is multi-dimensional.
As his lyrics state “And time has told me, not to ask for more. For someday our ocean, will find its shore”. Thanks to Richard Morton Jack, Nick Drake has found his shore and shines a bit brighter.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Hachette Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The amount of research that went into this book is staggering, to put it all together so well is astonishing. I went in armed only with the vaguest knowledge of Nick Drake, and came out feeling like I lost a friend.

This goes beyond most biographies, this is a deep labor of love. The family was completely involved and it shows.

I personally feel that Nick wasn’t seen as clearly as he should have been, especially during his school years. Yeah, he was an introvert, but the earliest signs of mental illness lay there. No one even looked closely enough to realize that he didn’t want to go to Cambridge. In a very artistic family, someone should have been aware of how deep his love of making music truly was.

In today’s world, Nick would have thrived, the technology has finally made a career in entertainment possible without leaving your house.

Anyway, this is one of the best biographies I’ve ever read. The only reason it didn’t get 5 stars, is, in a book this well researched, there was a lot of repetition of facts. Even if you have never heard Nick Drake, this is one that is really worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.