I have never owned a Jimmy Buffett record and I don't own any now. But on more than one occasion, I have purchased or was gifted the record collections of friends whose musical tastes I respected, and there were just as many Jimmy Buffett records in those boxes as there were Otis Redding, Miles Davis and Bob Dylan records. Each time, I asked, "Really?" The answer was always the same. "Amazing songwriter." So after the last acquisition, I decided to go in and give Jimmy Buffett a chance. Sorry to say, it didn't take. I knew I would never listen to these records, so I sold them. Rather quickly, I might add.
Once I started becoming a New Orleans Jazz Fest regular, I started to understand the Buffett phenomenon. Then, I started paying attention to articles and interviews with the guy. All of a sudden, "Margaritaville" and "Fins" weren't reasons to change the proverbial station. Jimmy Buffett made people happy. He was always the biggest draw on the days he'd play Jazz Fest. It wasn't just his songs. He was a lifestyle. One that I could definitely get behind.
I still can't see myself making a complete turnaround on his music, but for the last 20 years, I've really liked the man and it's really sad to see him go.
18 comments:
I was never a huge fan either, but 'Come Monday' is among my all-time favorite love songs.
We saw Jimmy in concert several times in the 80s and 90s, and he put on one of the best parties I've ever been to. There are a handful of core Buffett songs that I can enjoy- - Pirate Looks at 40, Come Monday, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Volcano, Fins, and of course, Margaritaville- - and that's enough for me. You summed it up best, Sal: Jimmy Buffett made people happy. RIP, Jimmy. Sail on.
Not a fan, particularly, but he always struck me as a very interesting, funny guy.
As best as anyone has ever reported, he never hurt anyone and wasn't a raging a-hole. As far as his music goes, I'm glad so many people like it, but count me in the minority. God speed, good sir.
Aw, nice and honest post. Just about the same as I'd write.
Even as not-really-a-fan, I got a little verklempt seeing this post because this is the first I've heard. Buffett was only 1 year older than my parents, so it brings home mortality more.
And you know, "Come Monday" still gets me. Just takes me back to being 6 or 7 when it came out, all over the radio, early memories of my life.
You're right Sal - Jimmy made a lot - a LOT - of people happy, and didn't hurt anyone that we know of. Joy is valuable, and he spread it. (Also, I've heard Dylan being generally complimentary of Buffett, so there's that.)
If Allen Toussanit wrote a song called I'm Gonna Hang With Jimmy Buffett, you know he was a good man. The Hawaiian shirts kept me away, which Is probably unfair. As did the fans, which might be fair.
He had some early songs I liked, but I wasn't really much of a fan. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy, probably fun to hang around with. A good guy who made it big and was still a good guy.
Some friends were serious Parrotheads, they'd put a kids swimming pool in the back of his pickup, fill it up, and tailgate before his shows. They always had a lot of fun at his shows.
Nice write up, Sal. Like you, I never was that into Jimmy Buffett, only knew a handful of his songs. But I do have a singular memory of a late afternoon on the beach in Waikiki several years ago. As the sun was setting, Jimmy Buffett and band took the stage down the road at the Honolulu Zoo's pavilion stage, the music wafting across the landscape, providing the perfect soundtrack for the beautiful sunset on display. It was a wonderful gift and since then had a warm spot in my heart for Mr. Buffett. May he RIP.
Well, I was a big fan of Jimmy Buffett. Hey, I grew up in South Florida; it was the law. I remember going to college and being shocked my roommate had never even heard of Jimmy Buffett. Not that he didn't like him, but the name meant nothing. It was like saying he'd never heard of Billy Joel or Bruce Springsteen. That's when I discovered he was -- at the time -- a regional act, huge in the South and mostly unknown elsewhere. Of course, the cult spread. He's the Tommy Bahama of music, god bless him. He was a pretty good songwriter, with most of the decent songs done by the early 1980s. He was an...amiable singer. (At best.) And a GREAT businessman. There's no convincing to be done. It all makes sense if you're in the Keys or some other beachy location and having a drink and singing along with friends. Otherwise, not so much. My favorite lesser known song is "Little Miss Magic," a sweet ode from father to daughter. One of the nicer billionaires around, which is saying something since those are few and far between.
"I'm growing older, but not up."
-- Jimmy Buffett
You had to be there.
