Ironically, Franti’s journey to the war-ravaged Middle East inspired his most uplifting set of songs to date. He explains, “The thing that I found when I was in war zones was that nobody wants to hear songs about war. They want to hear songs about connection to people, and songs about love and life, songs that make them dance.” It was legendary Island Records founder and Franti cohort, Chris Blackwell, who suggested that Kingston, Jamaica would provide the perfect backdrop for translating these impulses to tape.

The Kingston sessions brought in the godfathers of riddem Sly and Robbie on live drums and bass, percussionist Sticky Thompson along with Spearhead bassist Carl Young and guitarist Dave Shul. The tracks were recorded at Anchor Studios with Mario Caldato Jr and Robert Carranza (Beastie Boys, Jack Johnson) engineering. Franti continued to write and record upon his return home to San Francisco before handing mixing duties over to Brian Malouf (Eric B, Ziggy Marley, Pearl Jam).

Franti has always spoken his mind through his music: from his early punk rock band Beatnigs, to the industrial-noise of Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, to the thinking-man’s hip-hop of Spearhead. “In the past, we’ve touched on a lot of genres of music,” Franti says, “but this is an album where all those things have been rolled into one. I feel this is our best record yet.” Songs like ‘Yell Fire!’ and ‘Time To Go Home’ are calls to action: in the streets, at home, and in our own hearts. Other songs such as “I Know I’m Not Alone,” an uplifting blast of hope, “One Step Closer To You” featuring a soulful backing vocal by Pink, and the beautiful “Is Love Enough?’ featuring reggae star Gentleman, tap into the album’s compassionate side.

While seeing Yell Fire! to completion back in San Francisco, Franti began editing the hundreds of hours of footage from his travels in the Middle East. What emerged was an intimate telling of how war affects the individual: the cab driver, the soldier, the aspiring young musician. It was during this process that the film and album became inextricably linked. Franti recalls “my editing studio for the movie was upstairs and my recording studio was downstairs, so I would constantly alternate from one project to another. The process was like a catharsis for me, moving through this journey I had made.”

In addition to his groundbreaking recordings and globally acclaimed live concerts, Franti is a renowned speaker for social justice and human rights. He has lectured at many of this country’s top universities, including Yale, Georgetown and Stanford, and shared the stage< with the likes of Mohammad Ali, Bill Clinton, Michael Moore, Ralph Nader, and Gloria Steinem. In 2005, Franti became the first recording artist since Johnny Cash to perform at the maximum security, level 4 section of Folsom State Prison.

YELL FIRE!
Official Release Date: 2006
Label: Boo Boo Wax & Anti

Track Listing
01 - Time to Go Home
02 - Yell Fire
03 - I Know I'm Not Alone
04 - East to the West
05 - Sweet Little Lies
06 - Hello Bonjour
07 - One Step Closer to You
08 - Hey Now Now
09 - Everybody Ona Move
10 - See You in the Light
11 - Light Up Ya Lighter
12 - What I've Seen
13 - Tolerance
14 - Is Love Enough

MICHAEL FRANTI and SPEARHEAD: LIVE IN ALASKA
Official Release Date: 11/23/05
Label: Boo Boo Wax

This double CD set features over 2 hours of performances hand-picked from the band’s first Alaska Tour in June 2005.
Recorded over 2 nites at the Bear’s Tooth Theater in Anchorage, Ak, this special record features an introduction by Congressman Dennis Kucinich, 3 previously unreleased tracks, an acoustic piece and some older favorites.

