Joe Boyd on Nick Drake's 'Five Leaves Left'

Created by Eye Film and Television for the John Peel Archive Joe Boyd Record Box.
www.johnpeelarchive.com/joe-boyd/
www.eyefilmandtv.co.uk/

[@tomtomthebear]

Nick said to his sister one time “if I knew that my music had helped a single person it would make it all worth while” I wish he could of been around to experience how loved he had become..!!!! Thank you

[@h.m.7218]

He knows.

[@6deste]

Was to Nicks mum, not sister 👍🏻🙏🏻

[@OlafProt]

Robert Kirby is the unsung hero of those records.

[@nigelpitman6691]

I found Nick Drake in 1981 when I bought John Martyn's 'Sold Air' and read that it was written about this tragic, failed musician. So I bought Nick Drake´s box set and it saw me through Uni and exams, young love and heartbreak. To say that Nick and his music have been an important part of my life for 40 years would be a massive understatement. It's so nice to see that this legend is now fully appreciated and revered.

[@tonymurphy6227]

Joe Boyd understood English folk musicians, he had a great influence on them, but didn't try to Americanise them, great producer, he gave the British folk music scene in the 60's a much needed boost.

[@dinospumoni5611]

Yeah man he was fucking brilliant

[@niccymak8243]

thank you

[@thethreadgillthr33]

Just bought this LP today. Five Leaves Left is unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Nick truly was ahead of his time.

[@danielalexandermclachlanga3781]

Nick is timeless , thee eternal

[@robbiepeterh]

What I love most about Nick Drake is all the implied melodies in his music and singing. He doesn’t play the melodies but the listener can hear them anyway. I find that’s something that a lot of the great songwriters do.

[@RichGriffiths99]

How beautifully expressed. Joe Boyd - what a dude.

[@Riatzi]

The overall feeling one gets is that Nick Drake was too far ahead of his time. The world just wasn't ready for him yet.

[@nigelcarren]

That's it... It took many great artists including Eddie Vedder to soften the ground before the same people would later discover Nick Drake. I truly see a similarity with Vedder especially with his Into the Wild album. (Major compliment to both talents)👍👍

[@caliban666]

@Marissa Gomez-Davis That is a lot of shit pouring out of your fingers. Wash your hands after toilet.

[@caliban666]

Would the world be ready for Nick now? In our overly extroverted and sexualised world? Nick would have had the internet, and he could write for others. Still, he would not be a on stage performer that would sell out tickets sitting there in the dark with candlelight. Nick would probably feel as awkward now, as he was then, and that is also a big momentum in why he is so much liked by the few that know of him. He is mist. If he lived in our time, he would probably not be as haunting a figure as he is famed to be. He would be human and something defined. So, in a way, the world was ready for him. He was the sacrifice that had to be made of his own image. The romantic, outsider, poet would be nothing without .. suffering.

[@DavidJones-sc6jc]

@@nigelcarren I like Vedder but seriously, he’s not a musician, he’s a singer. And way moreover, no one is gonna know or care who a singer from Pearl Jam is in even 20 years much less 40+.

[@npc3po301]

I think the truth was the opposite, it wasn't that the world wasn't ready for him yet but more that his brand of music was going out of fashion, the Dylan/Seeger folk revival was now electric and the whimsy of the 60s was over then up pops Nick with what a million average joes before him had worn out the welcome of

[@OutOfAmmoOutOfTime]

I just discovered Nick Drake today…..Incredible musician and incredible album. I haven’t felt this way about a musician since I discovered Scott Walker in 2019…..

[@ip5799]

listen to three hours by nick drake. beautiful song

[@whiteyfisk9769]

If you like Nick, check out Ian Noe, especially his Between the Country album

[@ip5799]

@@whiteyfisk9769 pretty good. didn’t do what nick drake does to me though. sounds like a lot of other us country music to me

[@caro1ns]

I've just discovered him too (through Josh Turner). I can't believe I'm 62 and was quite the folk enthusiast back in the day, but have never heard of him till now.

[@Guitarkid1991]

It's so cool to see his eyes light up when he talks about Nick's pure talent!

