Tag Archives: Michael Franks

Michael Franks: Blue Pacific

On May 31, 1990, “Reprise” label released “Blue Pacific”, the eleventh Michael Franks album. It was recorded 1989 – 1990, at “JHL Sound” in Pacific Palisades, California, “Studio Ultimo” and “Soundworks West” in Los Angeles, “Ground Control Studios” in Burbank, California, “Ocean Way” and “Cherokee Studios” in Hollywood, “Larrabee Sound Studios” and “Schnee Studios” in North Hollywood, and was produced by Walter Becker, Tommy LiPumma and Jeff Lorber.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks – vocals
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
  • Buzz Feiten – guitars, acoustic guitar
  • Dean Parks – electric guitar
  • Larry Carlton – guitars
  • Michael Thompson – guitars
  • Jeff Lorber – keyboards, programming, arrangements
  • John Beasley – keyboards
  • Joe Sample – acoustic piano
  • Larry Williams – synthesizer programming, synthesizer arrangements
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass
  • ‘Ready’ Freddie Washington – bass
  • John Patitucci – bass
  • Sean Franks – cymbals
  • Peter Erskine – drums
  • John Guerin – drums
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
  • Luis Conte – percussion
  • Alex Acuña – percussion
  • Michael Fisher – percussion
  • Marc Russo – alto saxophone
  • Bob Sheppard – tenor saxophone
  • Kirk Whalum – tenor saxophone
  • Bunny Hull – backing vocals
  • Brenda Russell – backing vocals
  • Kareem – backing vocals
  • Livingston Taylor – backing vocals
  • Jeff Lorber – recording
  • Eric Rudd – recording assistant
  • Roger Nichols – recording, mixing
  • Al Schmitt – recording, additional recording
  • Chris Fuhrman – additional recording assistant
  • Tom Hardisty – recording assistant
  • Scott Ralston – recording assistant
  • Clif Norrell – recording assistant
  • Joey Wolpert – additional recording
  • Ed Torgerson – additional recording assistant
  • Gabe Moffat – additional recording assistant
  • Bill Schnee – mixing
  • Alan Meyerson – mixing
  • Neal Pogue – mixing assistant
  • Ken Allardyce – mixing assistant
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Sonny Abelardo – production coordinator
  • Carol Parks – production coordinator
  • Jeri and John Heiden – art direction, design
  • Kip Lott – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks.

  1. The Art of Love
  2. Woman in the Wave
  3. All I Need
  4. Long Slow Dance
  5. Vincent’s Ear
  6. Speak to Me
  7. On the Inside
  8. Chez Nous
  9. Blue Pacific
  10. Crayon Sun (Safe at Home)

David Sanborn

On May 12, 2024, David William Sanborn died aged 78. He was musician (alto saxophone, piano), one of the most highly regarded session musicians. He recorded and performed with some of the best-known artist of the modern music including Albert King, Little Milton, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Bryan Ferry, Michael Stanley, Eric Clapton, Bobby Charles, Cat Stevens, Roger Daltrey, Paul Simon, Jaco Pastorius, the Brecker Brothers, Michael Franks, Kenny Loggins, Casiopea, Players Association, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Tommy Bolin, Bob James, Pure Prairie League, Kenny G, Loudon Wainwright III, George Benson, Joe Beck, Donny Hathaway, Elton John, Gil Evans, Carly Simon, Guru, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Kenny Garrett, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, Ween, the Eagles, Grateful Dead, Nena, Hikaru Utada, The Rolling Stones, Ian Hunter, and Toto. As leader, Sanborn released 25 albums.

Michael Franks: The Camera Never Lies

On July 7, 1987, “Warner Bros” label released “The Camera Never Lies”, the tenth Michael Franks album. It was recorded in 1987, and was produced by Rob Mounsey.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks – vocals, banjo, guitar, mandolin
  • Hiram Bullock – guitar
  • Cornell Dupree – guitar
  • Steve Khan – guitar
  • Earl Klugh – guitar
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • Georg Wadenius – guitar
  • Clifford Carter – piano, synthesizer
  • Richard Tee – piano
  • Mark Egan – bass
  • Neil Jason – bass
  • Will Lee – bass, backing vocals
  • Marcus Miller – bass
  • Robin Gould – drums
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • Chris Parker – cymbals, drums
  • Dave Weckl – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – congas, percussion
  • Roger Squitero – caxixi, shekere
  • Lawrence Feldman – alto saxophone
  • Bill Evans – tenor saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – EWI, tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet
  • Rob Mounsey – flute, keyboard bass, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Michal Urbaniak – violin
  • Patti Austin – vocals, backing vocals
  • Kacey Cisyk – backing vocals
  • Art Garfunkel – backing vocals
  • Lani Groves – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks, except where noted.

