In honor of the 40th anniversary of his tragic death, British folk singer Nick Drake is getting his very first authorized biography, which will be released in November through John Murray Publishers. Titled Nick Drake: Remembered For A While, the book will tell the story of Drake's entire 26-year life through various interviews and essays compiled by his sister, Gabrielle Drake, as well as a number of newly commissioned pieces.
The book is divided into five sections: "The Seed" (early life), "The Flower" (college years), "The Fruit" (professional years), "The Harvest" (posthumous success), and "The Stock" (a comprehensive guide to all of his work). Among the book's contributors and interviewees are Drake's friends, family, and collaborators, including producer Joe Boyd, poet Will Stone, and singer-songwriter Paul Wheeler. Along with these interviews and essays, the book will also include images of Drake's handwritten and typed lyrics, and well as a guide to the keys and guitar tunings of each song with "an explanatory interpretation of Nick's guitar performance."
A "Signature Box Edition" of the book is also available, which includes a ten-inch record of unreleased recordings from Drake's 1969 John Peel Session and three photographs of Drake taken by Julian Lloyd in 1967. Each copy of the Signature Box Edition will also be signed by the book's editors, Gabrielle Drake and Cally Callomon.
Nick Drake: Remembered For A While can be pre-ordered right now through its website, with Signature Box Editions going for £150, or about $250.
Check out the book's trailer right here:
You can listen to Drake's version of "Cello Song" from his John Peel session over at The Guardian.
