'The Making Of Five Leaves Left' includes unaccompanied demos, studio outtakes and previously unheard songs that tell the story of how Nick Drake’s debut album ‘Five Leaves Left’ came to be released on Island Records in 1969.

This Nick Drake Estate authorised edition comprises over 30 previously unheard outtakes from the sessions, compiled across three discs. The final disc to complete the package is the original Joe Boyd produced album. The whole set has been mastered by John Wood.

Accompanied by a 60 page book printed on special textured paper stock, written by Neil Storey in collaboration with Richard Morton-Jack, complete with full track recording details, charts and recording history.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: There are few artists more revered than Nick Drake, and his brilliant 1969 opus gets a fully-approved, extensive 'making-of' edition including outtakes from various sessions, unheard early versions and indeed, the full finished product. An essential document.

TRACK LISTING

LP/CD1 - 1st Sound Techniques Session Aka The Beverley Martyn Demo & Alt Takes From February 1968 To April 1969:
1. Mayfair - 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968
2. Time Has Told Me - 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968
3. Man In A Shed- 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968
4. Fruit Tree - 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968
5. Saturday Sun - 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968
6. Strange Face - 1st Sound Techniques Session – March 1968
7. Strange Face – Rough Mix With Guide Vocal – September 1968
8. Day Is Done – Take 5 – April 1968
9. Day Is Done – Take 2 – November 1968
10. Day Is Done – Take 7 – April 1969
11. Man In A Shed – Take 1 – May 1968
12. My Love Left With The Rain – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968

LP/CD2 - Paul De Rivas Reel – October 1968 / Out-Takes November 1968:
1. Blossom – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968
2. Instrumental – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968
3. Made To Love Magic – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968
4. Mickey’s Tune – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968
5. The Thoughts Of Mary Jane – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968
6. Day Is Done – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968
7. Time Has Told Me – Cambridge, Lent Term 1968
8. Three Hours – Take 2 – November 1968
9. Time Has Told Me – Take 4 – November 1968
10. Strange Face – Take 1 – November 1968
11. Saturday Sun – Take 1 – November 1968
12. Fruit Tree – Take 4 – November 1968

LP/CD3 - Out-Takes From December 1968 To April 1969:
1. Time Of No Reply – Take 3 Into Take 4 – December 1968
2. ‘Cello Song – Take 4 – January 1969
3. Mayfair – Take 5 – January 1969
4. River Man – Take 1 – January 1969
5. Way To Blue – Cambridge – Winter 1968
6. The Thoughts Of Mary Jane – Take 2 – April 1969
7. Saturday Sun – Take 1 Into Take 2 – April 1969
8. River Man – Take 2 – April 1969

LP/CD4 - The Original Album – Released 3rd July 1969:
1. Time Has Told Me
2. River Man
3. Three Hours
4. Way To Blue
5. Day Is Done
6. ‘Cello Song
7. The Thoughts Of Mary Jane
8. Man In A Shed
9. Fruit Tree
10. Saturday Sun

"What if you had the chance to tell your hero just how much they meant to you? If Nick Drake came to my house and knocked upon the door, I’m sure I’d be more happy than I’ve ever been before…"

In If Nick Drake Came to My House, Mackenzie Crook – the creator of Detectorists and Worzel Gummidge – explores the power of art to impact our lives, expressed through an imaginary visit from the late, great singer-songwriter. A tender homage to a classic book by Joan Gale Thomas, Crook’s first book for adults is infused with his characteristic warm humour, both in the story and his beautiful illustrations. It’s a book for anyone who has ever wished they had the chance to tell their hero how much they meant to them.

The reverse of Nick Drake's headstone, wedged deep into the earth of an English parish church graveyard, reads: "Now we rise and we are everywhere." The words were penned by Drake in 1974: Thirty years later, they are jarringly prophetic. Like nearly all prematurely buried cult figures, Nick Drake is reinvented each time he is rediscovered. In 2000, the sheepish, astral musings of Pink Moon became synonymous with backing a Volkswagen Cabrio convertible away from a raucous house party, as VW boldly sold American drivers on the notion of eschewing red plastic cups and bro-hugs for moonbeams and tree trunks (and a cute German car - sort of).The Cabrio ad inadvertently sparked an unlikely boost in record sales, propelling the album towards platinum status nearly 28 years after its release.

But with each well-intentioned revival of interest, Nick Drake slips further and further out of reach, martyred and codified, superceded and consumed by his own tragic context. Since his controversial death in 1974, Nick Drake has been heralded as a 26-year-old prophet, the diffident enigma, the tortured precursor to Kurt Cobain, the fallen hero, the folksinger-as-folksymbol, the self-sacrificing patron saint of lonely, disaffected teenagers - the One who died for our sins.This book explores how a tiny acoustic record has puttered and purred its way into a new millennium. Amanda Petrusich interviews producer Joe Boyd, string arranger Robert Kirby, and even the marketing team behind the VW commercial."Thirty-Three and a Third" is a series of short books about critically acclaimed and much-loved albums of the past 40 years.

