Michael Franks - Abandoned Garden (1995)

Full of delicate melodies, intricate lyrics, mellow singing and nostalgia, this album is a must. Being a Michael Franks fan for many years, I haven't heard any of his other projects that satisfies me more than this.

Unlike the usual blend of uptempo stuff and slower, more relaxed tracks (of which 'Dragonfly Summer' is certainly the best example), this collection of songs displays a rare unity of sound and purpose, with the ghost of Antonio Carlos ("Tom") Jobim (his recently-lost friend to whom he dedicated the opus), haunting the whole album.

Don't get me wrong though, this album is everything but sad and morbid; just like bossa, I'd describe it as 'joyous sadness'. Michael and Tom's co-penned song "Cinema" is an instant classic; "Hourglass" is a beautiful personification of time as a woman, while "Abandoned Garden", the closing tribute song to the friend and master, will easily bring tears to your eyes if you let yourself be touched by its words and atmosphere.

I often regret that some of my prefered artists are not very well known by the general public, but in the case of Michael Franks, I'm glad, because he can go on enchanting us by just being himself: the coolest poet of jazz.

Review by Amazon Customer

Michael Franks dedicated this album to the memory of Antonio Carlos Jobim, but it's neither Franks' best effort nor particularly evocative of the great Brazilian composer. There is not an especially strong Brazilian influence on the disc, despite the presence of Eliane Elias. In fact, there's a host of heavy hitters on board, including the Yellowjackets, Peter Erskine, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Art Farmer, Marc Johnson, Bob Mintzer, Michael Brecker, and many, many others. But while the revolving door of stars has served Franks well on other recordings, here they don't seem to add up to much.

Review by Ross Boissoneau, Allmusic.com

The Michael Franks repertoire is typically cool, hip and sexy-smart. His music is from an elegant genre of uptown jazz laced with the subtle nuances of Jobim's Brazil.There are no jagged edges here.

There's intimacy, emotion and a soft observational quality coupled to a melody line that is simultaneously familiar and fresh.

His songs are intelligent, but never degenerate into being "clever". On "Abandoned Garden" Franks morns the loss of his mentor, friend and hero Antonio Carlos Jobim. The influence of that great man from Rio has been evident throughout Franks' career. The songs here are slightly more reflective than on previous Franks' offerings but every bit as stylish, classy and intelligent.

Quite a talent this Michael Franks!

Review by Thomas L. Bennett, Amazon.com

Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 3 from 29. August 2011

EAC extraction logfile from 2. November 2016, 23:06

Michael Franks / Abandoned Garden

Used drive : HL-DT-STDVDRAM GH24NS90 Adapter: 1 ID: 0

Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No

Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track

Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 1024 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files (x86)\FLAC\metaflac.exe
Additional command line options : -8


TOC of the extracted CD

Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.32 | 6:09.60 | 32 | 27766
2 | 6:10.17 | 5:19.15 | 27767 | 51706
3 | 11:29.32 | 4:37.13 | 51707 | 72494
4 | 16:06.45 | 4:45.62 | 72495 | 93931
5 | 20:52.32 | 4:53.33 | 93932 | 115939
6 | 25:45.65 | 4:37.35 | 115940 | 136749
7 | 30:23.25 | 5:00.50 | 136750 | 159299
8 | 35:24.00 | 5:23.02 | 159300 | 183526
9 | 40:47.02 | 5:21.70 | 183527 | 207671
10 | 46:08.72 | 5:41.55 | 207672 | 233301
11 | 51:50.52 | 5:24.45 | 233302 | 257646


Track 1

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\01. This Must Be Paradise.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.32

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 5C24D777
Copy CRC 5C24D777
Accurately ripped (confidence 3) [53C90FCB] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 2

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\02. Like Water, Like Wind.wav

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 2F39D2EA
Copy CRC 2F39D2EA
Accurately ripped (confidence 3) [FEBC9684] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 3

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\03. A Fool's Errand.wav

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 168EEA58
Copy CRC 168EEA58
Accurately ripped (confidence 3) [F7065BF5] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 4

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\04. Hourglass.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.60

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 1.6 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 6C083AC7
Copy CRC 6C083AC7
Accurately ripped (confidence 3) [E6F260FC] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 5

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\05. Cinema.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.00

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 1.6 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC D76097BB
Copy CRC D76097BB
Accurately ripped (confidence 3) [A0765D6E] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 6

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\06. Eighteen Aprils.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.08

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 18AB0DA7
Copy CRC 18AB0DA7
Accurately ripped (confidence 3) [39EE3784] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 7

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\07. Somehow Our Love Survives.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:01.68

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D7FA5E8A
Copy CRC D7FA5E8A
Accurately ripped (confidence 3) [A336B3E3] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 8

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\08. Without Your Love.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:00.25

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 1.6 X
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 887369BF
Copy CRC 887369BF
Accurately ripped (confidence 3) [8A217D9B] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 9

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\09. In The Yellow House.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:00.25

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.1 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 4FC86F7E
Copy CRC 4FC86F7E
Accurately ripped (confidence 3) [D34A278B] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 10

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\10. Bird Of Paradise.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:00.25

Peak level 100.0 %
Extraction speed 2.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC CCB45435
Copy CRC CCB45435
Accurately ripped (confidence 3) [6B0FD9F4] (AR v2)
Copy OK

Track 11

Filename C:\Exact Audio Copy\Michael Franks\Abandoned Garden\11. Abandoned Garden.wav

Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00

Peak level 85.4 %
Extraction speed 2.2 X
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D2BC055F
Copy CRC D2BC055F
Accurately ripped (confidence 2) [A6F34E14] (AR v2)
Copy OK