[@johnlamb2754]

Guitarkid 1991 are we talking about the same man who emigrated and left such a fragile person as Nick to fend for himself , and all the other island bands he deserted because he saw them not living up to potential record sales?

[@steenaxbg4951]

Guitarkid 1991 n

[@cocochanelleke]

Wow, now that is quite a different angle, I'm really surprised John Lamb. Sad to read this.

[@lamestudiosinc418]

@@johnlamb2754 We all have to make a living. If record sales weren't sustainable, he didn't have a choice but to leave.

[@Ferda1964]

I feel ashamed I never knew of Nick Drake. How is it even possible I never discovered this great singer poet in all these years. And this record is so very much amazing. I truly feel like I have found a very special treasure.

[@williambozynski1176]

The music will always be here. don't fret just enjoy.

[@steviedieselblood334]

Don’t feel ashamed, you’re here now. 🙂

[@adamphillips6865]

Joe Boyd- You’re a treasure. Thanks for everything

[@madu251]

Wow! I’d never before made that connection between Nick Drake and João Gilberto, but I totally get it now. It’s not about the musical material - the notes, or rhythms or harmonies - those are English and pure Nick to be sure. But the emotional place where it comes from, the understated longing, loss and saudade, that’s the connection. Very insightful.

[@rhugh02]

Love your comment. Nick so haunting as his songs just pull on your soul.

[@ricardoluisbritto]

Botn Nick and João had that style of singing softly, as If In intimate confession to the guitar

[@dreamwell2020]

Seek out this man's book - "White Bicycles." Joe Boyd's life was carefully applied. This insight about the possible influence of Brazilian music on Nick's is intriguing.

[@kjc1878]

Nick was a genius that the world didn't even understand . Just starting to realize.

[@bruceblackburn9423]

Bittersweet for Joe Boyd. Finds a genius but can't market him. At least we've got his music forever. 🙂 🎸🎻🎤

[@BrettBonchi]

No other art will ever have as big of an impact on the way you see and feel the world around you, than the music of Nick Drake.

[@sharksport01]

Lol geez.

[@ibelieveicansoar]

Read Boyd’s 2006 book White Bicycles: Making Music In The 1960s for many more of his reminiscences about Drake, Incredible String Band, Sandy Denny, Bob Dylan, Fairport Convention, Jimi Hendrix, Chris Blackwell, Joni Mitchell, Woodstock, Dudu Pukwana, Pink Floyd, the UFO Club, the Move, and many other topics.

[@cosmicdrifter287]

joe boyd,music man par excellence.

[@richalderson6069]

I've watched so many documentaries that Joe Boyd appears in and he always comes across as the most likeable and thoughtful guy. It's no wonder so many great artists like Nick Drake worked with him.

[@richalderson6069]

@Busta Speeker Wasn't The Hep-Stars Benny Andersson's group before ABBA were formed? I don't think they ever carried on that name.

[@richalderson6069]

@Busta Speeker That's something I didn't know, thanks for sharing that info. ☺

[@EwanMee2]

Joe Boyd is the epitamy of cool, and very unassumingly modest.

[@samtyler100]

Marissa gomez-Davis.I read about the attempted hanging too.I think it was either in Darker than the Deepest Sea by Trevor Dann or the first Nick Drake book by Patrick Humphries from the late 90s .It would not have been anywhere else for those two books were pretty exhaustive in the research of Nick's life. In the Dann book,he also believes that Nick started using heroin around the Hampstead period where he got this information from is anybody's guess.There was also an alleged suicide letter Nick wrote to his ex girlfriend Sophia Ryde .I believe there must be footage of him during the finals years of his life because Rodney,Nick's father,was a keen amateur cine film buff.These photos,footage have been withheld by Nick's Estate and probably will never be released.Only alluding to the mystique and cult of Nick Drake

[@olafbigandglad]

Epitome. Other than that, you are correct.

[@EdixaSanchez1]

Marissa Gomez-Davis Nick was super tall that would make it difficult to hang himself

[@samtyler100]

www.uow.edu.au/~morgan/drake4.htm It explains about the attempted hanging here.

