Michael Franks Original Album Series Jun 2026

Would you like the for any specific album in this set?

Named after a fictional golf score (or perhaps a reference to the painter Charles Burchfield), this album is the most "rock-inflected" of the bunch. remains a fan-favorite deep cut. While critics were initially confused by the electric guitars, this album has aged exceptionally well, revealing a restless artist refusing to be typecast as merely "quiet storm."

In recent years, the has been reissued, allowing new generations of music fans to discover and appreciate Franks' timeless works. The reissue has sparked renewed interest in his music, with fans and critics alike praising the albums' enduring charm and sophistication. michael franks original album series

The follows this blueprint perfectly. It bundles five of his most critically acclaimed Warner Bros. Records releases from the late 1970s and early 1980s—widely regarded as the "Imperial Phase" of his career.

While the OAS series is often criticized for using "flat transfers" (meaning no heavy-handed compression), in the case of Michael Franks, this is a virtue. Franks’ music relies on dynamic range—the whisper of a brush on a snare drum, the breath before a punchline. These Rhino reissues (originally mastered for CD in the late 2000s/early 2010s) preserve the headroom of the original analog tapes. They are not as warm as a 180g vinyl reissue, but they are vastly superior to low-bitrate streaming versions. Would you like the for any specific album in this set

The is a 5-CD box set released by Rhino Records in 2010 (UK) and 2012 (Worldwide). It compiles five of the artist's seminal studio albums from his early career at Warner Bros. Records . The set features the albums in cardboard sleeves that replicate the original vinyl artwork but does not include remasters, bonus tracks, or liner notes. Included Albums & Tracklists 1. The Art of Tea (1976)

Often cited by hardcore fans as his masterpiece, Sleeping Gypsy expands the travelogue. Tracks like and "Chain Reaction" showcase a darker, more melancholic tone. The production is lush, featuring the guitar work of Larry Carlton and the engineering finesse of Al Schmitt. This is the sound of a New Orleans-born artist dreaming of exotic ports. While critics were initially confused by the electric

The collection includes the following five albums, each representing a shift in his early style: