99% Invisible Three Records from Sundown
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Nov 19, 2014 This podcast explores the roots of singer Nick Drake's legend, including his recognition through cassette tapes, collaboration with a 19-year-old, disappointment with negative reviews, and his timeless appeal to multiple generations of listeners.
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The Enduring Language Of "Tape"
- Radio producers still call recorded material "tape" even in the digital era because it's the essential raw material.
- Roman Mars frames the story around tape culture to highlight how cassette copying revived Drake's work.
How Boyd Found Nick Drake
- Joe Boyd discovered Nick Drake after being tipped by a member of Fairport Convention and immediately recognized something unique on a tape.
- Boyd recalls bringing Drake into Sound Techniques and feeling it was "completely different" from the first playback.
Guitar As Orchestration Not Solo
- Nick Drake's guitar technique used unusual tunings and arpeggios that treated the guitar as orchestration rather than soloing.
- Boyd felt that approach made Drake's records intimate and hard to classify, which confused critics and limited sales.