Francophonic finally gives Franco his due. Vol. 1: 1953-1980 comes out this year, the 70th anniversary of the artist"s birth. Vol. 2: 1980-1989 will be released next year, the 20th anniversary of his death. Each volume is a boxed set containing 2 CDs and a 48-page book. From Sterns - "one of the world"s finest disseminators of African music," according to the New York Times - both albums are researched, compiled, annotated, illustrated and designed by the same people that produced last year"s Voice of Lightness, a retrospective of Franco"s rival, Tabu Ley Rochereau, which garnered high praise from National Public Radio, Rolling Stone, the New York Times and Pitchfork. This first Francophonic volume is the album that will confirm Franco"s international reputation as Africa"s greatest. The second volume will crown it.