Five Leaves Left - 2013 European Island label 10-track LP Reissue

2013 UK/European reissue of English folk singer/songwriters debut album - originally released by Island Record in 1969. Five Leaves Left was produced by Joe Boyd and recorded by John Wood at between July 1968 and June 1969 at Sound Techniques in London - Drake was accompanied by Richard Thompson from Fairport Convention and Danny Thompson of Pentangle. Robert Kirby, a friend of Drake's from his youth, arranged the string instruments for several tracks while Harry Robinson arranged the strings for River Man. The title of the album is a reference to the old Rizla cigarette papers packet, which used to contain a printed note near the end saying "Only five leaves left".

Drakes work was far from appreciated at the time - it has since gained much wider appriciation - NMEs Len Brown awarded the album 9/10 in his 1989 Deja Vu review writing that the album remains a masterpiece of English melancholy; a moving work that first revealed Drake's remarkable talent to communicate his fears of passing light and life, with simple beauty; his skill to charge listeners with emotions equal to his own. 

The album has been remastered - pressed onto 180 gram black vinyl andpresented in a gatefold picture cover featuring the original 1969 artwork.

Tracklisting:

Side 1.
1. Time Has Told Me   3:56
2. River Man   4:28
3. Three Hours   6:01
4. Way To Blue   3:05
5. Day Is Done   2:22

Side 2.
1. 'Cello Song   3:58
2. The Thoughts Of Mary Jane   3:12
3. Man In A Shed   3:49
4. Fruit Tree   4:42
5. Saturday Sun   4:00