Franco Tpok Jazz

Franco - Francophonic, Vol 2, 1980-1988 (2009) {2CD Set, Stern's Music STCD 3046-47}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.03 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 356 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 30 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1980-88, 2009 Sterns Music / Sterns Africa | STCD3046~47
Jazz / World Music / African Traditions / Afro Pop

The Congolese guitarist, singer, bandleader and composer Francois Luambo Makiadi—most commonly known as Franco but with a raft of other nicknames including The Grand Master and The Sorcerer of The Guitar—had by the time of his death in 1989 dominated the elegant but gutsy genre of Congolese rumba for over two decades. Born in 1938, he had been the biggest African music phenomenon of his age.

Franco - Francophonic, Vol. 1, 1953-1980 (2008) {2CD Set, Stern's Music STCD 3041-42}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 648 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 355 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 31 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1953-80, 2008 Sterns Music / Sterns Africa | STCD3041~42
Jazz / World Music / African Traditions / Afro Pop

As his recording career stretched over about 35 years and more than 150 albums, it would be impossible for any Franco compilation, even a two-CD one, to give but a taste of his overall work. If you're willing to accept the limitations inherent in a two-CD set for such a prolific artist, however, Francophonic does a pretty good job of both assembling highlights from his discs and providing some sort of outline to his musical evolution. It samples from numerous eras over the course of its 28 tracks, spanning the years 1953-1980 and lasting a good two and a half hours.