Sound Advice: CD Reviews - Nick Drake (Fruit Tree)

CD Review:
If you don't want to fool around attempting to find Nick Drake's catalogue of music, then don't. Just search out the music stores in your area and buy this box set. If you can't find it, then order it. It's well worth the wait. If you can find it used, like myself, you are in for a treat. Order it online, if you can't get it any other way.

You could buy his individual albums but why bother unless you are interested in the digital re-masters that Hannibal Records has released. Fruit Tree is Drake's complete works. Four CDs containing his three studio albums (Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon) and Time of No Reply, the album of out takes and extras not released from the man until after his death.

You are hitting yourself right now for buying Way to Blue aren't you? Now that you love his music, the 20 bucks you spent on that seems such a waste now that you eagerly forked out the cash for this box set doesn't it? If you are new to Nick Drake, don't make the same mistake as those who did this. Download some of his music, then when you realize how beautiful his music is, and how haunting his voice is, spend the money and purchase this set.

In my personal opinion, the only proper way to re-release material from an artist that isn't producing music anymore is to re-issue his/her albums remastered or to put out a complete works together in one package. Fruit Tree does the latter perfectly and so gets my five star rating for the same reason as The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings of Simon & Garfunkel, The Complete Recording of Robert Johnson, and Message In A Box by The Police, as three examples, which do the same.

Scott D. Brown