Five Leaves Left



Five Leaves Left is the debut studio album by English folk musician Nick Drake. Recorded between 1968 and 1969, it was released the latter year by record label Island.

Recording
Five Leaves Left was recorded between July 1968 and June 1969 at Sound Techniques in London, England.

Content
Like Bryter Layter but unlike Pink Moon, this album contains no unaccompanied songs. Drake was accompanied by members of the British folk rock groups Fairport Convention and Pentangle.

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". The album title could also be a reference to an O. Henry short story entitled "The Last Leaf". Drake died five years after recording the album.

Reception
Q cited it as "The pinnacle of a melancholy canon of work so distinctive that admirers can only speculate miserably on what might have been." Alternative Press called it "[one] of the most beautiful and melancholy albums ever recorded."

Legacy
Five Leaves Left was ranked 85th in a 2005 survey held by British television's Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 280 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. NME ranked it at number 74 in their list. Q magazine included the album in its list "Best Folk Albums of All Time".

Personnel
Nick Drake performs vocals and acoustic guitar, except where indicated otherwise.


 * "Time Has Told Me"
 * Paul Harris – piano
 * Richard Thompson – electric guitar
 * Danny Thompson – double bass
 * "River Man"
 * Danny Thompson - double bass
 * Harry Robinson – string arrangement
 * "Three Hours"
 * Danny Thompson - double bass
 * Rocky Dzidzornu – congas
 * "Way to Blue"
 * Nick Drake - vocals
 * Robert Kirby – string arrangement
 * "Day is Done"
 * Robert Kirby - string arrangement
 * Cello Song"
 * Danny Thompson - double bass
 * Rocky Dzidzornu - congas, shaker
 * Clare Lowther – cello
 * "Thoughts of Mary Jane"
 * Robert Kirby - string arrangement
 * uncredited - flute
 * "Man in a Shed"
 * Paul Harris - piano
 * Danny Thompson - double bass
 * "Fruit Tree"
 * Robert Kirby - string arrangement
 * uncredited - oboe, bass oboe and English horn
 * "Saturday Sun"
 * Nick Drake - vocals, piano
 * Danny Thompson - double bass
 * Tristan Fry – drums and vibraphone

Technical


 * Simon Heyworth – mastering
 * Joe Boyd – production
 * John Wood – engineering