"What if you had the chance to tell your hero just how much they meant to you? If Nick Drake came to my house and knocked upon the door, I’m sure I’d be more happy than I’ve ever been before…"

In If Nick Drake Came to My House, Mackenzie Crook – the creator of Detectorists and Worzel Gummidge – explores the power of art to impact our lives, expressed through an imaginary visit from the late, great singer-songwriter. A tender homage to a classic book by Joan Gale Thomas, Crook’s first book for adults is infused with his characteristic warm humour, both in the story and his beautiful illustrations. It’s a book for anyone who has ever wished they had the chance to tell their hero how much they meant to them.

After years of preparation, Marcus Drake emerges from the basement networks of the resistance underground to claim the first save point along his quest ahead. Welcome to Save Point 1, a universe where popular forms of the past collide at warp speed with Marcus’s mutant inspirations to produce sounds and genres hitherto unknown. Save Point 1 is a visionary and singular Debut work of Avant Rock & Pop Alchemy, blown apart and reassembled under the laws of Quantum Musical Mechanics.

Written, Produced & Performed by Marcus Drake, the album eludes classification, but sounds like a sci-fi fusion of musical DNA from Nine Inch Nails, Prefab Sprout, Nobuo Uematsu (the Final Fantasy video game composer), Animal Collective, Prince, Mr. Bungle, Liars, The Mars Volta, and Lil Ugly Mane. The album marks the first release under Drake’s own name, and the latest since his 2017 release as Anthony Fremont’s Garden Solutions—his idiosyncratic side- project with Water From Your Eyes’ Nate Amos, Options’ Seth Engel, and NNAMDÏ. He has also since scored for film and video, including the Adult Swim short Thoron the Conqueror.

Save Point 1 isn’t just a new beginning, but a reintroduction to Marcus Drake the artist and composer. Drake experimented with new techniques and approaches for many years while recording Save Point 1, a process that transformed his sound, voice, and artistic identity. The resulting oeuvre is giddy and dreamy, an Olympic-height diving board from which to descend through indie rock and videogame soundtracks, thrilling math-rock riffs that turn experimental, and synths that glow in rainbow hues. Just turn to the glitchpop of “Heaven’s in the Rot” or the slow-motion acoustic glitter that is “Dragon It Out” to hear it in motion. And note the two-part “Haunted” suite that funnels his unpredictable experimentation into darker, weirder directions.

TRACK LISTING

Side A:
Playing God
Heaven’s In The Rot (Director’s Cut)
Rug Burn
Doomsday Serenade
The Grind
High On The Detour
No More Events On The Horizon

Side B:
Fallinlove.gottadoit
Myself When I Am Dreaming
Haunted Pt. 1: Escher’s Slinky
Haunted Pt. 2: Under The Bed
Train Track Pillowcase
Paradise
Dragon It Out

The reverse of Nick Drake's headstone, wedged deep into the earth of an English parish church graveyard, reads: "Now we rise and we are everywhere." The words were penned by Drake in 1974: Thirty years later, they are jarringly prophetic. Like nearly all prematurely buried cult figures, Nick Drake is reinvented each time he is rediscovered. In 2000, the sheepish, astral musings of Pink Moon became synonymous with backing a Volkswagen Cabrio convertible away from a raucous house party, as VW boldly sold American drivers on the notion of eschewing red plastic cups and bro-hugs for moonbeams and tree trunks (and a cute German car - sort of).The Cabrio ad inadvertently sparked an unlikely boost in record sales, propelling the album towards platinum status nearly 28 years after its release.

But with each well-intentioned revival of interest, Nick Drake slips further and further out of reach, martyred and codified, superceded and consumed by his own tragic context. Since his controversial death in 1974, Nick Drake has been heralded as a 26-year-old prophet, the diffident enigma, the tortured precursor to Kurt Cobain, the fallen hero, the folksinger-as-folksymbol, the self-sacrificing patron saint of lonely, disaffected teenagers - the One who died for our sins.This book explores how a tiny acoustic record has puttered and purred its way into a new millennium. Amanda Petrusich interviews producer Joe Boyd, string arranger Robert Kirby, and even the marketing team behind the VW commercial."Thirty-Three and a Third" is a series of short books about critically acclaimed and much-loved albums of the past 40 years.

