Michael Franks (11 Albums)

Countless musical trends have steamrolled by since the mid '70s when this wry singer-songwriter first graced the adult-music world with his cryptic hit, "Popsicle Toes." Since then, Franks has stood his ground. On Barefoot on the Beach, he remains charmingly cool and collected; his voice, still wistful and onionskinned. And he has continued to grow as an observational lyricist.

Franks just doesn't buy into the top-40 school of "hook or forget it" songwriting. He's more interested in weaving quirky, esoteric images over solid grooves. (His backing music - Bob James, Dave Samuels, Chuck Loeb, Bob Mintzer - varies between classic, subtly brassy Steely Dan and colorful smooth-jazz vibes.) "You could jump a DC-8 and probably be here by eight" sets the tone for the frolic of the title track. Everything is fair game, from references to Ingrid Bergman and Rhett Butler on "Heart Like an Open Book" to congratulating Ponce de Leon for the youthful drive of his lover on "The Fountain of Youth."

He's quite the humorist, too. On "Double Talk," he tells a cheating mate, "Each time you lie, your profile grows... it looks just like Pinocchio's." "Mr. Smooth" is a crisp commentary on a stuck-up man. But even when Franks is expressing displeasure, his heart is light. He covers all the aspects of love from the supreme joy of "Now Love Has No End" to "Why Spring Ain't Here," but the minute he starts to boil over, he's back to the beach, having a blast. This is the kind of spring-in-your-step music Franks fashioned his career upon. -- Jonathan Widran, JAZZIZ Magazine


Sleeping Gypsy [1977]



1. Lady Wants to Know
2. I Really Hope It's You
3. In the Eye of the Storm
4. B'wana-He No Home
5. Don't Be Blue
6. Antonio's Song (The Rainbow)
7. Chain Reaction
8. Down in Brazil


One Bad Habit [1980]



1. Baseball 3:51
2. Inside You 4:13
3. All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go 3:48
4. Lotus Blossom 4:20
5. On My Way Home To You 4:52
6. One Bad Habit 4:08
7. Loving You More And More 3:45
8. Still Life 4:14
9. He Tells Himself He's Happy 5:08


Objects of Desire [1982]



1. Jealousy 3:38
2. Ladies' Nite 4:11
3. No-Deposit Love 5:12
4. Laughing Gas 3:25
5. Wonderland 5:02
6. Tahitian Moon 4:37
7. Flirtation 3:45
8. Love Duet 4:58
9. No One But You 4:43


Passionfruit [1983]



1. Alone At Night 4:30
2. Never Satisfied 3:54
3. Amazon 5:43
4. Now That Your Joystick's Broke 2:51
5. Sunday Morning Here With You 4:34
6. Never Say Die 3:38
7. Rainy Night In Tokyo 4:44
8. Tell Me All About It 4:34
9. When Sly Calls (Don't Touch That Phone) 5:53
10. How The Garden Grows 3:38


Skin Dive [1985]



1. Read My Lips Michael Franks 3:42
2. Let Me Count The Ways Michael Franks 4:34
3. Your Secret's Safe With Me Michael Franks 4:39
4. Don't Be Shy Michael Franks 5:06
5. When I Give My Love To You Michael Franks with Brenda Russell 4:26
6. Queen Of The Underground Michael Franks 4:27
7. Now I Know Why (They Call It Falling) Michael Franks 4:55
8. Please Don't Say Goodnight Michael Franks 4:51
9. When She Is Mine Michael Franks 5:24


The Camera Never Lies[1987]



1. Face to Face
2. I Surrender
3. Camera Never Lies
4. Lip Service
5. When I Think of Us
6. Island Life
7. Now You're in My Dreams
8. Doctor Sax
9. Innuendo


Blue Pacific [1990]



1. The Art Of Love 4:12
2. Woman In The Waves 5:58
3. All I Need 4:47
4. Long Slow Distance 5:10
5. Vincent's Ear 6:24
6. Speak To Me 5:01
7. On The Inside 5:14
8. Chez Nous 4:30
9. Blue Pacific 4:59
10. Crayon Sun (Safe At Home) 6:20


Dragonfly Summer [1993]



1. Coming To Life 4:35
2. Soul Mate 4:28
3. Dragonfly Summer 5:03
4. Monk's New Tune 5:42
5. Learning What Love Means 4:14
6. I Love Lucy 4:38
7. Practice Makes Perfect 4:54
8. String Of Pearls 4:32
9. Keeping My Eye On You 4:24
10. The Dream 5:16
11. You Were Meant For Me 4:41
12. How I Remember You 5:11


Barefood On The Beach [1999]



1. Barefoot On The Beach 5:03
2. Heart Like An Open Book 4:47
3. Now Love Has No End (featuring Valerie Simpson) 6:12
4. The Fountain Of Youth 5:54
5. When You Smiled At Me 5:05
6. Double Talk 6:09
7. Every Time She Whispers 7:25
8. Why Spring Ain't Here 4:27
9. A Walk In The Rain 6:22
10. Mr. Smooth 4:40
11. Like Moon Behind A Cloud 6:24


Rendezvous in Rio [2006]



1. Under The Sun 5:26
2. Rendezvous In Rio 5:36
3. The Cool School 5:47
4. Samba do Soho 4:40
5. The Critics Are Never Kind 5:16
6. Scatsville 4:27
7. The Chemistry of Love 4:24
8. Hearing "Take Five" 5:41
9. The Question Is Why 4:30
10. Songbirds 6:46

Michael Franks - Greatest Hits (compiled by Blackmamba) [2007]



1. Michael Franks - Now Love Has No End - Featuring Valerie Simpson
2. Michael Franks - Everything She Whispers
3. Michael Franks - Love Duet
4. Michael Franks - Rainy Night In Tokyo.mp3
5. Michael Franks - Why Spring Ain't Here
6. Michael Franks - The Art Of Love
7. Michael Franks - When I Give My Love To You
8. Michael Franks - The Lady Want To Know
9. Michael Franks - Barefoot On The Beach
10. Michael Franks - Heart Like An Open Book
11. Michael Franks - Now I Know Why (They Call It Falling)
12. Michael Franks - When You Smile At Me
13. Michael Franks - Popsicle Toes
14. Michael Franks - Sunday Morning Here With You
15. Michael Franks - A Walk In The Rain
16. Michael Franks - Antonio Song

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