Franks' recording career began in the early 1970s and has remained remarkably consistent. His discography from 1973 to 2018 captures the evolution of his sound from folk-inflected jazz to polished, sophisticated adult contemporary music.

For casual listeners, a standard streaming stream might suffice. However, for serious enthusiasts of contemporary jazz, Michael Franks’ music demands high-fidelity audio like . 1. Dynamic Range Preservation

In 1975, Franks released , a collaborative album featuring guest appearances by artists such as Chet Baker and Bill Evans. This album marked the beginning of Franks' signature blend of jazz, pop, and world music.