Track Listing
Disc One:
01 - Dennis Kucinich Intro
02 - Oh My God
03 - Yes I Will
04 - Yell Fire
05 - Love Invincible
06 - Every Single Soul
07 - Stay Human
08 - Cool Water

Disc Two:
01 - Runfayalife
02 - Love is da Shit
03 - What I Be
04 - Pray for Grace
05 - Pray for Grace (acoustic)
06 - Bomb the World
07 - Everyone Deserves Music
08 - Never Too Late/Everybody on a Move

LOVE KAMIKAZE
5th Release on Boo Boo Wax
Produced By: Michael Franti
Mixed By: Michael Franti, DJ Choco
Mastered By: Eddy Schreyer (Oasis Mastering)

Track Listing
01.- Love Kamikaze
02.- Love Me Unique
03.- What Happens Next
04.- Stay Human
05.- I Wish That I Could Be You
06.- Every Single Soul
07.- Keepin' It Natural
08.- Come and Mess With Me
09.- A Minute's All I Need

Michael Franti - Vocals, Guitar
Carl Young - Bass, Keyboards
Sandra Manning - Keyboards
Dave Shul - Guitar
Roberto Quintana - Percussion
DJ Choco - Programming, Scratching
Background Vocals - Azeem, Tony Moses, Trinna Simmons, Michelle Weeks

EVERYONE DESERVES MUSIC
Official Release Date: August 19, 2003
4th Release on Boo Boo Wax
Produced By: Michael Franti
except for
Pray For Grace & Bomb The World (Armageddon Version)
Produced By Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare & Michael Franti
Mixed By: David Bianco
Mastered By: Eddy Schreyer

Track Listing
01.- What I Be (4:45)
02.- We Don't Stop (4:36)
03.- Everyone Deserves Music (4:36)
04.- Never Too Late (4:50)
05.- Bomb The World (4:28)
06.- Pray for Grace (4:52)
07.- Love, Why Did You Go Away (4:29)
08.- Yes I Will (4:01)
09.- Feelin' Free (3:54)
10.- Love Invincible (3:50)
11.- Bomb The World (Armageddon Version) (4:44)
12.- Crazy, Crazy, Crazy (3:30)

Michael Franti - Vocalist, Guitar & Programming
Carl Young - Bass, Keys
Dave Shul - Guitars
Manas Itene - Drums
RadioActive - Rhymes, Beatbox
Bob Crawford - Keys
Roberto Quintana - Percussion

Additional Musicians:
LZ Love Phoenix- Background Vocalist
Leon Mobley- Percussion (We Don't Stop)
Ledisi- Background vocals (Bomb The World Armageddon Version)(Courtesy of LeSun Music)
Nick Rossi- Guitar & Voice (Feelin' Free)(Courtesy of Jarrah Records)
Gift Of Gab- Rhymes(We Don't Stop)(Courtesy of MCA/Quannum)
Josh Klor- DJ Cuts(Courtesy of Double Linoleum Records)
Nebiet Barham- Background Vocals(We Don't Stop)
String Players- Cypress String Quartet:
Cecily Ward- Violin
Tom Stone- Violin
Ethan Filner- Viola
Jennifer Kloetzel- Cello
Additional Violins: Deborah Tien Price & Michael Yokas

SONGS FROM THE FRONT PORCH -
AN ACOUSTIC COLLECTION
Original Release Date: January 2003
3rd Release on Boo Boo Wax
Produced By: Michael Franti
Mixed And Mastered By: Mark Pistol
Recorded By: Jon Mayer

Track Listing:
01. Yes I Will (4:20)
02. Closer To The Sky (4:12)
03. Firefly (2:28)
04. Love'll Set You Free (3:41)
05. Love Invincible (3:21)
06. Anybody Seen My Mind (3:59)
07. Sometimes (3:46)
08. Stay Human (4:43)
09. Oh My God (5:44)
10. Ganja Babe (4:20)

Michael Franti - Vocalist, Guitar
Dave Shul - Guitars
Carl Young - Bass, Flute, Background Vocals
Manas Itene - Drums
RadioActive - Beatbox
Bob Crawford - Wurlitzer, Piano
Adrian Areas - Percussion

Additional Musicians:
Steve Carter- Paino (Track3)
D.J. Choco- Programming (Track 3)

STAY HUMAN
Original Release Date: May 15, 2001
2nd Release on Boo Boo Wax
Produced By: Michael Franti
Mixed By: Mark Willsher & Michael Franti