By turns obsessive, passionate, creative and informed, the books in this series demonstrate many different ways of writing about music.

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2024 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY APRIL 20TH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM ON MONDAY APRIL 22ND.

‘The Endless Coloured Ways’ is a collection of songs by legendary singer/ songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. 

From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

This RSD exclusive 7" Singles Boxset includes eleven tracks across six 7" singles from the original campaign and housed in a brand new exclusive and limited edition collector's box, including an exclusive double sided pullout poster insert Record Store Day UK exclusive for 2024.

TRACK LISTING

Single I
Fontaines DC - 'Cello Song
Let's Eat Grandma - From
The Morning
Single II
Mike Lindsay Featuring
Guy Garvey - Saturday Sun
Katherine Priddy - I Think
They're Leaving Me Behind
Single III
David Gray - Place To Be
Stick In The Wheel - Parasite
Single IV
Bombay Bicycle Club & The Staves - Road
Karine Polwart & Kris Drever - Northern Sky
Single V
Emeli Sandé - One Of These Things First
John Grant - Day Is Done
Single VI
Nick Drake - Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Bob Dylan Cover)

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer/ songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: How would you present a compilation of modern day artists covering singer-songwriter Nick Drake's work? Like this! Get them to re-interpret the material in their own individual way, re-imagine if you like, whilst maintaining Nick's original melody and words. We all know the original songs so well; that this record brings them to life so eloquently and sincerely is a huge testament to everybody involved.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Wandering Hearts – Voice From A Mountain (prelude)
2. Fontaines D.C – Cello Song
3. Camille – Hazey Jane II
4. Mike Lindsay Featuring Guy Garvey – Saturday Sun
5. Bombay Bicycle Club & The Staves – Road
6. Let’s Eat Grandma – From The Morning
7. David Gray – Place To Be
8. John Parish & Aldous Harding – Three Hours
9. Stick In The Wheel – Parasite
10. Ben Harper – Time Has Told Me
11. Emeli Sandé – One Of These Things First
12. Karine Polwart & Kris Drever – Northern Sky
13. Craig Armstrong Featuring Self Esteem – Black Eyed Dog
14. Bombay Bicycle Club & The Staves – Road (reprise)
15. Nadia Reid – Poor Boy
16. Christian Lee Hutson Featuring Eleanor Moss – Which Will
17. Skullcrusher & Gia Margaret – Harvest Breed
18. Katherine Priddy – I Think They’re Leaving Me Behind
19. AURORA – Pink Moon
20. Joe Henry & Meshell Ndegeocello – Time Of No Reply
21. Famous Blue Cable Featuring Feist – River Man
22. Liz Phair – Free Ride
23. Philip Selway – Fly
24. John Grant – Day Is Done
25. The Wandering Hearts – Voice From A Mountain

'This is the book we've been waiting for . . .

It is a biography to be treasured' Joe Boyd'The Drake completist could ask for nothing else' Telegraph'Illuminating. The definitive word on Drake' ObserverIn 1968 Nick Drake had everything to live for. The product of a loving, creative family and a privileged background, he was not only a handsome and popular Cambridge undergraduate, but also a new signing to the UK's hippest record label, Island.

Three years later, however - having made three well-reviewed but low-selling albums - Nick had been overwhelmed by a mysterious mental illness. He returned to live in his family home in rural Warwickshire in 1971, and died in obscurity in 1974, aged just 26. In the decades since, Nick has become the subject of ever-growing fascination and speculation.

Combined sales of his records now stand in the millions, his songs are frequently heard on TV and in films, and he has become one of the most widely known and admired singer-songwriters of his generation. Nick Drake: The Life is the only biography of Nick to be written with the blessing and involvement of his sister and Estate. Drawing on copious original research and new interviews with his family, friends and musical collaborators, as well as deeply personal archive material unavailable to previous writers - including his father's diaries, his essays and private correspondence - this is the most comprehensive and authoritative account possible of Nick's short and enigmatic life.