  1. Face to Face
  2. I Surrender
  3. The Camera Never Lies
  4. Lip Service
  5. When I Think of Us
  6. Island Life – Michael Franks, Rob Mounsey
  7. How You’re in My Dreams – Michael Franks, Clifford Carter
  8. Doctor Sax
  9. Innuendo

Michael Franks: The Art of Tea

In February 1976, “Reprise” label released “The Art of Tea”, the second Michael Franks album. It was recorded May – June 1975, and was produced by Tommy LiPuma.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks – vocals
  • Michael Brecker – saxophone
  • David Sanborn – saxophone
  • Joe Sample – keyboards
  • Larry Bunker – vibraphone
  • Larry Carlton – guitar
  • Wilton Felder – bass
  • John Guerin – drums
  • Jerry Steinholtz – congas
  • Al Schmitt – recording, mixing
  • Lee Hershbrook, Bruce Botnick – recording
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Ed Thrasher – art direction, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks, except where noted.

  1. Nightmoves – Michael Franks, Michael Small
  2. Eggplant
  3. Monkey See – Monkey Do
  4. St. Elmo’s Fire
  5. I Don’t Know Why I’m So Happy I’m Sad
  6. Jive
  7. Popsicle Toes
  8. Sometimes I Just Forget To Smile
  9. Mr. Blue

Paul Griffin

On June 14, 2000, Paul Griffin died aged 62. He was musician (piano, keyboards), performed and recorded with hundreds of musicians including: King Curtis, Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Don McLean, the Isley Brothers, Van Morrison, the Shirelles, Dionne Warwick. Dion DiMucci, George Benson, Tom Rush, Wilson Pickett, Michael Franks, John Denver, Peter, Paul and Mary, David Clayton-Thomas, Gloria Loring, Melba Moore, LaVern Baker, Janis Siegel, Solomon Burke, Jackie Lomax, Marlena Shaw, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Don Mclean, Carly Simon, Juddy Collins, Cheryl Lynn, Gloria Gaynor, Stephanie Mills, Donald Fagen,  Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Garland Jeffreys, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Laura Nyro.

Michael Franks: Sleeping Gypsy

On January 22, 1977, “Warner Bros” label released “Sleeping Gypsy”, the third Michael Franks album.  It was recorded in 1976, and was produced by Tommy LiPuma.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks – vocals
  • Joe Sample – keyboards, piano
  • João Donato – piano
  • Larry Carlton – guitar
  • Hélio Delmiro – guitar
  • Wilton Felder – bass, saxophone
  • David Sanborn – saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Larry Bunker – vibraphone, drums, percussion
  • Ray Armando – congas, percussion
  • João Palma – drums
  • John Guerin – percussion
  • Claus Ogerman – orchestra arrangements, conductor
  • Al Schmitt – recording, mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks, except where noted.

  1. The 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 – Michael Franks, John Guerin
  6. Antonio’s Song (The Rainbow)
  7. Chain Reaction – Michael Franks, Joe Sample
  8. Down In Brazil

Thomas Tedesco

On November 10, 1997, Thomas J. Tedesco died aged 67. He was a musician (guitar), part of the loose collective of Los Angeles area’s session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. As he played on hundreds studio recordings, “Guitar Player” magazine described him as “the most recorded guitarist in music history”. He recorded with the Beach Boys, Chet Baker, the Mamas & the Papas, the Everly Brothers, the Association, Bobby Darrin, Barbra Streisand, Jan and Dean, the 5th Dimension, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Zappa, Ricky Nelson, Cher, Neil Diamond, Van Dyke Parks, Michael Franks, Nancy and Frank Sinatra, Richard Harris, Peggy Lee, Johnny Rivers, Al Kooper, Michael Nesmith, Paul Anka, Don Ellis, Minnie Riperton, Maria Muldaur, Leon Russell, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, J.J. Cale, Quincy Jones, Stephen Bishop, Kenny Loggins, Jack Nitzsche, Sarah Vaughan, Lalo Schifrin, Randy Newman, Hugh Masakela, and Joan Baez. Tedesco performed on soundtracks including The French Connection, Jaws, The Godfather, Field of Dreams, and The Deer Hunter. As a leader he released ten albums.

