Nick Drake's "Family Tree" gets an official release this June, collecting bootlegs of family recordings that have been collectors items since his death
The album contains home and cassette recordings that Drake made prior to the release of Five Leaves Left, most at his family home in Tamworth, while eight tracks from the fabled "Aix Tape" round out the collection. Two songs are included by Drake's mother Molly, that highlight how strong an influence his family had on him.
The full tracklisting is:
1. "Come In To The Garden (introduction)"
2. "They're Leaving Me Behind"
3. "Time Piece"
4. "Poor Mum" performed by Molly Drake
5. "Winter Is Gone" (Traditional)
6. "All My Trials" (Traditional) (with Gabrielle Drake)
7. "Kegelstatt Trio for clarinet, viola and piano" (Mozart)
8. "Strolling Down the Highway" (Bert Jansch)
9. "Paddling In Rushmere" (Traditional)
10. "Cocaine Blues" (Traditional)
11. "Blossom"
12. "Been Smokin' Too Long" (Robin Frederick)
13. "Black Mountain Blues" (Traditional)
14. "Tomorrow Is A Long Time" (Bob Dylan)
15. "If You Leave Me" (Dave Van Ronk)
16. "Here Come The Blues" (Jackson C. Frank)
17. "Sketch 1"
18. "Blues Run The Game" (Jackson C. Frank)
19. "My Baby So Sweet" (Traditional)
20. "Milk And Honey" (Jackson C. Frank)
21. "Kimbie" (Traditional)
22. "Bird Flew By"
23. "Rain"
24. "Strange Meeting II"
25. "Day Is Done"
26. "Come Into The Garden"
27. "Way to Blue"
28. "Do You Ever Remember?" (Molly Drake)
Nick Drake has become one of the most important English songwriters of all time, both an inspiring and tragic figure. He released three albums between 1969 and 1972 - Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon - before retreating from performance and recording after the release of the latter and would commit suicide two years later. Though largely uncelebrated in his lifetime, Nick Drake found critical acclaim in the mid 1970s, and became a cult icon in the 1980s for a new breed of songwriters as diverse as Kate Bush, Robert Smith and Paul Weller.
After Drake's suicide his most dedicated fans began travelling to his family home to pay their respects and get closer to the reclusive artist's past. His family were happy to share their time with these visitors, as well as play them tapes of the singer-songwriter's early work, which inevitably made their way into the bootleg market.
For more about Nick Drake and his music - www.brytermusic.com
