A big old box

If You Let Me Love You - Peter Green

The Austin Chronicle reports that British music legend Ian McLagan died this afternoon at the age of 69. McLagan earlier suffered a stroke and was hospitalized in Austin, where he lived.

40 years ago today Nick Drake took his own life.

I’m going to come right out and state my opinion, he was the greatest folk singer to walk this earth. Better than Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Paul Simon, and even Bob Dylan. Nick Drake only released 3 albums, less than two hours of music before he over dosed on depression pills on November 25, 1974.

He was an insanely talented self-taught guitarist mixed with the most mellow and unobtrusive voice you’ve ever heard. He never felt the need to shock the listener, his music is universally calm. His lyrics are melancholy, depressing, evocative and distant.

Sadly his reluctance to play live or do interviews lead to him never being popular during his short lifetime. None of his three albums sold more than 5,000 copies upon initial release.

I can’t stress enough how much of a genius he was. He made music than is so intrinsically honest and pure that it can’t be ignored.

Here’s a link to his best album ‘Five Leaves Left’ which he recorded and released when he was just 20 years old:

http://youtu.be/llNpigCSAZE

Alan Merrill in 1975, Claybourne Mews, London England SE19.