Michael Franks: Time Together

On June 14, 2011, “Shanachie Records” label released “Time Together”, the 17th Michael Franks album. It was recorded in 2011, and was produced by Charles Blenzig, Gil Goldstein, Chuck Loeb, Scott Petito and Mark Egan.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks – vocals, back cover photo
  • Mark Egan – bass, feetless bass, arranger, mixing’
  • Chuck Loeb – guitar, keyboards, percussion, drum programming, arranger, engineer
  • Romero Lubambo – guitar
  • David Spinozza – guitar
  • Charles Blenzig – piano, keyboards, arranger
  • Clifford Carter – keyboards
  • Gil Goldstein – piano, arranger
  • Jay Anderson – bass
  • Greg Cohen – bass
  • Tim Lefebvre – bass
  • Will Lee – bass, background vocals
  • Joe Bonadio – drums, percussion
  • Wolfgang Haffner – drums, percussion
  • Shawn Pelton – drums, percussion
  • Billy Kilson – drums
  • Jerry Marotta – drums
  • Rogerio Boccato – percussion
  • Mike Mainieri – vibraphone
  • Veronica Nunn – vocals, background vocals
  • Beth Nielsen Chapman, Carmen Cuesta, Lizzy Loeb – background vocals
  • Till Brönner – trumpet
  • Alex Sipiagin – trumpet
  • Eric Marienthal – alto saxophone
  • David Mann – saxophone
  • Scott Petito – bass, arranger, assembly, engineer, executive producer mastering, mixing
  • Hal Winer – engineer
  • Phil Magnotti – mixing
  • Dennis Wall – mixing
  • Alysabeth Beesmer – art direction, design
  • Kristina Swarner – cover painting
  • Dion Ogust – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks.

  1. Now That the Summer’s Here
  2. One Day in St. Tropez
  3. Summer in New York
  4. Mice
  5. Charlie Chan in Egypt
  6. I’d Rather Be Happy Than Right
  7. Time Together
  8. Samba Blue
  9. My Heart Said Wow
  10. If I Could Make September Stay
  11. Feathers from an Angel’s Wing

Michael Franks: Randezvous in Rio

On June 27, 2006, “Koch Records” label released “Rendezvous in Rio”, the sixteenth Michael Franks album. It was recorded in 2006, and was produced by John Rozenberg.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks – vocals
  • Carmen Cuesta-Loeb, Pamela Driggs, Larry Hoppen – vocals
  • Robbie Dupree – vocals, background vocals
  • Beth Reineke, Veronica Nunn, Leslie Ritter– background vocals
  • Mike DeMicco, Romero Lubambo, Marc Shulman, Dwight Sills – guitar
  • Chuck Loeb – guitar, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, programming
  • Jeff Lorber – keyboards, arranger, drum programming, engineer, percussion programming
  • Scott Petito – keyboards, bass, mixing, mastering
  • Alex Al, Sergio Brandão, Jimmy Haslip – bass
  • Chris Hunter, Gary Meek– saxophone, flute
  • Eric Marienthal – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Roger Burn – piano, keyboards, vibraphone, programming
  • David Sancious – piano, keyboards
  • Charles Blenzig – keyboards, arranger, programming
  • Vinnie Colaiuta, Wolfgang Haffner, Brian Dunne, Michael White, Michael White- drums
  • Jerry Marotta – drums, percussion
  • Café – percussion
  • Andy Suzuki – woodwind
  • Megan Denver – art direction, design, photography
  • Dion Ogust – photography

Track listing:

  1. Under the Sun – Michael Franks
  2. Rendezvous In Rio – Charles Blenzig, Michael Franks
  3. The Cool School – Michael Franks
  4. Samba de Soho – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ronaldo Bastos
  5. Rendezvous In Rio – Michael Franks
  6. Scatsville – Michael Franks
  7. The Chemistry Of Love – Michael Franks
  8. Hearing “Take Five – Michael Franks
  9. The Question Is Why – Michael Franks
  10. Songbirds – Michael Franks

Michael Franks: Barefoot on the Beach

On June 1, 1999, “Windham Hill” label released “Barefoot on the Beach”, the fourteenth Michael Franks studio album. It was recorded in 1999, and was produced by Chuck Loeb and Jimmy Haslip.

Personnel:

  • Michael Franks, Valerie Simpson – vocals
  • Chuck Loeb, Jay Azzolina, Jeff Mironov, Steve Khan – guitar
  • Bob James – piano
  • Charles Blenzig, Jimmy Haslip, Chris Palmaro, Mike Ricchiuti – keyboards
  • Jimmy Haslip, Will Lee – bass
  • John Patitucci – double bass
  • Brian Dunne, Shawn Pelton, Steve Gadd, Wolfgang Haffner – drums
  • Bashiri Johnson, David Charles, Wolfgang Haffner – percussion
  • Dave Samuels – vibraphone
  • Chris Hunter, Andy Snitzer, Bob Mintzer, Michael Brecker – saxophone
  • Larry Lunetta, Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Birch Johnson – trombone
  • James Hynes – flugelhorn
  • David Mann, Chris Hunter – flute
  • Jim Beard – strings
  • Carmen Cuesta, Lani Groves, Tawatha Agee – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Franks, except where noted.

  1. Barefoot on the Beach – Charles Blenzig, Michael Franks
  2. Heart Like an Open Book
  3. Now Love Has No End
  4. The Fountain of Youth
  5. When You Smiled at Me
  6. Double Talk
  7. Every Time She Whispers
  8. Why Spring Ain’t Here
  9. A Walk in the Rain
  10. Smooth
  11. Like Moon Behind a Cloud