[@caliban666]

Still .. he could have removed that nosehair that takes up so much attention ..

[@grahamhowes6904]

The orchestral arrangements are stunning - it’s a masterpiece. I ended up talking to Richard Hawley in a Sheffield bar about Nick. I didn’t realise who he was until the end of the conversation but he’s a huge fan. I saw Nick live once - so shy and looked at his shoes seemingly and kept retuning - but the singing and playing was mesmeric.

[@mistersurrealist]

3:40 Oh wow, being Brazilian and knowing a bit about João Gilberto and Bossa Nova, I had never made the connection before but it makes perfect sense. Also I think Nick's voice is perfectly suited for Bossa Nova, he was just so suave.

[@anjou6497]

I appreciate his true understanding of Nick Drake. Growing up with his gorgeous, gentle but raw sound shaped my looking for real quality music. Such an excellent surmisal of Nick thank you Joe Boyd. (I used to buy Astrud Gilberto music too at the time, loving the rythmn and natural pacing, and intense feelings.

[@nderohan]

you can tell how much he misses nick!

[@vaccavo]

First time I heard about Nick was the day before yesterday, when I was waiting for my favorite song on CHILL and I was writing down all titles and singers on a notebook, wishing I would finally hear it. Then I was lying in bed and Riverman started playing and I had to get up and note the information. I heard it again. And again, and again. I realize it is a suicidal song. Now I will hear his others songs on YT, because he sounds so soft in his anguish. If he was really inspired by the Brazilian music, I have to say he was far superior than joão Gilberto. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sep 11th, 2017.

[@boompsr5022]

its not a suicidal song. its inspired by a poem called the Idiot Boy, and it's about seeking wisdom and guidance from someone. He was also inspired by Blues and Jazz and the songs and music his mother played.

[@mistersurrealist]

Don't be absurd, João Gilberto is a genius in his own way. Don't compare these 2 great artists.

[@etamommy]

fantastic discussion of the singular talent of Nick Drake! Thanks for this!

[@briankehew579]

Nick, Joe, Harry, and Robert all did excellent work, now timeless classics. The fact that they grow in appreciation over time - it's proof.

[@martinboere3274]

I heard/read several succes stories from rock stars and other kinds of artists who gained world fame within their time. Without any exception these stories were mainly about luck and coincidence. If these elements fail you, you won't be getting anywhere, as Nick Drake and with him many other really talented and original artists have experienced (and are still experiencing).

[@fart4235]

Very good commentary. What a treasure getting to hear someone with such personal insight and experience into the life and work of Nick Drake.

[@conilmusician]

Fantastic.

[@g.a.3131]

Feel the same way about Joao and Nick. Two of my all time favs by far.

[@xblader32]

I AM from Brazil. Very interesting his points about bossa nova presents in Nick's songs.

[@joshmichaels1435]

Cum 2 brasil

[@billygoth]

Thank you for this. ✌

[@3niknicholson]

Thanks.

[@thisaintnoparty]

Tá aí algo que eu não esperava ouvir. Os dois fazem enorme falta.

[@byHexted]

I don’t know Jack shit about guitar playing I’m a rapper and beat maker. But I’ve always just been so impressed listening to the guitar playing on Nick Drake records even though I don’t really know the technical jargon I hear certain things and go “wow that sounds impressive”

[@oopsla7069]

@Hexted You fancy flipping a Nick sample. Have had a banter line bout the other male duck floating in my head.

[@marcotukoff]

Incrível essa conexão entre Nick Drake e música brasileira que esse grande produtor encontrou!!!

[@renatocpjr5192]

Poor boy é pura bossa nova, né? O modo de cantar também parece o de quem ouviu muito ou apreciava João Gilberto (e Chet Baker).

[@MrMjp58]

I heard [the one] ND track on the sampler El Pea in early '71. I always really liked it, but couldn't see him making it at the time - as it seemed neither folk, rock or pop, more like beautiful easy listening. He went off my radar till many years later when I studied his albums in more depth. He was a really great artist. Out of interest, Delius is my favourite composer.