By turns obsessive, passionate, creative and informed, the books in this series demonstrate many different ways of writing about music.

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2024 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY APRIL 20TH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM ON MONDAY APRIL 22ND.

‘The Endless Coloured Ways’ is a collection of songs by legendary singer/ songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. 

From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

This RSD exclusive 7" Singles Boxset includes eleven tracks across six 7" singles from the original campaign and housed in a brand new exclusive and limited edition collector's box, including an exclusive double sided pullout poster insert Record Store Day UK exclusive for 2024.

TRACK LISTING

Single I
Fontaines DC - 'Cello Song
Let's Eat Grandma - From
The Morning
Single II
Mike Lindsay Featuring
Guy Garvey - Saturday Sun
Katherine Priddy - I Think
They're Leaving Me Behind
Single III
David Gray - Place To Be
Stick In The Wheel - Parasite
Single IV
Bombay Bicycle Club & The Staves - Road
Karine Polwart & Kris Drever - Northern Sky
Single V
Emeli Sandé - One Of These Things First
John Grant - Day Is Done
Single VI
Nick Drake - Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Bob Dylan Cover)

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer/ songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

STAFF COMMENTS

Andy says: How would you present a compilation of modern day artists covering singer-songwriter Nick Drake's work? Like this! Get them to re-interpret the material in their own individual way, re-imagine if you like, whilst maintaining Nick's original melody and words. We all know the original songs so well; that this record brings them to life so eloquently and sincerely is a huge testament to everybody involved.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Wandering Hearts – Voice From A Mountain (prelude)
2. Fontaines D.C – Cello Song
3. Camille – Hazey Jane II
4. Mike Lindsay Featuring Guy Garvey – Saturday Sun
5. Bombay Bicycle Club & The Staves – Road
6. Let’s Eat Grandma – From The Morning
7. David Gray – Place To Be
8. John Parish & Aldous Harding – Three Hours
9. Stick In The Wheel – Parasite
10. Ben Harper – Time Has Told Me
11. Emeli Sandé – One Of These Things First
12. Karine Polwart & Kris Drever – Northern Sky
13. Craig Armstrong Featuring Self Esteem – Black Eyed Dog
14. Bombay Bicycle Club & The Staves – Road (reprise)
15. Nadia Reid – Poor Boy
16. Christian Lee Hutson Featuring Eleanor Moss – Which Will
17. Skullcrusher & Gia Margaret – Harvest Breed
18. Katherine Priddy – I Think They’re Leaving Me Behind
19. AURORA – Pink Moon
20. Joe Henry & Meshell Ndegeocello – Time Of No Reply
21. Famous Blue Cable Featuring Feist – River Man
22. Liz Phair – Free Ride
23. Philip Selway – Fly
24. John Grant – Day Is Done
25. The Wandering Hearts – Voice From A Mountain

'This is the book we've been waiting for . . .

It is a biography to be treasured' Joe Boyd'The Drake completist could ask for nothing else' Telegraph'Illuminating. The definitive word on Drake' ObserverIn 1968 Nick Drake had everything to live for. The product of a loving, creative family and a privileged background, he was not only a handsome and popular Cambridge undergraduate, but also a new signing to the UK's hippest record label, Island.

Three years later, however - having made three well-reviewed but low-selling albums - Nick had been overwhelmed by a mysterious mental illness. He returned to live in his family home in rural Warwickshire in 1971, and died in obscurity in 1974, aged just 26. In the decades since, Nick has become the subject of ever-growing fascination and speculation.

Combined sales of his records now stand in the millions, his songs are frequently heard on TV and in films, and he has become one of the most widely known and admired singer-songwriters of his generation. Nick Drake: The Life is the only biography of Nick to be written with the blessing and involvement of his sister and Estate. Drawing on copious original research and new interviews with his family, friends and musical collaborators, as well as deeply personal archive material unavailable to previous writers - including his father's diaries, his essays and private correspondence - this is the most comprehensive and authoritative account possible of Nick's short and enigmatic life.

Includes a foreword by Gabrielle Drake and over 75 photos, many rare or previously unseen.

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer / songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

TRACK LISTING

1.One Of These Things First - Emeli Sandé
2. Day Is Done - John Grant

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer / songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

TRACK LISTING

1. Road - Bombay Bicycle Club And The Staves
2. Northern Sky - Karine Polwart And Kris Drever

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer / songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

TRACK LISTING

1. Place To Be - David Gray
2. Parasite - Stick In The Wheel

The Endless Coloured Ways is a collection of songs by legendary singer / songwriter, Nick Drake, performed and recorded by over 30 incredible artists from a range of different backgrounds, genres, age groups and audiences. From Fontaines D.C to Guy Garvey, and Aurora to Feist, each artist has offered their own incredible take on a timeless classic.

TRACK LISTING

1. Saturday Sun - Mike Lindsay Featuring Guy Garvey
2. They're Leaving Me Behind - Katheirne Priddy

USM and Island Records now complete the Back To Black Nick Drake vinyl reissues set with this lovingly represented new press of his debut album.

