For decades, fans have made a pilgrimage to Nick Drake’s hometown in tiny Tanworth-In-Arden, England. His parents would invite these visitors into their house, playing early reel-to-reel demos of the late folk singer’s songs and covers and giving away cassette bootlegs for free. Now, these recordings will finally see the light of day on “Family Tree,” due June 19 via Tsunami Entertainment/Fontana.
The album was compiled by Drake estate manager/archivist Cally, a veteran music industry art director and reissue producer who has also worked closely with Scott Walker.
The set includes Drake’s own take on tracks like “Cocaine Blues,” a number of Jackson C. Frank’s songs, Bob Dylan’s “Tomorrow Is a Long Time” and Bert Jansch’s “Strolling Down the Highway.” It also contains early versions of “Day Is Done” and “Way to Blue” (both from his 1969 studio album “Five Leaves Left”), plus nearly a dozen unreleased Drake originals like “Blossom” and “Come Into the Garden.” The lo-fi nature of the recordings is preserved, with audible bits of Drake speaking and conversing between tracks.
Drake’s mother Molly, a major influence in his music upbringing, contributed a pair of her own songs, “Do You Ever Remember?” and “Poor Mum.” Drake also sings with his sister Gabrielle on the traditional tune “All My Trials.”
Meanwhile, a reissue of the 1986 Drake boxed set “Fruit Tree” will arrive later this year. It will include Drake’s three original studio albums, a new book and the documentary “A Skin Too Few.”
Drake died of an overdose in 1974 at the age of 26.
Here is the track list for “Family Tree”:
“Come in to the Garden” (version 1)
“They’re Leaving Me Behind”
“Time Piece”
“Poor Mum,” Molly Drake
“Winter Is Gone”
“All My Trials” with Gabrielle Drake
“Kegelstatt Trio”
“Strolling Down the Highway”
“Paddling in Rushmere”
“Cocaine Blues”
“Blossom”
“Been Smokin’ Too Long”
“Black Mountain Blues”
“Tomorrow Is a Long Time”
“If You Leave Me”
“Here Come the Blues”
“Sketch 1”
“Blues Run the Game”
“My Baby So Sweet”
“Milk and Honey”
“Kimbie”
“Bird Flew By”
“Rain”
“Strange Meeting II”
“Day Is Done”
“Come in to the Garden” (version 2)
“Way to Blue”
“Do You Ever Remember?,” Molly Drake
