Who doesn’t enjoy a little Jimmy Buffett music every once in a while. Whether you’re a straight out Parrothead or a casual listener of adult oriented album radio, you’re sure to know more than a few Buffett albums.
While it’s difficult to pull together a simple list of the Top 10 songs, its far easier to pull together a list of Buffett’s top 10 albums of his career. This is not to say it’s an easy task, just easier than compiling a top 10 songs.
I’m sure I won’t gain fans by excluding “Living and Dying in ¾ Time,” the album containing “Come Monday,” or by the exclusion of greatest hits and “live” compilations – of which there are many. This list is comprised strictly of studio, non-compilation albums, it’s also likely to change over time – the designation of 1 through 10 is a fungible commodity and the records are likely to move around, move off and on as I go, but this is my attempt at a Jimmy Buffett Top 10 Album List.
10. Last Mango in Paris, 1985
Another witty title, this time playing on the controversial movie, “Last Tango In Paris.” “Gypsies in the Palace” is a fun song about two rogue house sitters minding his place while he’s on tour. “Jolly Mon Sing” is an island influenced fable about the formation of Delphinus the Dolphin constellation of stars. The title track references an encounter with an old man who extols the virtues of an adventure filled life. “Desperation Samba (Halloween in Tijiuana)” and “If the Phone Doesn’t Ring (It’s Me)” round out the album. “Frank and Lola” has never struck a chord with me.
9. Coconut Telegraph, 1981
“The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful” tells the story of a man just so completely fed up with his life that he decides to stay in the islands on a permanent vacation. Just this song would probably be enough to rank this album near the top of my list, but “Little Miss Magic” will steal your heart, the title track and “Growing Older But Not Up” are all worthy as well.
8. Son of a Son of a Sailor, 1978
From the later part of the 1970’s and his studio follow up to “Changes in Latitudes,” the record with which he broke through with “Margaritaville,” “Son of a Son…” stands on it’s own with the title track, “Livingston Saturday Night,” “Cheeseburger In Paradise” – the song that with “Margaritaville” has help spawn the restaurateur in the man, “Manana” and the soulful “African Friend.
7. A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean, 1973
The witty title is carried off particularly well in retrospect, given how Buffett has carried on with his career. Some of the highlights of this record include “The Great Filling Station Holdup” where he and his confederate rob a gas station after occupying the station attendant by asking for “fifty cents worth” of gas. Early in 1973 the average gas price was 38.5 cents, but increased to 55.1 cents by June, allowing our perpetrators to buy about or perhaps a little more than a gallon of gas – today one would barely get the nozzle out of the pump. Also contained is the concert classic “Why Don’t We Get Drunk,” and “Cuban Crime of Passion” recounting the ill fated Billy Voltaire – a name perhaps chosen with an ironic twist. “Grapefruit Juicy Fruit” is another concert staple and the ode to the lovely Carmen Miranda.
6. Fruitcakes, 1994
Fruitcakes is probably best described as Jimmy grows up just a little, but just a little. The title track pokes fun of every day life, particularly in California – “Riots, fires, mudslides, they’ve got sushi in the mall.” “Quietly Making Noise” addressing a personal journey and doing things his way – “Travelin’ by myself these days
I’m into jazz and felt berets.” “Uncle John’s Band” was a prescient tribute to the Grateful Dead as Jerry Garcia passed away about a year later. “Delaney Talks to Statutes” talks about his daughter growing up in front of his eyes. Other tracks include “Frenchman for the Night,” “Vampires Mummies and the Holy Ghost,” “Lone Palm” and “Six String Music.”
5. One Particular Harbour, 1983
Besides the title track, other favorite songs on this record include an upbeat “Honey Do,” “Twelve Volt Man,” the island style remake of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” the lonesome “Distantly in Love,” and one of my all time favorite songs “We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us About.” “…I couldn’t fit the part, too dumb or too smart. Ain’t it funny how we all turned out?”
4. A1A, 1974
Named for the stretch of highway which runs from the Georgia border to Key West, it has a laid back country sound and feel to it. Listening to “Door Number Three” some 30+ years after its’ release is a true throwback, harkening the listener back to the 1970’s game show “Let’s Make A Deal.” Some other of the classics on this record are “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” “Life is Just a Tire Swing,” “Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season,” “Makin’ Music for Money,” and a personal favorite, “Nautical Wheelers.”
3. Volcano, 1979
“Volcano” features several concert favorites, particularly the title track as well as “Boat Drinks.” Particularly popular with northern parrotheads is the line about it being twenty degrees and the hockey game being on. Perhaps now that hockey has reached Tampa and San Jose the line isn’t as poignant, but in 1979 hockey was essentially a Northern US/Canada affair. Chanson Pour Les Petits Enfants” or, translated from the French, “Song for the Little Children.” It is essentially a fairy tale set to island music. Perhaps the all time favorite concert favorite is housed on his album as well, “Fins.”
2. Off to See The Lizard, 1989
“Off To See The Lizard” is not Buffett’s best known record, but it is one of my favorites. It signified a bit a of a departure for Buffett as it added a bit of a ska beat to to the music. Songs like “The Pascagoula Run,” a song about following a “crazy” uncle out of Mississippi and into the real world and “Gravity Storm” about learning as you grow up. Changing Channels” is a slightly upbeat ballad with the familiar harmonica and acoustic guitar about finding your way in the world. Rounding out the rest of the favorites are “That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It” and “Take Another Road.” An all around enjoyable record.
1. Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, 1977
The album that started off the rest of Jimmy’s career with the song “Margaritaville,” and if that’s why you would want to buy this record, great – its’ a fun song, but it’s not the only one. Miss You So Badly” about missing a girl who may or may not be missing him quite as much; as an aside, on “You Had To Be There,” the live double album, he makes some wonderful ad libs tied into some old Saturday Night Live skits. “Tampico Trauma” about a rough voyage to Mexico; “Lovely Cruise” could be about a cruise or it could just be drinking in the experience and enjoying. The title track sets the tone with the theme of changing up – nothing remains quite the same. “Wonder Why We Ever Go Home,” is more about wondering why anyone would try to go back to the same old same old, but does seem to presume one could go back home again. Rounding out the favorites, “Banana Republics” is about expatriated Americans just running away from responsibility and just changing their latitude.
Thanks for reading my list.