[@verbbudders904]

Joe Boyd always seems so respectable compared to all the businessy pop-success kinda people that swarmed musicians in the 60s. You can tell the guy actually wants to give his artists the best environments and cares about their art itself

[@LucasSantos-hy9es]

Relevant assumption. The Legend debuted in 1950. João Gilberto’s “pink moon” was in ‘73 tho (his ‘white album’). Nick Drake certainly must have been aware of Jake Holmes and Joni Mitchell too

[@DeadVoltage1]

You can easily see that Joe gets very moved while talking about Nick, I imagine they were great friends him and Boyd, then again musicians like Drake only come around once every 100 years or so.

[@relicofgold]

In 1974 a friend gave me his cut-out copy of PINK MOON because he didn't like it. I knew immediately that this was something amazing and interesting. Fortunately Nick's other works were eventually available and I got those as well.

[@Mandrake591]

I don't think Joe knew what he had. Otherwise he wouldn't have left Nick by going to California. Fortunately, that happening gave us "Pink Moon."

[@kevinkenny6975]

Don't forget the Nick Drake Gathering in Tanworth 21st 22nd July

[@mwj5368]

Wow! I'm only amateur, clicked on this by chance, yet I had sentiments of like Giberto and or Brazilian music at times. For me it was like a shade or tint or a kind of echo of it would arise for me.

[@denilsonguilhermino2942]

Interesting comments about Nick Drake

[@jes8253]

I'm Brazilian, and I honestly can't notice any influence of Bossa Nova in Nick's music at all!

[@trockfield77]

I saw Joe Boyd in conversation with Robert Wyatt: such an interesting, intelligent man.

[@Oh_I_Will]

trockfield77 he did that circuit with Robyn Hitchcock as well....

[@peterjonathan123]

Who’s sural shrubeto? I’m sure I’ve got the spelling wrong but I’m interested to know.

[@5dintergalacticwizard]

João Gilberto. Pioneer of bossa nova!

[@vampyros1]

I've been a huge bossa fan as well as a Nick Drake fan for a long time; it doesn't feel as though the two come rom a similar place to me. Nice interview though.

[@Mandrake591]

I agree, I don't hear one in the other. Robert Kirbey's arrangements are so original.

[@djblrhaaaaa]

2:10 " Georges Roberto "?i didn't understand. Who is he talking about?

[@denilsonguilhermino2942]

João Gilberto, a famous Brazilian bossa nova singer

[@djblrhaaaaa]

thanks a lot !

[@sgtjenko]

Glad you asked that

[@mauriciobmrocha]

Nick Drake is bossa nova

[@pamelawatson2366]

The verbal repetition of 'pink' on Pink Moon is very reminiscent of Joao Gilberto.

[@countingcoup]

I wish they could re-release Nicks work with just his guitar and vocals...

[@philipmorris5581]

countingcoup That’s impossible as all the instruments were recorded together not in deprecate tracks

[@philipmorris5581]

That’s impossible as all the instruments were recorded together live not on separate tracks

[@Kowasi]

Kinda like when they did 'Let It Be… Naked' to remove Spector's strings from The Beatles, eh? You might like to try The John Peel Session, where apparently there were no strings, but Mr. Drake played just the same as if there were. Myself, I was thinking that someone ought to put some strings onto that album, but it could be just right for you.

[@mihills4168]

Five leaves left did he mean he had five albums of material or five albums planed out in his mind .five leaves as in table leaves or leaf or five leaves at a banquet.who attends the banquet and how many are they.are they grouped together who sets by who.in anyway.leaves could mean a whole table but they're referred to as leaves.

[@comityofspiders]

+micheal hills From his Rizla cigarette papers, there's one that says 'Five Leaves Left' when you get near the end.

[@jeffrey3498]

Five years left? Actually, that’s how it worked out for Nick.