Agreed, he churned out a lot of "product." None of which is collectable. But he had some genius moments, mostly early on. A boyfriend of mine, who I surfed with, turned me on to Buffett. He'd play the 8-Tracks on our drive to and from whatever beach was happening on a given day. Though I never bought the records, I gained exposure this way. This was way before all the wannabe "Parrot Heads" used his music as an excuse to party. He was doing clubs, like the Troubadour, the Golden Bear and the Palomino.
Even though my surf buddy guy and I weren't really dating, he did ask me to accompany him a few times to Buffett shows. The first time I saw Buffett he was opening for Hoyt Axton. After "Come Monday" (which as others above agree, is an excellent tune and crossed all genres) became a hit, he elevated to headlining gigs but still at intimate clubs. Last time I saw Buffett with my surf buddy was at Cal State Long Beach 1976 where he was billed with Emmylou Harris, Leo Kottke and Guy Clark. A great show by all involved.
Then came another genre crossing tune, "Margaritaville” and bigger venues. I have to admit, I like the tune. It just works. At this point, a different guy took me to the Santa Monica Civic to see Buffett with the Amazing Rhythm Aces. This guy was a rich kid rebel whose dad owned an insurance company. Dad wanted junior to join the firm but he was too busy dealing drugs and taking them. The guy had long, straight, light-brown hair halfway down his back and cuffed his 501’s. Filled ‘em quite nicely too. Met him at a Jerry Jeff Walker show at the Palomino. How could we go wrong? He was into the Cosmic Cowboy / Outlaw Country stuff. I introduced him to a West L.A. dive bar where there was genuine camaraderie and major drunkeness. No TV. Just a jukebox. Drunken mass sing-a-longs would occur for “Margaritaville,” and “Come Monday” along with Kenny Rogers’ “Ruby (Don’t Take Your Love To Town) and Tom Jones’ “Delilah.” You get the idea.
IMHO, the Pink Crustacean album is the best. Plus “Pencil Thin Mustache” and “A Pirate Looks at 40” too.
So, he had skin cancer, right? Bummer. Guess he’s having a cheeseburger in Paradise right about now as he looks for that lost shaker of salt.
VR
I've never owned or listened to any of his albums, but have always appreciated his humor and vibe. "White Sport Coat And A Pink Crustacean" is a great title.
RIP, dear Jimmy! With the occasional exception, I rarely listened after about 1984 but, the fondness remained. Still those early songs were great - similar to Lyle Lovett to me with the vivid stories and characters. I recall several spontaneous, top-of-the-lungs, jukebox singalongs in various bars across the Midwest and east coast to a few of these. Much fun had by all! The man brought a lot joy to a lot of people for a lot of years. Can’t do much better than that.
God’s Own Drunk
https://youtu.be/i_3yfyhmNc8?si=kiDZh_aK2I-zpQaU
I don't recall if my distaste for his music began when I started to hear it or when Parrotheads in the office where I worked played it constantly. (It was enough to send me back to retail where I could choose the music.)
At any rate, an honest post, Sal. Maybe one day I'll come around.
Sal -- your comments are very kind and very wise!
Interesting post and interesting comments here. Funny how much commonality there is. Count me in as well; I was at best a peripheral admirer, a peripheral fan, on occasion.
His biggest hits, "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger," were just too constantly played to not grow weary of. But I also always loved that one line from Margaritaville a lot, when I caught it: "Some people claim that there's a woman to blame, but I know, it's my own damn fault." It reminded me that Jimmy Buffet wasn't just a throw-away party songster.
I get that he was a very talented performer and accomplished writer, and was beloved. It is hard for me to ever call someone a great songwriter when the chorus of their biggest song contains the phrase "lost shaker of salt." Who in the world ever called it a shaker of salt instead of salt shaker? It just feels like someone reaching for a way to rhyme something with the subsequent line ending with "fault," and a better writer could do that 10 different ways. And in Cheeseburger in Paradise he says he like his with "French fried potatoes," again, a phrase nobody says when talking about fires with a burger unless they're trying to be funny. A better writer wouldn't have to torture the language to make a line rhyme with "tomatoes."
Anyway, I always respected the guy otherwise even if I never purchased anything.
Sal: Fair points. Jimmy Buffet, by all reports, was a stand-up guy in the business and took care of his band very well. His music is an acquired taste but it's a uniformly pleasant vibe throughout with some wit and solid musicianship. Nonfans can get by with his greatest hits album. I have the 4-CD boxed set from the 19902 and it's pretty good although more than most general fans might need in their collection. Cancer is not easy to deal with so I hope he went with some peace. Michael D.
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