Franks leaned into the electronic production trends of the mid-80s, incorporating synthesizers and electronic drum programming. While a departure from his acoustic roots, the Japanese pressings of these albums maximize the punch and clarity of the electronic basslines. Era 3: The Smooth Jazz Peak (1990–1999) Blue Pacific (1990)
A standard MP3 file compresses the audio and cuts out quiet details. A FLAC file preserves every piece of data from the original studio recording. In FLAC, you can hear the exact texture of the percussion, the warm basslines, and the subtle breath in Franks' vocals. Era 1: The Classic Warner Bros. Years (1973–1983)
A heavily stylized 80s pop production featuring "Your Secret's Safe with Me."
Happy Birthday number 78 🎂 to Michael Franks the creator and singer of the song “When Sly Calls (Don't Touch That Phone)” * Alway... When Sly Calls (Don’t Touch That Phone) michael franks discography 19732018 flac ja best
Produced by Tommy LiPuma and Walter Becker (of Steely Dan fame), Blue Pacific is a sonic masterpiece. It balances the acoustic warmth of his 70s work with the pristine digital recording techniques of the 1990s. "The Art of Love" is an essential track. Dragonfly Summer (1993) & Barefoot on the Beach (1999)
In addition to the studio output, several key live and compilation albums are essential for a complete collection. His only official live album, Michael Franks With Crossfire - Live , captures his energy on stage in Australia in 1980.
Japanese audio engineers are famous for their careful mastering techniques. Franks leaned into the electronic production trends of
Michael Franks, "The Art Of Tea". Only this guy could make romantic music with eggplant and mayonnaise in the lyrics. The Art of Tea Love Songs
The final studio album in this timeline, released after a seven-year gap. It was well-received, showing that Franks' creative spark remained undimmed. It serves as a natural endpoint for a full career-spanning collection.
A slightly more experimental album, but one that contains some of his most beloved deep cuts. A FLAC file preserves every piece of data
The 1990s saw Franks continuing to release critically acclaimed albums, including (1990), The Secret of a Heart (1992), and Midnight in Tokyo (1995). These albums solidified his position as a leading jazz vocalist and songwriter.
A perfect transition album, balancing 70s groove with 80s pop sensibilities.
Features the lush, romantic track "Jealousy."
Lossless audio preserves every byte of the original studio recording, offering a wide soundstage and deep dynamic range that brings the studio session into your listening room.
Michael Franks is the undisputed architect of "cool school" jazz-pop, a songwriter whose career spans nearly five decades of lyrical sophistication and rhythmic elegance. His discography from 1973’s self-titled debut to 2018’s The Music in My Head represents a masterclass in the art of the understatement. In the world of high-fidelity audio, specifically FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), the nuance of his production—often featuring the world’s finest session musicians—is revealed with a clarity that standard formats simply cannot capture.