Track-Listing:
01. Oh My God (5:07)
02. Radio Segment (:55)
03. Stay Human
(All The Freaky People)(4:27)
04. Radio Segment (:59)
05. Rock The Nation (4:26)
06. Sometimes (4:05)
07. Radio Segment (1:26)
08. Do You Love (4:50)
09. Radio Segment (1:18)
10. Soulshine (3:58)
11. Every Single Soul (5:44)
12. Radio Segment (1:02)
13. Love'll Set You Free (3:57)
14. Thank You (4:55)
15. Radio Segment (1:02)
16. We Don't Mind (4:49)
17. Radio Segment (:50)
18. Speaking In Tongues (4:45)
19. Radio Segment (1:36)
20. Listener Supported (4:38)
21. Radio Segment (:44)
22. Skin On The Drum (6:19)

Michael Franti - Vocalist
Carl Young - Bass, Keys, Flute & Sax
Dave Shul - Guitars
Roberto Quintana - Drums & Percussion

Additional Musicians:
Ramon Lazo- Keyboards & Fender Rhodes
Mary Harris- Background Vocals
Vocals on "Listener Supported" Featuring Zap Mama Courtesy Of Virgin Records Belguim.
Radio(Active)- Vocals & Rap (on Track 5)
Josh Klor- Background Vocals (on track 11)
Caitlin Cornwall- Background Vocals (on Track 13)
Tanya Saw- Vocals (on Track 20)
Al Marshal- Drums (on Tracks 1,5,7,11,& 13)
Troy Limpkins- DJ Cuts (on Tracks 11 & 16)
Jay Lane- Drums (on Track 16)
Victor Castro- Trombone
Gordon Ramos- Saxaphone
Bob Crawford- Keyboards (on Track 10)

LIVE AT THE BAOBAB
Recorded Live May 1999 At The Baobab
1st Release on Boo Boo Wax
Original Release Date: Summer 2000
Produced By: Michael Franti
Edited & Mixed By: Mark Pistol & Michael Franti

"Michael Franti: Live at the Baobab" is a recording of a warm evening of spoken word poetry and acoustic music recorded live at the Baobab restaurant, in the heart of the mission district in San Francisco, Ca. We recorded seven nights of exspeariences in front of a packed and sweaty room of raucous Spearits (a term for a Spearhead supporter) and edited it down to the most, humorous, enraging, enlightening, and inspiring 70 minutes.

Michael Franti - Vocalist
Carl Young - Bass, Sax & Fender Rhodes
Dave Shul - Guitar
Roberto Quintanta - Percussion
Ramon Lazo - Keyboards
Troy Limpkins - Bass*

Track-Listing:
01. Words (:18)
02. Red Beans & Rice (2:35)
03. Dream Team (3:39)
04. Food For The Masses (3:25)
05. People In The Middle (4:19)
06. Crime To Be Broke In America (8:30)
07. Every Single Soul (6:57)
08. Words (1:45)
09. Positive (4:19)
10. Words (2:43)
11. Ganja Babe (3:37)
12. Words (:38)
13. Stay Human (6:06)
14. Gas Gauge (5:38)
15. We Don't Mind (5:51)
16. Sometimes (3:48)
17. Words (:29)
18. Oh My God (9:02)

CHOCOLATE SUPA HIGHWAY
Original Release Date: March 25, 1997
Label: Capital Records
Produced By: Michael Franti
*Produced By: Michael Franti and Stephen Marley
Executive Producer: Kim Buie
Mixed By: Prince Charle Alexander; except *Mixed by Joe Nicolo
Mastered By: Price Charles Alexander; execpt *Mixed by Joe Nicolo

Tracklisting:
01. Africa Online (:44)
02. Chocolate Supa Highway (5:08)
03. Keep Me Lifted (4:20)
04. Food For Tha Masses (5:01)
05. U Can't Sing R Songs (5:27)
06. Tha Payroll (Stay Strong) (5:09)
07. Madness In the Hood (Free Ride) (4:49)
08. Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)* (5:26)
09. Why Oh Why (4:51)
10. Comin' To Gitcha (4:07)
11. Life Sentence (:13)
12. Ganja Babe (3:33)
13. Wayfarin' Stranger (5:28)
14. Gas Gauge (Tha world's In Your Hands) (4:35)
15. Water Pistol Man (Chocolate Mix) (5:44)

