Pink Moon by Nick Drake has emerged as my favorite album of all time. Though this ranking flips every so often, I love this record. For those who don’t know, Pink Moon was released two years before Drake’s death in November 1974, at the age of 26.

The lyrical content of Pink Moon deals with issues like depression, anxiety, and isolation. The songs are shorter than ones from his previous albums, with a total run time of just over twenty-eight minutes.

Like Drake’s previous studio albums, the record didn’t sell well during his lifetime. For whatever reason, its stripped-back, intimate sound received a mixed response from critics, but the album has since garnered significant critical acclaim. I wish Drake knew how much of an influence his music would eventually have.

I feel the record is an essential part of history, highlighting that even if a record doesn’t initially land, it may grow with time. The world wasn’t ready or receptive to Nick Drake until the mid-1980s when he was credited as an influence by artists such as Robert Smith of The Cure and Peter Buck of R.E.M. Give this record a thorough listen.

Personnel / Production

Nick Drake – vocals and acoustic guitar, piano on “Pink Moon”

John Wood – engineer, producer

Michael Trevithick – artwork

Keith Morris – inner sleeve photography