Record Reviews

MICHAEL FRANKS ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES RHINO 081227969196 (Barcode: 081227969196) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 1975 - 1980 Released: 2012 This Box Set collects five early albums by American singer / songwriter Michael FranksFind albums by this artist. They are his second (following the debut album released in 1973 on a small independent label) to sixth albums released originally between 1975 and 1980. Although often described as a Jazz singer, Franks can be hardly defined as a "proper" Jazz singer, and his multifaceted style as a songwriter and vocalist flirts freely with Jazzy Pop, World (mostly Brazilian) Music, Soul and Rock and quite honestly defies any attempt to be neatly categorized, which is of course wonderful. Franks is a superb example of a vocalist, whose severe limitations (delicate voice and quite limited vocal range) become completely irrelevant in view of his simply stunning delivery and tons of feel for the music and natural intelligence. His abilities as a songwriter are also extraordinary (sadly mostly unrecognized), combining beautiful melodies and sensitive lyrics, a true rare talent. On these albums Franks is accompanied by some of the finest American musicians, originating mostly from the Jazz or Jazz-Rock Fusion idioms and the instrumental work herein is simply outstanding with many marvelous solos and first class arrangements. These albums are simply pure delight and a wonderful testimony of Frank´s talents and achievements. It is perhaps time for a new generation of listeners to discover these precious gems and hear what real music is all about. Highly recommended! Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 05/04/2024Posted:

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