Michael Franks / Barefoot On The Beach

In the early summer of 1999, Michael Franks delivered us an unchanged but excellent works under Windham Hill Jazz, which Michael chose as his new partner, after saying good-bye to his long partner Warner Bros Records. To be honest, the former original album "Abandoned Garden" (1995) tribute to the late Antonio Carlos Jobim was basically the bosa-nova album because of the album concept, which could not satisfy my expectation to Michael Franks as one of the excellent Adult Contemporary Music singers. As regards "Dragonfly Summer", I was not so impressed with the album due to high expectation to Michael. With regards to this “Barefoot On The Beach”, I was very satisfied with very sophisticated but passionate album quality. From the opening track "Barefoot On The Beach" to the ending track "Like Moon Behind A Cloud", Michael does fully shown his talent as a singer and a songwriter on this album. If you like mid-80's Michael Franks albums, you are aware that Michael self-covers his own tune "Double Talk" on this album. This was another debut album of new Michael Franks towards the year 2000 under Windham Hill Jazz.


Release: 1 June, 1999
Label: Windham Hill Jazz, USA (01934-11443-2)

Tracks:
1. Barefoot On The Beach
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. Mr. Smooth
11. Like Moon Behind A Cloud

Producer: Chuck Loab, Jimmy Haslip

Michael Franks: Vocals

- Musicians -
Bass: Will Lee, Jimmy Haslip, John Patitucci
Drums: Shawn Pelton, Brian Dunne, Steve Gadd, Wolfgang Haffner
Guitars: Jeff Mironow, Chuck Loeb, Steve Khan
Piano: Bob James
Keyboards: Charles Blenzig, Jimmy Haslip, Chris Palmaro, Mike Ricchiuti
Sax: Jay Azzolina, Andy Snitzer, Bob Mintzer, Michael Brecker
Flugel Horn: Jim Hynes
Trombone: Brich Johnson
Trumpet: Larry Lunetta, Randy Brecker
Flute: David Mann
Vibraphone: Dave Sammuels
Strings: Jim Beard
Percussion: David Charles, Wolfgang Haffner, Bashiri Johnson
Duet Vocals on "Now Love Has No End": Valerie Simpson
Background Vocals: Carmen Cuesta, Chuck Loeb, Lani Groves, Will Lee, Tawatha Agee

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