Molly Drake Estate Signs Publishing Agreement with Blue Raincoat Music/Reservoir

Blue Raincoat Music Publishing, in conjunction with Reservoir, has signed a global publishing deal with the estate of songwriter and poet Molly Drake. They have also renewed their existing publishing deal with the estate of her late son, Nick Drake.

The estates:

• Both estates are managed by Molly’s daughter, Gabrielle Drake, and Cally Callomon, who oversees Bryter Music.

Posthumous releases:

• Molly Drake, who died in 1993, never officially released her poetry or compositions while alive, though they’re believed to have had a profound impact on the musical style of her son, who died in 1974 aged 26.

• Molly’s work first gained exposure when it was featured in the documentary of her son’s life, 2000’s A Skin Too Few.

• Her first official release was on the 2007 Nick Drake compilation album, Family Tree, which featured two of her compositions, “Poor Mum” and “Do You Remember?”.

• In 2011 a self-titled album of Molly Drake’s music was released, recorded on a rudimentary home setup in the 1950s.

• A book, The Tide’s Magnificence, followed in 2017, featuring her poems.

What they said:

• Jeremy Lascelles, CEO of Blue Raincoat Music: “Working with Cally and Gabrielle for the last five years on Nick’s song catalog has been one of the greatest thrills of my career; so to be – in the first instance – able to extend that relationship, and now to represent the precious jewels that are the songs of his mother Molly is both an honor and a privilege. It is a joy to complete the family circle and everyone at Blue Raincoat Music Publishing and Reservoir looks forward to caring for and nurturing these songs in the same way as we have those of Nick”.

• Gabrielle Drake: “This is certainly an exciting development for my Mum – and I am sure she will be as happy to be sheltered by Blue Raincoat as her son has been!”