All tracks accurately ripped

No errors occurred

End of status report

–– CUETools DB Plugin V2.1.6

[CTDB TOCID: vyCiglgBd7nAnhlxxkd0rqQ6_FM-] found
Submit result: vyCiglgBd7nAnhlxxkd0rqQ6_FM- has been confirmed
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (16/16) Accurately ripped
2 | (16/16) Accurately ripped
3 | (15/16) Accurately ripped
4 | (16/16) Accurately ripped
5 | (15/16) Accurately ripped
6 | (16/16) Accurately ripped
7 | (15/16) Accurately ripped
8 | (16/16) Accurately ripped
9 | (16/16) Accurately ripped
10 | (16/16) Accurately ripped
11 | (15/16) Accurately ripped


==== Log checksum FABEC6216D4BC6A8E63BCAAD862933388AB7158F83CB0192A04DFC39F9F12566 ====

[CUETools log; Date: 29.11.2018 14:38:04; Version: 2.1.4]
Pregap length 00:00:32.
[CTDB TOCID: vyCiglgBd7nAnhlxxkd0rqQ6_FM-] found.
Track | CTDB Status
1 | (48/49) Accurately ripped
2 | (48/49) Accurately ripped
3 | (47/49) Accurately ripped
4 | (48/49) Accurately ripped
5 | (47/49) Accurately ripped
6 | (48/49) Accurately ripped
7 | (47/49) Accurately ripped
8 | (48/49) Accurately ripped
9 | (48/49) Accurately ripped
10 | (48/49) Accurately ripped
11 | (47/49) Accurately ripped
[AccurateRip ID: 00177fe7-00cab346-970d6b0b] found.
Track [ CRC | V2 ] Status
01 [34e9e19f|53c90fcb] (02+04/94) Accurately ripped
02 [e673edfc|febc9684] (02+04/95) Accurately ripped
03 [027eacf5|f7065bf5] (02+04/94) Accurately ripped
04 [6d610f7e|e6f260fc] (02+04/95) Accurately ripped
05 [1df5c0ec|a0765d6e] (02+04/94) Accurately ripped
06 [e8838f84|39ee3784] (02+04/96) Accurately ripped
07 [495b8bf8|a336b3e3] (02+04/95) Accurately ripped
08 [49a26f7d|8a217d9b] (02+04/92) Accurately ripped
09 [42223b47|d34a278b] (02+04/94) Accurately ripped
10 [ffef0e7e|6b0fd9f4] (02+04/93) Accurately ripped
11 [51c12590|a6f34e14] (00+03/84) Accurately ripped
Offsetted by -327:
01 [69512f13] (28/94) Accurately ripped
02 [83b84636] (29/95) Accurately ripped
03 [74281df8] (29/94) Accurately ripped
04 [37e4e135] (29/95) Accurately ripped
05 [92304794] (29/94) Accurately ripped
06 [c8f7f0fb] (29/96) Accurately ripped
07 [dcd5d78c] (29/95) Accurately ripped
08 [63e6f4ac] (29/92) Accurately ripped
09 [7d7f9227] (30/94) Accurately ripped
10 [3e20c2ea] (29/93) Accurately ripped
11 [35e30f37] (28/84) Accurately ripped
Offsetted by -198:
01 [c84aa644] (09/94) Accurately ripped
02 [b5d90a23] (09/95) Accurately ripped
03 [f127b058] (09/94) Accurately ripped
04 [b4640a6f] (09/95) Accurately ripped
05 [e77668ad] (09/94) Accurately ripped
06 [0a969619] (09/96) Accurately ripped
07 [ac0cefc0] (09/95) Accurately ripped
08 [7de0a3f9] (07/92) Accurately ripped
09 [917d2f4d] (07/94) Accurately ripped
10 [5df5aab6] (07/93) Accurately ripped
11 [0adcba16] (07/84) Accurately ripped

Track Peak [ CRC32 ] [W/O NULL] [ LOG ]
– 99,9 [BFA769E3] [E286D7A3]
01 99,9 [5C24D777] [8D9CD229] CRC32
02 99,9 [2F39D2EA] [CEB0275F] CRC32
03 99,9 [168EEA58] [A19BA52C] CRC32
04 99,9 [6C083AC7] [1B0CCE76] CRC32
05 99,9 [D76097BB] [F6708EC8] CRC32
06 99,9 [18AB0DA7] [C594A4A9] CRC32
07 99,9 [D7FA5E8A] [DA443665] CRC32
08 99,9 [887369BF] [8C7D07A2] CRC32
09 99,9 [4FC86F7E] [DED6A6D8] CRC32
10 99,9 [CCB45435] [EDA35C24] CRC32
11 85,4 [D2BC055F] [D73488F3] CRC32

foobar2000 1.2 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2018-11-29 14:49:46

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Michael Franks / Abandoned Garden
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR13 0.00 dB -16.02 dB 6:10 01-This Must Be Paradise
DR14 0.00 dB -15.99 dB 5:19 02-Like Water, Like Wind
DR13 0.00 dB -15.01 dB 4:37 03-A Fool's Errand
DR14 0.00 dB -15.87 dB 4:46 04-Hourglass
DR13 0.00 dB -14.97 dB 4:53 05-Cinema
DR14 0.00 dB -16.94 dB 4:37 06-Eighteen Aprils
DR12 0.00 dB -13.43 dB 5:01 07-Somehow Our Love Survives
DR12 0.00 dB -15.84 dB 5:23 08-Without Your Love
DR13 0.00 dB -15.86 dB 5:22 09-In The Yellow House
DR13 0.00 dB -16.43 dB 5:42 10-Bird Of Paradise
DR14 -1.36 dB -17.79 dB 5:25 11-Abandoned Garden
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 11
Official DR value: DR13

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 688 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================