Singer/Songwriter Michael Franks



The Music in My Head Companion NotesThe Music in My Head is my eighteenth studio album of original songs. I still think of these releases as albums and I write and sequence them with that same old-school idea of continuity in mind.On this project, I enjoyed writing and recording every note...from making the demos to working in the studio with so many of my former accomplices and some great new ones.When I started writing the compositions I shut myself up in my little studio room and got lost in the music, fueled by: tea, more tea, vegan lasagna, and punctuated by walking the dogs and deep water cardio workouts.“As Long As We’re Both Together”The loss of my long-time producer and friend, Chuck Loeb, threw the project outof balance for a few months.I sent Chuck the first demo I made, a guitar/vocal/percussion sketch of “As Long As We’re Both Together.” At this point in time he was struggling bravely against the odds of his health issues. We spoke on the phone a few times, discussing which guitars he might use, and in a few days time he sent me a perfect arrangement with the amazing solos you hear on the record. It’s hard to comprehend how, in a time of such physical adversity, he summoned the wherewithal to play at his blazing, signature best. I’ll always treasure this last collaboration of ours.I’m grateful to my friends Jimmy Haslip, Eric Marienthal, and Scott Petito, along with percussionist Manuel Quintana, and vocalists Veronica Nunn and Leslie Ritter for helping me finish this song in the sad absence of our late friend Chuck.As Long As We’re Both TogetherSome say the odds are against usSome pray our love-at-first-sight will not last We know the past cannot harm usAs long as we're both togetherSometimes the wind tries to break us Sometimes we walk right into friendly fire But our desire won't forsake usAs long as we're both togetherIt may be cliche? to sayOur love is stronger than Gibraltar Deeper than the deep blue seaBut me--I believe itIf you read the historyThat tells the tale of you and me We conquer all adversity together As long as we're both togetherNow we are here in this moment and Although no one avoids every minor key Every crazy concerto, we playThrough the song togetherInside these beautiful mountains With the sky as our blue periphery The path leads us forwardAs long as we're both togetherIf I exaggerate I doBecause the love I feel for you Continues to proliferate inside me The lyricists* I quote withAdmiration both invoke me to express The joy I feel with you beside meAs long as we're both together* Ira GershwinSammy Cahn“Suddenly Sci-Fi”One of my favorite science fiction writers is Philip K. Dick. Recently I was reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and when Claudia and I took our daily walks in the woods I found myself narrating the story to her. I had a dream about the book, I guess because I was so immersed in it, and the characters in my dream resembled the replicants in the novel. And this song is the story of that dream. Musically, the influences are Brazilian. I listen to Brazilian music all the time and lately I’d been studying a rhythm called “samba partido alto.” So I started writing the song with this groove in mind. Gil Goldstein produced and arranged this cut for me.Suddenly Sci-FiI knew when that day dawnedSomething was all wrong No buzz whatever from My lapsang souchong The world appearedIn weird distorted wi-fiAnd suddenlyEverything seemed very sci-fiThe clones were all acquainted Their brains synonymousAnd all of them seemed painted By Bosch, HieronymusIt seemed to sayIn Philip K. Dick-tation It's now a sci-fi nationWas my hallucination real? And how! The inmates are in chargeOf the asylum now!“The Idea of a Tree”We live in the middle of a small forest. Our cottage is carved into the woods, surrounded by pines, hemlocks, and oaks.I’ve never grown tired of observing trees ...from the eucalyptus trees of my childhood in San Diego to the palms of Sanibel and of course, to the beautiful mixed hardwoods of our upstate mountains. I thought it was about time I expressed my admiration for them in a song. Scott Petito produced and arranged this tune for me and played the pulsing, forward motion bass line. David Spinozza, with whom I first recorded back in 1980 on One Bad Habit, played guitar.The Idea of a TreeI walk out in the woods And I try not to step loudlyI lie on my back and stare at a little cloud That sails gracefullyLike a white fleur-de-lis By beauty I'm surrounded Too beautiful to sayThen in full throat the thrushJust blows