Bryter Layter
His fullest-sounding record, with Fairport Convention's rhythm section, brass, flute and John Cale, and a sleeve-note commercial failure that later became a classic.
Nick Drake, 1971
- Released
- 5 March 1971
- Recorded
- 1970
- Studio
- Sound Techniques, London
- Label
- Island
- Producer
- Joe Boyd
- Length
- 39:09
Kirby said Drake wanted the arrangements to recall the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, and the album is built around three instrumentals and some of his most sophisticated songs, played by Fairport Convention's Dave Pegg and Dave Mattacks, Richard Thompson, the saxophonist Ray Warleigh and two Beach Boys session musicians. John Cale, working down the corridor on Nico's Desertshore, heard the demos and insisted on meeting Drake; he played on Fly and Northern Sky. Drake told Sounds that the album took nearly a year and that he was not altogether clear about it; Wood said it was one of the few records he would not change.
It sold poorly on release. The Guardian named it the best alternative album of all time in 1999, and it is on Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums.
Track listing
- Introduction1:33
- Hazey Jane II3:46
- At the Chime of a City Clock4:47
- One of These Things First4:52
- Hazey Jane I4:31
- Bryter Layter3:24
- Fly3:00
- Poor Boy6:09
- Northern Sky3:47
- Sunday3:42
Personnel
- Nick Drake vocals, guitar
- Dave Pegg bass
- Dave Mattacks drums
- Richard Thompson electric guitar
- John Cale viola, keyboards
- Robert Kirby string and brass arrangements
- Ray Warleigh saxophone, flute
- Chris McGregor piano on Poor Boy
More from Nick Drake
Five Leaves Left (1969), Pink Moon (1972)
Sources
- Bryter Layter, Wikipedia
- Stranger to the world, The Guardian (2004-04-25)