Magic (Nick Drake song)
Encyclopedia
"Magic" is the second listed song from Nick Drake
's 2004 compilation album
Made to Love Magic
and was remastered and released as a single in 2004. The single was released on both CD and vinyl record formats with Bryter Layter
track "Northern Sky
" as a B-side.
"Magic" was originally recorded for the Five Leaves Left
sessions but did not appear on the final album. A version of the song with a different string arranger features on Time of No Reply
, Drake's 1986 outtakes compilation. For Made to Love Magic the song was artificially sped up and stripped of its original string section, which was scored by Richard Hewson
. A separate string arrangement written in 1969 by Robert Kirby
, recorded in 2004, was used as a backing to the new faster track. Upon its 2004 issue as a single, it was placed at #34 on the UK Singles Chart
, the first time Drake had appeared on the chart.
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
's 2004 compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Made to Love Magic
Made to Love Magic
Made to Love Magic is a 2004 compilation album of out-takes and remixed tracks by English singer/songwriter Nick Drake. It is notable for featuring a previously unreleased solo acoustic version of "River Man", dating from early 1968, and the song "Tow the Line", a previously unheard song from...
and was remastered and released as a single in 2004. The single was released on both CD and vinyl record formats with Bryter Layter
Bryter Layter
Bryter Layter, recorded in 1970, was the second of three albums by British folk musician Nick Drake. Like Five Leaves Left, the album contains no unaccompanied songs: Drake was accompanied by part of the British folk rock group Fairport Convention and John Cale from The Velvet Underground, as well...
track "Northern Sky
Northern Sky
Northern Sky is a song from Nick Drake's 1970 album Bryter Layter. The song, written in DADGDG tuning, features piano, organ and celesta, performed by former Velvet Underground member, John Cale....
" as a B-side.
"Magic" was originally recorded for the Five Leaves Left
Five Leaves Left
Five Leaves Left, recorded in 1969, was the first of three albums by British folk musician Nick Drake. Like Bryter Layter but unlike Pink Moon, this album contains no completely solo songs...
sessions but did not appear on the final album. A version of the song with a different string arranger features on Time of No Reply
Time of No Reply
Time of No Reply is a 1986 compilation album featuring outtakes and alternative versions of songs by English folk singer Nick Drake. It was also included as the fourth disc of the 1986 version of the Nick Drake box set Fruit Tree.-Track listing:...
, Drake's 1986 outtakes compilation. For Made to Love Magic the song was artificially sped up and stripped of its original string section, which was scored by Richard Hewson
Richard Anthony Hewson
Richard Anthony Hewson is an English producer, arranger, conductor and multi-instrumentalist, who is best recognized for his studio group The RAH Band.-Career:...
. A separate string arrangement written in 1969 by Robert Kirby
Robert Kirby
Robert Kirby was a British born arranger of string sections for rock and folk music. He is best known for his work on the Nick Drake albums, Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter, but has also worked with Elton John, Ralph McTell, Strawbs, Paul Weller and Elvis Costello.-At Cambridge:Patrick...
, recorded in 2004, was used as a backing to the new faster track. Upon its 2004 issue as a single, it was placed at #34 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, the first time Drake had appeared on the chart.
Personnel
- Nick Drake - Vocals, guitar
- Robert Kirby - arrangements
- John CaleJohn CaleJohn Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
- celesteCelestaThe celesta or celeste is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano or of a large wooden music box . The keys are connected to hammers which strike a graduated set of metal plates suspended over wooden resonators...
, piano and organ - Dave PeggDave PeggDave Pegg is an English multi-instrumentalist and record producer, arguably most visible as a bass guitarist. He is the longest-serving member of the pre-eminent electric folk band Fairport Convention and has been bassist with a number of important folk and rock groups including The Ian Campbell...
- bass - Mike KowalskiMike KowalskiMike Kowalski is a percussionist and musicologist. He is best known as one of the former drummers from the rock band The Beach Boys. He and saxophonist Joel C. Peskin recorded as The Backsters in 1984.-Early career:...
- drums