Article: The Best Version Of ... Nick Drake's Bryter Layter

Oh wow!  Thanks so very much for this @JoshM! 

I have 8 Nick Drake albums (all the originals plus various European complications and rarities)--all on vinyl LP.  The only digital albums I have are Bryter Later and the compilations "A Treasury" (24/96KHz from SACD rips) and "Way to Blue".  

I do not know the provenance of the digital Bryter Later I have (I'll have to strain my eyes and neck looking through my unorganized CD shelves), but I sure do know how large the differences between masterings can be.

[Sidetrack: I became an audiophile record collector at 12--46 years ago, spending all my part-time job dollars on British rock import LPs in L.A. record stores, often the same week of release. Between those LPs--still in pristine condition since even as a teen I cleaned records and quality cartridge stylus religiously--and my jazz and world music collection I could probably finance another house if I had the patience to sell and if the market still exists.]

Once I moved towards CDs (not until the early '90s because CD mastering and playback was really cold and lifeless until then and gave me headaches) I quickly discovered how bad many CD remasterings were/are.  So of course not only do I have several (or a half-dozen!) versions of favorite LPs, but now the same with CD/digital album releases.

Sadly I have neither the time, patience, or writing skills of our Mr. Josh here. Otherwise I'd offer up VBVO articles on favorite digital versions of records such as:

--Pentangle (the first one)

--Nina Simone "Little Girl Blue"

--King Crimson's "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" (or any of their first 4 albums)

--Jethro Tull "Minstrel in the Gallery"

etc.

Sorry for the diversion.  I am just awestruck with your prowess and patience in producing these highly informative and useful articles. Bravo!

P.S.  For those just discovering Nick Drake: Bryter Later is terrific, but do not overlook the preceding "Five Leaves Left."

It too is a landmark work of songwriting, arrangements, and musicianship.  Richard Thompson (then of Fairport Convention) and Danny Thompson (then of Pentangle) accompany, as do a number of other talented season players.

"Cello Song", "Fruit Tree", "River Man" are all stone classics--great feeling and great SQ. 

19 hours ago, Jud said:

John Martyn. He's not that widely known, at least in the US, but had an absolutely prodigal career of about 40 years. I had the pleasure of seeing him live a very long time ago. He might be the second best acoustic guitar player I've ever seen after John McLaughlin, and I've seen Clapton among others.

I fully agree with you Jud!  (Though of course Martyn was a great deal mellower than McLaughlin, and we can all think of other extraordinary guitarists. ) You were quite lucky to see him play live.

For those looking to check him out, his peak period and greatest acclaim were with the albums "Bless the Weather", "Solid Air", and "inside Out," though I also enjoy the one after that, "Sunday's Child."  

"Solid Air" has been an audiophile favorite for a long time and has been remastered several times.