MICHAEL FRANKS - THE ART OF TEA

 The Art of Tea is a jazz vocal album by Michael Franks, his first on Frank Sinatra's Reprise label, released in February 1976. The album peaked at #131 on the Billboard 200. Franks's only Billboard Hot 100 single, "Popsicle Toes", which peaked at #43, is a track on the album. 

After his debut on the tiny Brut Records (a short-lived record label of the famous cologne company), Michael Franks established both his unique sound and a recording process he has continued throughout his career. Primarily a jazz artist, Franks crossed over to pop and rock fans through heavy FM airplay beginning with The Art of Tea. Sensually suggestive and playful tracks, such as "Popsicle Toes" and "Eggplant" contain sly wordplay and almost Henry Mancini-like, breezy jazz-pop. Employing a similar approach as Steely Dan did with its music, Franks' singing and songwriting formed the basis of a sound rooted in the support of top-notch musicians, many of whom were the hottest studio jazz players on the scene. Here, the killer rhythm section of drummer John Guerin and bassist Wilton Felder is augmented by horn pros Michael Brecker and David Sanborn, with Franks and Larry Carlton handling all the guitar work. This winning combination of players, styles, singing, and songwriting would be reshuffled and refined over the years, but perhaps with no finer results than on this official major label debut. (The Art of Tea Review by Stephen J. Matteo  for All Music.com)

Personnel

Michael Franks – vocals

Michael Brecker – saxophone

David Sanborn – saxophone

Joe Sample – keyboards

Larry Bunker – vibraphone

Larry Carlton – guitar

Wilton Felder – bass guitar

John Guerin – drums

Jerry Steinholtz – congas

link