Bryter Layter  by Nick Drake

Bryter Layter is the second studio album by the British singer-songwriter Nick Drake, which is considered today one of the most important works of folk-rock music. It was released on March 5, 1971, by Island Records. Contrary to his sparse debut, the album features rich orchestration (jazz-inflected folk) with the participation of members of Fairport Convention and John Cale (Velvet Underground). The aim was a more "commercial" and optimistic sound.

The recording of Bryter Layter took place in 1970 at Sound Techniques Studios in London, with producer Joe Boyd. The iconic photograph for the cover was taken by Keith Morris and shows Drake sitting with his guitar and shoes in the foreground (a tribute to Elvis's "blue suede shoes").

Upon its release, the album was a commercial failure, selling less than 5,000 copies and receiving little attention from the press. Posthumously, it was recognized as a masterpiece. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it among the 500 greatest albums of all time, while Q Magazine placed it at the 23rd position of the best British albums.