[@boompsr5022]

the name comes from the cigarette papers in rizla cigarettes. there is also a theory that it came from the name of a house in boston, called five leaves left, the sister of the man who lived at far leys and emigrated to England to live there with her brother, but the truth is its from the cigarette papers. he had been planning a fourth album or had songs written for one, and he had written all of his material from 1965-69, before pink moon was released

[@paulinechapman9319]

micheal hills WHAT????call me one of the uninformed...but WHAT...

[@traviscarver4708]

Five leaves left = Nick drake would only live five years after this album. Bryter later = his career would be brighter later after he was gone. He finally gets the recognition he deserves. Pink moon = death knocking at the door. It’s his last album and by all accounts he had deteriorated physically. He wore death and felt like death. “Don’t you worry... they’ll stand and stare when you’re gone... Fruit tree...fruit tree Open your eyes to another year... They’ll all know...you were here when you’re gone.”

[@robertmaich9909]

Joe Boyd produced these two beautiful albums of Nick backed by the wonderful Robert Kirby on strings.Five Leaves Left and Bryter Later.Yet when Nick was sent forth to tour in concert he could never reproduce that sound as a solo performer on a solo acoustic guitar. No wonder Nick felt despondent. This is why (IMHO) Nick went in to the studio and made Pink Moon on his own. Joe can say what he wants now Nick has gone, but i feel he never really gave Nick the chance he deserved.

[@thiscorrosion900]

I thought it was more that Nick couldn't handle touring and didn't enjoy opening for people, and he was simply too retiring and shy for all that rock and roll circus. He was never going to sound like the albums without a backing band, anyway, or strings added to that, and brass, even. Which would have been more the Nick Drake Band, or Revue. Nick, if his albums had started selling that well, which apparently they simply didn't, because there wasn't that marketing machine in place to try to sell records then that were sui generis, and the college radio networks weren't really there yet, even in the USA, and certainly not in Europe, that might've put Nick's sales over the top, might've gone on to become more a "Steely Dan" type artist, and never tour, but just release/record albums. Joe claims that Nick called him towards the end and was angry that the album sales numbers weren't there, and he explained to Nick that it takes time, sometimes years, to gain a following, and artists are usually expected to tour and do a lot of promotion and radio, and Nick was simply not really equipped for all that, or simply wasn't interested, or both. I believe Joe and his company did all they could for Nick. Nick did Pink Moon on his own because he wanted the record to be a more low-key, stark product, as he heard it in his head. Which means that actually, Nick's sense of himself as an artist and what he wanted his own sound to be, was actually maturing, even as he had other quite serious personal issues around that. Or so it would seem. But Nick was never going to be a Bob Dylan, on the Road Forever, mega-selling, type folk/rock artist. Also, Nick's music is nearly unclassifiable. It's got elements of folk, rock, jazz, blues, Far Eastern, baroque, classical, etc., all mixed together. And a lot of it was quite intricate, quite dark, and not radio fodder by any stretch.

[@dymetrix]

@@thiscorrosion900 Holy shit man. Incredible comment. Thanks.

[@thiscorrosion900]

@@dymetrix I've been studying NIck and his music for years now. But there are a lot better experts than me out there on him. But I've met Joe Boyd, and seen him give talks on Nick and other topics a few years back.

[@santiagogonzalez2826]

Nick wanted to sound like....who?

[@EliphasDesni]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Delius

[@wraithoftheirish]

Himself

[@eily_b]

Unpopular opinion: I never liked the string arrangements. I think a pure Nick and his guitar (only some additional instruments to support Nick) would have been much better.

[@thiscorrosion900]

Well, they tried to give Nick's records the "Beatles" treatment or Moody Blues, or whatever, to some extent, to mixed results. Luckily we also have Pink Moon, which Nick insisted be "bare bones" and as he first intended the songs to be put across. That album would have been ruined if it were overproduced or had too much filigree on it. I agree though a lot of the strings sound dated now, and tend to obscure Nick's playing sometimes.

[@gilpvfin868]

I agree. That's why I prefer his third album - Pink Moon

[@fuckugplus]

Fruit tree is so hard to listen, like he knew in his mind , he was not going further.

[@peanuthowe]

He said it was about people like Buddy Holly when asked