Nick Drake's Black Eyed Dog

HOW MANY of us wish we could have seen and heard Ellington's Jump For Joy musical at the Mayan Theatre, Charlie Parker at the Finale Club, the Birth of the Cool Band at the Royal Roost, Don & Dewey at El Monte Legion Stadium, Lenny Bruce at Duffy's Gaieties, Dylan at Newport, the Byrds at Ciro's, the Doors at the Whiskey, Springsteen at the Stone Poney? Singer-songwriter Nick Drake (1948-'74) has become such an object of scrutiny and speculation – let's not use the term 'cult figure' – that he surely merits such historic yearning.