Michael Franks 70-80's 10 solo albums Japanese reissues and French 5 CD Box Set "Dream 1973-2011" will be coming !

MichaelFranksBox2012

Spring will be coming soon with Michael Franks this year!? In 38 years since his 1973 self-titled debut for Burt Records, Michael Franks has constantly released 18 studio recording original solo albums as at end of 2011. In Japan, Michael Franks' first 9 studio recording albums from1975 to 1987, that is to say, from his major solo debut album "The Art Of Tea" (1975) to "Camera Never Lies" (1987) and the much sought-after album MICHAEL FRANKS WITH CROSSFIRE LIVE (1980) will be re-released as limited collector's items with miniature LP style paper artworks on SHM CD (Super High Material CD), needless to say Remastered, which will be available on 25th April 2012 as the second releases of Warner Japan Light Mellow 2012 Collection.

Turning my eyes to Europe, Warner Rhino France has published that they will release Michael Franks Anthology box set titled "Dream 1973-2011" on 26th March 2012 with 73 Remastered Tracks on 5CDs, featuring unreleased tracks, rarities & many more. This Box Set supervised by Michael Franks (including tracklisting) offers the most complete anthology of Michael Franks work. 5CDs focusing on 4 themes; [POP & FUNKY GROOVE], [JAZZ & EXOTIC SUMMER], [SOFT & COOL SCHOOL] and [RARITIES & PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS + DUETS & SOME COVERS] . As you see below-listed track listing of 4th CD, you must be surprised to know what would be featured because it will include previously Japanese only tracks; "Antonio's Song / The Rainbow" (duet with apanese popular female singer named ANRI, originally appeared on her 1996 album "Angel Whisper" )and Michael's Japanese pops cover "Somewhere In The Rain" (originally performed by Japanese female superstar over the decade Yumi Arai (later, Yumi Matsutoya), known aka Yuming, in 1975, taken from 2003 Japanese only compilation album "OVER THE SKY : Yuming International Cover Album") The 5th CD contains the rare and mythical live recording of Michael Franks with Crossfire with miniature LP style paper artworks. A 16 page booklet with a foreword by Michael Franks and track-by-track liner notes + photos, Box Set supervised by Michael Franks.

Label: Warner Rhino France
Release Date: 26th March 2012
Tracks:
- Disc 1 [POP & FUNKY GROOVE]
  1. Cant's Seem To Shake This Rock'n Roll
  2. Born With The Moon In Vergo
  3. Monkey See, Monkey Do
  4. B’wana-he No Home
  5. When The Cookie Jar Is Empty
  6. All Dressed Up (With Nowhere To Go)
  7. Jealousy
  8. Laughing Gas
  9. Alone At Night
  10. When Sly Calls (Don’t Touch That Phone)
  11. Your Secret’s Safe With Me
  12. Woman In The Waves
  13. Barefoot On The Beach
  14. Somehow Our Love Survives
  15. Practice Make Perfect
  16. Now That Your Joystick’s Broke
  17. The Dream
- Disc 2 [JAZZ & EXOTIC SUMMER]
  1. Monk’s New Tune
  2. Hearing «Take Five»
  3. Don’t Be Blue
  4. When You Smiled At Me
  5. Popsicle Toes
  6. Sanpaku
  7. Eggplant
  8. Sometimes I Just Forget To Smile
  9. Mice
  10. Rendezvous In Rio
  11. The Way We Celebrate New Year’s
  12. Under The Sun
  13. Tell Me About It
  14. Tahitian Moon
  15. Like Water, Like Wind
  16. The Art Of Love
- Disc 3 [SOFT & COOL SCHOOL]
  1. Dragonfly Summer
  2. Nightmoves
  3. Lotus Blossom
  4. The Lady Wants To Know
  5. On My Way Home To You
  6. Living On The Inside
  7. String Of Pearls
  8. One Day In St. Tropez
  9. Hourglass
  10. Rainy Night In Tokyo
  11. Never Say Die
  12. All I Need
  13. Like Moon Behind A Cloud
  14. Blue Pacific 15 Still Life
  15. The Cool School
- Disc 4 [RARITIES & PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS + DUETS & SOME COVERS]
  1. Coming Home To You
  2. Jealousy -Geyster Remix- (Previously Unreleased)
  3. Blue Pacifi c -Alternate Version- (Previously Unreleased)
  4. This Will Never Do (Previously Unreleased)
  5. Somewhere In The Rain
  6. I Bought You A Plastic Star For Your Aluminum Tree
  7. Foolish Heart - Bob Mintzer with Michael Franks
  8. Antonio's Song / The Rainbow - Anri with Michael Franks
  9. Leading Me Back To You - Joe Sample with Michael Franks
  10. Think...) Where Are You Goin? - Me Phi Me with Michael Franks
  11. Ladiesâ Nite - Michael Franks with Bonnie Raitt
  12. When I Give My Love To You - Michael Franks with Branda Russell
  13. Now Love Has No End - Michael Franks with Valerie Simpson
  14. Island Christmas - Michael Franks with Veronica Nunn
  15. Popsicle Toes - The Manhattan Transfer
  16. Nightmoves - Dee Dee Bridgewater
- Disc 5 [MICHAEL FRANKS WITH CROSSFIRE : LIVE]
  1. Don't Be Blue
  2. When the Cookie Jar is Empty
  3. The Lady Wants to Know
  4. B’Wana-He No Home
  5. Chain Reaction
  6. Antonio's Song
  7. Monkey See, Monkey Do
  8. Popsicle Toes