Includes a foreword by Gabrielle Drake and over 75 photos, many rare or previously unseen.

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer / songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

TRACK LISTING

1.One Of These Things First - Emeli Sandé
2. Day Is Done - John Grant

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer / songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

TRACK LISTING

1. Road - Bombay Bicycle Club And The Staves
2. Northern Sky - Karine Polwart And Kris Drever

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer / songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

TRACK LISTING

1. Place To Be - David Gray
2. Parasite - Stick In The Wheel

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer / songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

TRACK LISTING

1. Saturday Sun - Mike Lindsay Featuring Guy Garvey
2. They're Leaving Me Behind - Katheirne Priddy

Available on vinyl for the first time since its original CD-only release in 2007.

The closest of relationships gives its members space to expand, change, develop and play. Tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson and drummer Hamid Drake have just that kind of partnership, one that has seen them periodically move apart and work extensively on other fronts - Anderson tending to the recent relocation of his major jazz venue the Velvet Lounge; Drake in a dizzying array of globetrotting ensembles - but always returning to the fold, digging in together and checking out what’s been learned in the interim.

Over the course of some three decades, the master saxophonist and the prodigy percussionist have continued to reconfirm their commitment to their joint project.

TRACK LISTING

Planet E
Strut Time
For Brother Thompson
Sakti/Shiva
From The River To The Ocean

The sprawling 25-track affair features unreleased Michael Jackson vocals on the track "Don't Matter To Me," a song which appears to be built around previously unreleased music: Paul Anka is listed as a co-writer on the track. Scorpion also included appearances from Static Major, TY Dollah $ign and Jay Z. On "That's How You Feel," Drake samples Nicki Minaj's song "Boss Ass Bitch" and Future appears on "Blue Tint." No I.D., DJ Premier, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Tay Keith, Boi-1da, and Murda Beatz are among the producers credited on the album.

Life as and RnB revelation, hip hop saviour and meme sensation can get pretty tough, and our man Aubrey isn't afraid to admit that. His fourth album finds him in peerless form, switching effortlessly between the lovelorn balladeer, blinged up hustler and laid back superstar. Laying his smooth, soulful and ever so slightly robotic flow over production from 40, Nineteen85, Maneesh Bidaye, Kanye West and Jordan Ullman, Drake topped the chart for the majority of the year, working his way into everyone's ears with the Timmy Thomas sampling "Hotline Bling". 

TRACK LISTING

A1. Keep The Family Close
A2. 9
A3. U With Me?
A4. Feel No Ways
A5. Hype
B1. Weston Road Flows
B2. Redemption
B3. With You FT. Partynextdoor
B4. Faithful Ft. Pimp C & DVSN
B5. Still Here
C1. Controlla
C2. One Dance Ft. Wizkid & Kyla
C3. Grammys Ft Future
C4. Childs Play
C5. Pop Style
D1. Too Good Ft. Rihanna
D2. Summers Over Interlude
D3. Fire & Desire
D4. Views
D5. Hotline Bling (Bonus)

USM and Island Records now complete the Back To Black Nick Drake vinyl reissues set with this lovingly represented new press of his debut album.

Originally released in 1969 'Five Leaves Left' was largely overlooked by critics and music fans at the time - a fate that was to befall his subsequent two studio albums. Unfortunately, Nick Drake didn't live to see his reputation as one of the finest singersongwriters Britain has ever produced develop. Nevertheless, 'Five Leaves Left' is now widely regarded as one of the most significant debut albums of all time.

