Nick Drake’s Hidden Legacy Comes to Light in New Box Set The Making of Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake’s ghostly brilliance has long haunted the halls of folk-rock, and now, fans will be gifted a deeper glimpse into the making of his debut with The Making of Five Leaves Left, a newly announced 4LP/4CD box set arriving July 25, 2025.
More than just an expanded reissue, this immersive collection unveils 30 previously unheard outtakes, from Drake’s earliest forays in the studio to rare demos recorded while he was still a student at Cambridge. Curated with reverence and restraint by the Nick Drake estate, the set focuses not on completeness, but on storytelling — choosing recordings that chart the true emotional and artistic journey of an elusive genius in the making.
The release is anchored by the original 1969 album, Five Leaves Left, which was produced by Joe Boyd and initially flew under the radar. Though not widely embraced in its time, the album has since earned cult status, with critics lauding its orchestral melancholy and introspective songwriting. Now, with intimate takes like “Strange Face” — a haunting early version of “‘Cello Song” — and never-before-heard gems like “My Love Left With The Rain” and “Mickey’s Tune,” the box set offers a window into Drake’s evolving voice and soul.
Mastered by John Wood (the album’s original engineer) and Simon Heywood, and featuring new artwork by Cain Gillis, The Making of Five Leaves Left is not just a collector’s piece — it’s a resurrection. Every tape crackle and false start carries the intimacy of an artist who, even at his rawest, made music that felt otherworldly.
In a poignant anecdote from sister Gabrielle Drake, she recalled her brother tossing the completed debut album on her bed, saying simply, “There you are.” Decades later, we’re finally hearing the quiet thunder that led up to that moment.
Available for pre-order now, this box set is a must-have for longtime devotees and new listeners eager to trace the roots of a voice that still echoes far beyond its time.
