"Family Tree" is a compilation album of home and demo recordings by English singer-songwriter Nick Drake, released in 2007. The album is notable for featuring recordings from various periods of Nick Drake's life, including tracks recorded before the release of his debut album, "Five Leaves Left." Many of these recordings had previously circulated on bootlegs among fans before being officially curated and released by the Drake family.
One of the distinctive features of "Family Tree" is the appearance of Nick's sister, Gabrielle, on one track, as well as contributions by Nick's mother, Molly Drake, who performs two original songs. The recordings span the 1960s and include home recordings made by Nick and his father Rodney in Tanworth-in-Arden, England. There are also demos recorded by Nick himself in Aix-en-Provence, France, and demos from 1968 recorded at Cambridge University with Robert Kirby, who later became a frequent collaborator of Nick's.
Upon its release, "Family Tree" achieved a notable success, reaching No. 35 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart, marking Nick Drake's first album to chart in America. The album provides a unique insight into Nick Drake's early creative process and development as an artist, offering fans and listeners a deeper appreciation of his musical journey before his official debut in the music industry.
