'Time Together' With Michael Franks
Smooth jazz singer-songwriter Michael Franks tells the stories behind the songs on his new album Time Together.
Smooth jazz singer-songwriter Michael Franks tells the stories behind the songs on his new album Time Together.
Hear The Music
Purchase Featured Music
- "Now That The Summer's Here"
- Album: Time Together
- Artist: Michael Franks
- Label: Shanachie
- Released: 2011
Purchase Featured Music
- "Time Together"
- Album: Time Together
- Artist: Michael Franks
- Label: Shanachie
- Released: 2011
Michael Franks is the man behind the 1976 hit "Popsicle Toes," a cool, summery song that made his name as a smooth jazz artist with crossover appeal. This year, the singer-songwriter is back with his 18th album, Time Together, which has more songs suited for simmering down on steamy days.
Franks says, "I write autobiographically, although I apply liberal amounts of poetic license." He also applies some wishful thinking: Franks explains that he wrote "Now That The Summer's Here" while fantasizing about summer in the dead of winter at his home in Woodstock, N.Y.
The album's title track, "Time Together," has a sadder origin — it's a tribute to Franks' beloved dog Flora, who passed away last year.
In this interview, Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon spends some "time together" with Franks, discussing the stories behind this collection of songs.
More Music Interviews
Music Interviews
Garbage: After An Absence, Always The Oddball
"I wanted to make loud, guitar-driven rock again," lead singer Shirley Manson says of the band.
Music Interviews
Adam Lambert: 'I Want To Sing It Big'
An American Idol runner-up and its first openly gay contender, Lambert is embracing pop stardom.
Music Interviews
Behind The Shades: Slash Tries To 'Figure This Thing Out'
After all the success and vice, the former Guns N' Roses guitarist says he's a work in progress.
Comments
Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and terms of use. See also the Community FAQ.
NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its website or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.