me away With his song so pristineMuch like Leonard BernsteinAsh, white pine, and hemlockMake my canopyPerfect space just in case there are raindrops Shade to cool the sun when it shinesEquatoriallyAn invention I can't fail to mentionThe idea of a tree Seems miraculous to meI heard about a banyanIn India somewhere that's so huge One whole village collects itself there Completely under its armsTo be safe from all harm He must be some CreatorOr maybe He's a She but who cares? His creation is something to see Perfect in every detailElm, oak, and magnolia Make my canopyPerfect space just in case there are raindrops Shade to cool the sun when it shines EquatoriallyAn invention I can't fail to mention The idea of a treeSeems miraculous to me"Bluebird Blue"Bluebirds! Phoebes! Wrens! Goldfinches!We feed the birds and the wildlife all winter and try to care for them through the ice and snow. Our (indoor) cats watch from every window, taking notes.All the years we’ve lived in this house, the phoebes have come back every Spring and built a nest in the same spot under the deck. The wrens use the same hanging birdhouse and the robins return to the same nesting boxes I nailed up years ago.Time passes. So much changes. However, some things remain the same.This is another Gil Goldstein arrangement, with his beautiful acoustic piano parts, accompanied by Jay Anderson's bass, David Spinozza on acoustic guitar this time, and Rogerio Boccato's percussion.Bluebird BlueBluebird blueKeeps connecting me to you But I'd sure like to see you I'd sure like to be with youThough the Spring beginsAnd some ducks arrive (two mandarins) Still I'd sure like to see youI'd sure like to be with youTime ticks by so slowly Whenever you're not nearA little wren convinced me I should write this songSo you'd never forget how I love you So you'd never forget how I love youThe phoebe's eggs are laidAnd the spotted fawn sleeps in the shade But I'd sure like to see youI'd sure like to be with youSwan and Dolphin shine at nightFireflies like candlelight But I'd sure like to see youI'd sure like to be with you"To Spend the Day With You"This song is a happiness photograph. Though I've enjoyed every phase of my career (even the months-long bus tours) I must admit, I love being home more and touring less. At this stage of my life I love walking the dogs, writing, practicing, singing, volunteering, gardening, aqua jogging and reading the TLS ( London Times Literary Supplement).Concealed in the lyrics of this song are paraphrases of famous poems by William Wordsworth and Matthew Arnold--delayed after-effects of my now-distant university years.This was my first time working with Rachel Z and her acoustic piano solo captures the mood of the song perfectly, reminding me of other solos I've been blessed with by Joe Sample and Joao Donato.To Spend the Day With YouWhoever said this world is too much with usLate and soon was rightHis words are worth repeating Anytime a cloud obscures the light When blue invades my paletteThat's the moment I retreat with you If we're considered recluses, so what! 'Cause I don't care, do you?Let's stay home we'll twist and shout We can say the power's outIt doesn't matter what we doI just want to spend the day with you Let's call in sick like others doSay we don't want to catch the flu I really don't care what we doI just want to spend the day with youWhoever said this world only appears To be a land of dreamsWas sailing straight for trueUnless the dream is starring you and me Love's still my drug of choiceMy heart rejoices every time I seeThe image of your faceAs it comes near in sweet proximity"Bebop Headshop"The band escapes Manhattan, drives North and we convene at Scott’s to record on a perfect Fall day.Claudia cooks and bakes. An emotional reunion with drummer Billy Kilson after too many years have passed. Dogs everywhere. Everyone talking, laughing, telling old road stories and catching up.Charles, my musical director for over 27 years, produces, arranges, and plays. Karel Ruzicka's sax, and Sean Conly’s bass walking us towards the outro.All of us floating on Billy’s beautiful brushwork.Veronica, singing the choruses with me, caressing my pedal notes. This song contains my wife’s favorite lyric of the entire cd:“The cat who coined the phrase," someone asked, "who is he?" The guy behind the bar said "It’s attributed to Dizzy.”Bebop HeadshopEvery weekend while in collegeI frequented a little club to listen to jazzNear a beach that was called HermosaThe name in cursive neon throbbed in blue“Bebop Headshop” where the bebop players playNothing