TRACK LISTING

1. Time Has Told Me
2. River Man
3. Three Hours
4. Way To Blue
5. Day Is Done
6.  ' Cello Song
7. Thoughts Of Mary Jane
8. Man In A Shed
9. Fruit Tree
10. Saturday Sun

The follow up to "Five Leaves Left" saw a departure from that albums' pastoralism to a more urban milieu, albeit a idealised romantic one depicted in "At The Chime Of A City Clock". Accordingly the music has a slightly more urgent feel with a greater use of drums and electric guitar. One thing it does share with its' predecessor is a stunning collection of songs, written, played and sung to perfection. A classic of its', or any other, genre.

TRACK LISTING

Introduction 1:33
Hazey Jane II 3:41
At The Chime Of A City Clock 4:42
One Of These Things First 4:46
Hazey Jane I 4:24
Bryter Layter 3:16
Fly 2:56
Poor Boy 6:30
Northern Sky 3:42
Sunday 3:39

Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake" curated by Nick Drake's original producer, Joe Boyd (at the helm for two of the Drake albums - "Five Leaves Left" in 1969, and "Bryter Layter" in 1970), combines live recordings from two remarkable concerts at Melbourne Recital Centre 15 & 16 November 2011 and another at The Barbican Centre, London in January 2010. Guests include Vashti Bunyan, Green Gartside (Scritti Politti), Robyn Hitchcock, Lisa Hannigan, Krystle Warren, Scott Matthews, Teddy Thompson, Danny Thompson, Shane Nicolson, Kate St John, Luluc, Zoe Rahman, Neill MacColl; featuring the original orchestrations arranged by Robert Kirby in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Undoubtedly one of the most influential English singer - songwriters of the last 50 years, Nick Drake found little mainstream success during his lifetime; however, since his untimely death at the age of 26, his fragile acoustic, autumnal music has touched the hearts of millions of people. These renowned contemporary singers, united by their reverence for the work Nick Drake left behind also collaborated with those who were actually involved in those unforgettable original recordings. The band and string section is led by musical director Kate St John, anchored by double bassist Danny Thompson, who played on many of Drake's albums, and features the original orchestrations arranged by Robert Kirby in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sadly, Kirby passed away very recently, but not before conducting the string section at the UK's very first "Way To Blue" concert in May 2009. Now, "Way To Blue" has become a tribute to Kirby as well as Drake.

William D Drake is a composer, songwriter and performer in his own right as well as being a contributing member of the critically acclaimed North Sea Radio Orchestra. The work of a highly original and eccentric figure, Drake's music is flavoured with tastes developed from early childhood. The sense of dark antiquity in 78 rpm records of Debussy, Paderewski and Rachmaninov, silent film and the first Disney shorts infiltrated an imagination already seduced by Edward Lear and Spike Milligan's use of the surreal and the absurd. His is a many-layered and enticing vision where sweetness jostles with the macabre, absurdity with gravity. "Yew's Paw", a cycle of 13 solo piano pieces, is a powerful expression of these colliding themes. Stylistically, its roots can be traced equally to Drake's classical training and his influential membership of Cardiacs.

His third and final studio album is a fittingly stark and sombre collection of songs, featuring just guitar and voice (bar a piano on one track). Shorn of the usual lavish arrangements, the songs lose none of their lustre, instead the songs themselves are pushed to the fore. A magnificent swansong.

TRACK LISTING

Pink Moon
Place To Be
Road
Which Will
Horn
Things Behind The Sun
Know
Parasite
Free Ride
Harvest Breed
From The Morning

This 1970 debut is surely one of the most accomplished in pop history, marking the young singer songwriter out as more than another folkie. Jazzy instrumentation and sweeping string arrangements give the record a sumptuous feel that is undermined by the brooding melancholy of "Fruit Tree", "Way To Blue" and the haunting, magisterial "River Man". A classic that has reached such disparate souls as Elliott Smith, Paul Weller, Terry Callier and Gilles Peterson.

TRACK LISTING

Time Has Told Me 3:56
River Man 4:28
Three Hours 6:01
Day Is Done 2:22
Way To Blue 3:05
'Cello Song 3:58
The Thoughts Of Mary Jane 3:12
Man In A Shed 3:49
Fruit Tree 4:42
Saturday Sun 4:00