Originally released in 1969 'Five Leaves Left' was largely overlooked by critics and music fans at the time - a fate that was to befall his subsequent two studio albums. Unfortunately, Nick Drake didn't live to see his reputation as one of the finest singersongwriters Britain has ever produced develop. Nevertheless, 'Five Leaves Left' is now widely regarded as one of the most significant debut albums of all time.

TRACK LISTING

1. Time Has Told Me
2. River Man
3. Three Hours
4. Way To Blue
5. Day Is Done
6.  ' Cello Song
7. Thoughts Of Mary Jane
8. Man In A Shed
9. Fruit Tree
10. Saturday Sun

The follow up to "Five Leaves Left" saw a departure from that albums' pastoralism to a more urban milieu, albeit a idealised romantic one depicted in "At The Chime Of A City Clock". Accordingly the music has a slightly more urgent feel with a greater use of drums and electric guitar. One thing it does share with its' predecessor is a stunning collection of songs, written, played and sung to perfection. A classic of its', or any other, genre.

TRACK LISTING

Introduction 1:33
Hazey Jane II 3:41
At The Chime Of A City Clock 4:42
One Of These Things First 4:46
Hazey Jane I 4:24
Bryter Layter 3:16
Fly 2:56
Poor Boy 6:30
Northern Sky 3:42
Sunday 3:39

Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake" curated by Nick Drake's original producer, Joe Boyd (at the helm for two of the Drake albums - "Five Leaves Left" in 1969, and "Bryter Layter" in 1970), combines live recordings from two remarkable concerts at Melbourne Recital Centre 15 & 16 November 2011 and another at The Barbican Centre, London in January 2010. Guests include Vashti Bunyan, Green Gartside (Scritti Politti), Robyn Hitchcock, Lisa Hannigan, Krystle Warren, Scott Matthews, Teddy Thompson, Danny Thompson, Shane Nicolson, Kate St John, Luluc, Zoe Rahman, Neill MacColl; featuring the original orchestrations arranged by Robert Kirby in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Undoubtedly one of the most influential English singer - songwriters of the last 50 years, Nick Drake found little mainstream success during his lifetime; however, since his untimely death at the age of 26, his fragile acoustic, autumnal music has touched the hearts of millions of people. These renowned contemporary singers, united by their reverence for the work Nick Drake left behind also collaborated with those who were actually involved in those unforgettable original recordings. The band and string section is led by musical director Kate St John, anchored by double bassist Danny Thompson, who played on many of Drake's albums, and features the original orchestrations arranged by Robert Kirby in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sadly, Kirby passed away very recently, but not before conducting the string section at the UK's very first "Way To Blue" concert in May 2009. Now, "Way To Blue" has become a tribute to Kirby as well as Drake.

This album is a new, updated version of the 'extras' CD which was previously available only as part of the "Fruit Tree" box-set. Long since deleted, a new generation of fans can finally get their hands on these different versions and out-takes from his three proper LPs, and more importantly: the last four songs Nick cut before he died. Except, hooray, they've discovered one brand new song! "Tow the Line" isn't up there with his best, but it does provide some much needed yin to "Black Dog"'s yang. It suggests Nick wasn't going to succumb to depression, as the desperate "Black Dog" would have you believe; he was going to play the game...get on with things. In short: not top himself! There's a bit of a Beatles' Anthology going on with two other tracks, as Nick's college buddy and original arranger - Robert Kirby - scores new strings for old songs. Both "Magic" and "Time of No Reply" now sound as intended. They're beautiful. And Kirby weighs in again, with two previously unreleased recordings of "River Man" and "Mayfair", from his room at Cambridge and before Nick even had a record deal. There's also a new, longer version of "Three Hours" that's not been out before. This release is evocatively packaged and a must for completists. For all music lovers, infact.

This 1970 debut is surely one of the most accomplished in pop history, marking the young singer songwriter out as more than another folkie. Jazzy instrumentation and sweeping string arrangements give the record a sumptuous feel that is undermined by the brooding melancholy of "Fruit Tree", "Way To Blue" and the haunting, magisterial "River Man". A classic that has reached such disparate souls as Elliott Smith, Paul Weller, Terry Callier and Gilles Peterson.

TRACK LISTING

Time Has Told Me 3:56
River Man 4:28
Three Hours 6:01
Day Is Done 2:22
Way To Blue 3:05
'Cello Song 3:58
The Thoughts Of Mary Jane 3:12
Man In A Shed 3:49
Fruit Tree 4:42
Saturday Sun 4:00

His third and final studio album is a fittingly stark and sombre collection of songs, featuring just guitar and voice (bar a piano on one track). Shorn of the usual lavish arrangements, the songs lose none of their lustre, instead the songs themselves are pushed to the fore. A magnificent swansong.

TRACK LISTING

Pink Moon
Place To Be
Road
Which Will
Horn
Things Behind The Sun
Know
Parasite
Free Ride
Harvest Breed
From The Morning