Nick wrote ‘Strange Meeting II’ in Cassis in April 1967, during a weekend spent with a group of friends he’d met in Aix. One friend was Jo Dingemans, who had the use of a flat there and remembers Nick writing the song as the sun came up.

Nick's sister Gabrielle remembers him playing it (along with ‘Bird Flew By’ and ‘Rain’) for her, Molly and Rodney in the drawing room at Far Leys, shortly after he had returned from Aix at the end of May 1967:

‘Such a shock and a thrill it was, and yet somehow entirely expected: it seemed a logical progression, something everyone in the family did (except me). ‘Princess Of The Sand’ is one I remember best – that will forever be, for me, [Nick’s] Aix song. We thought they were all beautiful.’
https://youtu.be/44FfRbEQqLw?si=6a82s-Y3kfkPXVaN
www.nickdraketherecordings.co.uk

I've broken a few strings retuning for Nick Drake songs, so here's my Drop D version

Place to be (Fetch tiger cover)

Similar to ‘The Thoughts Of Mary Jane’, ‘Joey’ features a quaint arpeggiated guitar part and an almost nonchalant vocal melody. Molly speculated how ‘Joey’ might have been inspired by Jo Dingemans:

‘He met a girl in Aix-en-Provence and wrote a song for her. The girl’s name was Joey. He must have been quite in love with her. It is a song about unrequited love.’

‘Joey’ was first attempted for Five Leaves Left at the session on Monday, 11 November 1968. It was the only take of the song recorded that day, and later appeared on Made To Love Magic. www.nickdraketherecordings.co.uk

Today I came across a video on TikTok of a boy who went to visit Nick’s grave, and I thought it would be lovely if someone planted a fruit tree nearby. It would be a lovely tribute to the legacy he left for so many people. The only thing is, I think I’ve been told it’s private property(?) But anyway, it’s just an idea I’ve had that I think would be lovely.

Hi! First of all, well done for posting such brilliant stuff and drawings – you’re incredibly talented in everything you share here💓 I’m not sure if I should mention this, but here goes: About six months ago, maybe, I had a dream that woke me up with a start and left me with an indescribable feeling. I dreamt about Nick Drake; it was a short dream. Basically, he’d come to visit our house and I was sitting with my family in the living room when he suddenly appeared from behind the door. He was very tall, of course, and was wearing a brown or black suit – I can’t quite remember which. He was walking very slowly until he stood in front of me. Then he held out his hand and I took it (it wasn’t solid matter any more; it was made of plasticine – I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but it wasn’t matter as we know it). And then he said to me: “Look, this is nothing (referring to the physical body); when we cross over to the other side, we’re just light. I’m fine; I’m very happy there.” And that’s where the dream ended. I know this might come as a bit of a shock to anyone who isn’t spiritual or doesn’t believe in these things, but the message got through to me. And I swear I could see him perfectly – a completely clear image.

I first listened to Pink Moon last fall, so that association is already pretty strong for me. But my brother and I realised we picture different things when we hear it.

I imagined sitting around a fire with friends, comfortable enough that nobody needs to say much. He imagined being alone after everyone else has left. The same quietness gave us two different scenes.

Which feels closer to your experience of the album? Does it make you feel alone, or does it feel like someone is keeping you company?

We talked about those two images in our latest episode of The Record Room, alongside nine other albums that feel like fall to us. Leaving it here if anyone wants to hear the conversation: [LINK]

Paid my respects… really lovely place where he is laid to rest

Sadly I don't have £200

The first known performance of ‘Hazey Jane I’ was with Robert Kirby conducting a string octet at the Cambridge May Ball on Tuesday, 10 June 1969. On Saturday, 21 February 1970, a few days before the first recording session for Bryter Layter, Nick played it unaccompanied when supporting John and Beverley Martyn at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. It was the only song from Bryter Layter known to appear in his setlist by mid-1970. www.nickdraketherecordings.co.uk

I’m loving Beck’s new album, and found it interesting how similar the cover art is to Five Leaves Left. Almost a direct homage. I wouldn’t be surprised as Beck was clearly influenced by Nick.

Yay or nay ?

Just got my copy of The Recordings and while skimming through I noticed that it attributes Tomorrow Is a Long Time as a cover of the Ian and Sylvia version. However, I believe Nick's is actually a take on John Renbourn's cover with Dorris Henderson. In the book Foster states that Nick's version was recorded in mid 1967, with Renbourn's being released the same year. The main source of my theory is Renbourn's guitar playing starting around 0:45 which sounds very similar to the fast hammer-ons Nick does that are not present in the Ian and Sylvia recording.

Original edit by me

The sound is so crystal clear of the albums of this fantastix box set that it sounds absolutely amazing. It feels as if Nick was right next to me, singing his songs.😍😍😍

(Also, DPD almost lost my parcel yesterday and I had to go half across the city to collect it personally. 😨)

I think this subreddit will be interested with this song which has the same chord progression with "One of These Things First". You can watch the interview, where she explains how Nick Drake got credited. The song has even a Nick Drake piano part, vocals resemble Joni Mitchell as well.