Northern Sky is a folk song by Nick Drake, released in 1971 on the album Bryter Layter (recorded in 1970). The track features John Cale providing piano, organ and celesta, with the recording produced by Joe Boyd; the middle eight was composed by Cale, and Drake uses his favoured CGCFCE tuning with a capo on the third fret. The song marked a shift to a richer arrangement, but Island Records did not release it as a single and Bryter Layter had limited marketing support at the time. In the 1980s, Northern Sky helped revive interest in Drake and is often regarded as one of his finest works; it also inspired The Dream Academy’s 1985 hit Life in a Northern Town. The personnel on the track are Nick Drake (vocals and acoustic guitar), John Cale (piano, organ, celesta), Dave Pegg (bass) and Mike Kowalski (drums).
