This is my review of the brand-new Nick Drake 4CD deluxe box set, The Making of Five Leaves Left. This is Nick Drake’s debut album, released in 1969 on Island Records, and one of the most hauntingly beautiful records ever made.
This new set is not just a simple reissue – it’s a fantastic look into how this remarkable album came into being.
Presentation & Packaging
The box itself is beautifully put together. The outer slip has that textured, luxurious feel, and inside you get four album-sized sleeves, each styled like vinyl LPs, with the CDs tucked neatly into replica inner sleeves. It’s a clever approach – CD format, but with the tactile, visual impact of vinyl artwork.
The set also includes a 60-page softback book packed with essays, recording histories, track-by-track notes, photos, and even handwritten lyrics from Nick himself. It’s fascinating to see how these songs evolved, sometimes with completely different arrangements across multiple takes.
If I have one criticism, it’s that for the price point (around £100), the book should really have been hardback. That would have given it more durability and preserved the edges better when sliding it in and out of the box.
The Music
Disc One takes us right back to March 1968 with early studio sessions. Hearing Nick at this embryonic stage, stripped back with just his voice and guitar, is spine-tingling. At times it feels like you’re sitting quietly in the corner of the studio as these songs are born.
Disc Two features the Cambridge recordings, with Nick experimenting, talking eloquently about arrangements, and even suggesting flutes and violins for certain tracks. These moments capture him full of creative energy before the weight of the world began to dim that spark.
Disc Three brings us to the studio sessions from late 1968 through to spring 1969. Tracks like Riverman and Way to Blue take shape in different guises, sometimes with sparse piano, sometimes with string quartets. They’re never repetitive – each version adds something fresh.
Finally, Disc Four is the finished album itself, using the definitive 2000 John Wood remaster. Wisely, this hasn’t been tampered with – it simply can’t be bettered.
Who is this set for?
This is not aimed at the casual listener. If you’re just discovering Nick Drake, you can still pick up Five Leaves Left on CD or vinyl for a fraction of the price. This deluxe box is for the dedicated fans – the ones who want to immerse themselves fully in Nick’s creative process and hear every nuance, every alternate take, every fragment of tape that’s survived.
And for those people, it’s absolutely worth it.
Listening to these discs feels incredibly intimate – like you’ve been invited to sit in the studio or even in Nick’s university room while he plays. For Nick Drake fans, this isn’t just archival – it’s emotional.
Final Thoughts
The Making of Five Leaves Left is a deluxe set done with care and love. It highlights not just the timeless beauty of Nick’s music, but also his vision and the sheer artistry of those early sessions. It’s expensive, but it’s special – and I suspect it won’t hang around for long.
For me and my family – lifelong Nick Drake fans – this box set was an absolute joy to explore. If you’re already deeply invested in his music, you’ll find it essential.
Musicians on Five Leaves Left (1969)
Nick Drake – vocals, guitar, piano
Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention) – guitar
Danny Thompson (Pentangle) – double bass
Rocky Dzidzornu – congas, percussion
Claire Lowther – cello
Robert Kirby – string arrangements (Nick’s friend from Cambridge)
Harry Robinson – additional string arrangements
Tristan Fry – drums, percussion
Paul Harris – piano, organ
Produced by Joe Boyd; engineered by John Wood.
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine.