Michael Franti: Vocalist
Trinna Simmons: Vocalist
Carl Young: Bass/Sax
David James: Guitar
Ras I Zulu

HOLE IN THE BUCKET
Label: Capitol US

Tracklisting:
1. Hole In The Bucket (Slave Ship Remix)
2. Hole In The Bucket (Sherwood Dub Mix Edit)
3. Runfayalife (95' Remix Edit)
4. Hole In The Bucket (Slave Ship Instrumental)
5. Hole In The Bucket (Sherwood Dubstrumental)
6. Runfayalife (95'Remix Instrumental)

CD5 Capitol US
1. Slave Ship Remix
2. Sensimi Street Mix
3. LP Version
4. Slave Ship Remix Instrumental
5. Sensimi Street Mix Instumental
6. LP Version Instrumental

LIVE RADIO SESSIONS
Capitol US promo only

Tracklisting:
1. People In Tha Middle
2. Positive
3. 100,000 Miles
4. Hole In The Bucket
5. Where The Love Goes

OF COURSE YOU CAN

Tracklisting:
1. Of Course You Can
2. Positive
3. Water Pistol Man(Acoustic)
4. Booty and the Beats

POSITIVE
Capitol US

Tracklisting:
1. Positive (Radio Edit)
2. Positive (LP Version)
3. Positive (Live Triple J Version)
4. Crime To Be Broke In America
(TV Track)
5. Positive (Instrumental)

WHY OH WHY
Capitol US

Tracklisting:
1. Why Oh Why (Album Version)
2. Why Oh Why (Number Won RMX)
3. Food For Tha Masses (Album Vers.)
4. Why Oh Why (Number Won RMX Instumental)


WHY OH WHY / FOOD FOR THA MASSES

Tracklisting:
1.Why Oh Why (LP Version - Clean Edit)
2.Why Oh Why (Number Won Remix)
3.Why Oh Why (Accapella - Clean Edit)

1. Why Oh Why (Album Version Clean Edit)
2. Why Oh Why (Number Won Remix Clean Edit)
3. Food For Tha Masses (Album Version Clean Edit)
4. Why Oh Why (Number Won Remix Instrumental)
5. Why Oh Why (Accapella Clean)
6. Food For Tha Masses (Accapella Clean)

PEOPLE IN THA MIDDLE
12" (white Label) Capitol US
CD Capitol US

Tracklisting:
1. LP Version
2. The Angel Remix Edit
3. Mello Madness Remix Edit
4. Adrian Sherwood Remix
5. Forward Evah! Backward Nevah!
6. Adrian Sherwood Remix Instrumental
7. Mello Madness Remix Intrumental

HOME
Original Release Date: September 20, 1994
Label: Capital Records
Produced and mixed by: Michael Franti and Joe "the Butcha" Nicolo
*Produced by: Michael Franti
Mixed by: Michael Franti and Craig Silvey
Executive Producers: Kim Buie and Len Fico

Tracklisting:
01. People In The Middle (5:04)
02. Love Is Da Shit (5:37)
03. Piece O' Peace (4:54)
04. Positive (4:29)
05. Of Course You Can (4:38)
06. Hole In The Bucket (5:22)
07. Home (1:42)
08. Dream Team (4:41)
09. Runfayalife (4:42)
10. Crime To Be Broke In American
11. 100,000 Miles* (5:21)
12. Red Beans & Rice (4:27)
13. Caught Without An Umbrella (5:22)

Michael Franti: Vocalist
Mary Harris: Vocalist
Le Le Jamison: Keyboards
Keith McArthur: Bass
David James:Guitar
James Gray: Drums
Sub Commander Ras I Zulu