could compare with all the crazy things they’d say SaxophonallyBebop HeadshopDown at the Bebop HeadshopThis was back in the Nineteen Sixties Everyone’s lapels were narrow Handsome Jack was the PrezBebop HeadshopDown at the Bebop Headshop“The cat who coined the phrase,” Someone asked, “who is he?” The guy behind the bar said:“It’s attributed to Dizzy” What a time it wasWhy’d it ever have to end? All those cats are goneAnd now the Bebop Headshop’s closed Now the Bebop Headshop’s closed"Where You Hid the Truth""Who of us can cast the first stone? Certainly not me."Almost everyone has a relationship or two that remain, in today's idiom, "unhealed."Oh, for a magic wand! Or, for even just one of those magic erasers! Hopefully, love and a willingness to keep an open heart can deconstruct any misunderstandings that sometimes happen along the way. This tune was produced by my old friend, Jimmy Haslip. Jimmy started producing songs forme on Barefoot on the Beach. On this record we were reunited with saxophonist,Gary Meek, who also played on Rendevous in Rio.Where You Hid the TruthYou and I like distant stars Whole hemispheres apart You're the lesson I must learnAnd I'm the seed inside your heartIt seems so harmless when you first misplace it But once it's lost it's awful hard to trace it Before you know it you've forgotten where Where you hid the truthWe learn our Lincoln but we do not heed it So draw a treasure map in case you need itThe past's a jungle which can sure obscure Where you hid the truthWhy not recherche your temps perdu And hope that you can find a clueTo where you hid the truth?Who of us can cast the first stone? Certainly not meBut at least I know deceit's no friend You can rely upon"The Music in My Head"The story of my creative life, for which I am so grateful.A glimpse chez nous. I've always relied on nature for inspiration and this tune describes that process. "Birdsong stereophonic creates inner ear elation." My wife says this song makes it seem like I'm taking everyone on a walk with me--a sunlit warm day, deer watching, dachshunds sniffing low to the ground, Veronica's wind chimes, doves fluttering ahead on the path. And Bob Mintzer'ssoulful tenor commenting on the lyrics so masterfully.The Music in My HeadI like to stay up late at night readingIn a one-half lotus, past midnight in my bed I like to walk out early in the morningIn the scented woods and listen to The music in my headPlease don't misunderstand me I promise you I'm not crazyWhen I get the blues I wait for my muse To turn up the sound and save meI like to listen to the sounds of AugustWhen a thunderstorm drums distant timpani With the cicadas droning just like sitarsIn a raga which the wind accompaniesBirdsong stereophonic Creates inner ear elationThe wind chime plays pentatonic And fills me with inspiration"Candleglow"The first verse of this song cites lines from a poem by Richard Brautigan, who also wrote novels (In Watermelon Sugar and Revenge of the Lawn).Another completely autobiographical song, no surprise there.We are basically reclusive types. Saxophonist Chris Hunter once called me the J.D. Salinger of Jazz. When Jimmy Haslip and I listened to the rough tracks of this song I requested he play a little bass solo somewhere. He laughed when I said this and replied: "Every bass players dream...a bass solo, please."CandleglowNow it seemsWe are truly "all watched over By machines of loving grace" Then please explainWhy we feel so battered by the hurricanes On this Sea of Stress?I close the door behind meI'm analog I knowCan the world still notify me?No. I'm here with you in candleglowThe grind's obscene. Can't we turnThe brightness down upon the screen? And the sound tooThe famous foolWho said love is uncool We can disprove I know In candleglowWe close the door behind usOutside the river flowsCan the world disturb our peaceHere? No. When we're bathed in candleglow"Waterfall"As Always, for P.Y. WaterfallWaterfall, I recallYou were born inside a raindropWhen the drop slipped out Of an orchid's mouthYou were much too small to tumble You could neither roar nor rumbleNot a cymbal crash, you could barely splash Over little stones you stumbledThen begins the slow connection In some H2O affectionVery serpentineHow your parts combine And agree on one directionIguazu, is it trueYou were once an April shower? A few crystal beadsOn a bamboo reed?Do you still believe you're strongest? That your river runs the longest? Wait till you releaseIn a sea of peaceWith the love you longed for longest

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