Posted on 07/22/2004 6:55:32 AM PDT by presidio9
Pour another margarita for Jimmy Buffett. The famously laid-back singer, best known for his 1977 hit "Margaritaville," just landed the first No. 1 album in his 30-year career.
"Licence to Chill" sold 238,597 copies in its first week at the stores, putting it atop the Billboard Top 200 Album chart.
That's more than triple the opening-week figure of Buffett's last studio CD, 2002's "Far Side of the World." Buffett's previous highest position was No. 4 in 1996 with "Banana Wind." But that album only sold half what the new one managed in its first week.
Buffett and his fans, who call themselves Parrotheads, got a little extra help to make this happen.
A stage worth's of major country music stars appear with Buffett on "Chill." Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Toby Keith, George Strait and Martina McBride all sing duets with him.
Buffett is no stranger to the upper reaches of the Billboard charts. Of the 10 albums he has issued in the last decade, seven have made the top 10.
That's especially notable because Buffett has released most of these records on his own imprints, first Margaritaville, then Mailboat Records. The new album got an extra marketing push from a major label, RCA.
Like the Grateful Dead or Phish, Buffett has retained a huge audience through live summer tours that double as virutal be-ins for middle-aged party animals.
These movable Mardi Gras have pumped the Parrotheads up into a cultural phenomenon.
They also have allowed Buffett to market more than just concerts: He has live clubs, in Key West and New Orleans, as well as a clothing line.
His eternal beach bum character has proved a strong and durable enough commercial hook to make Buffett a fixture on Fortune's annual highest-earning entertainers list.
I periodically stop in at Huck's (a small, on-the-bayou restaurant owned by Buffet's family) to have a "Cheeseburger in Paradise", down in Gautier (pronounced Go-shay) MS.
I loved the record White Sport Coat. And not for the get drunk and screw song, it was the sound.
And I learned about Steve Goodman. RIP Steve.
They still love him here in Cincinnati though. A few years back, right before his concerts, I remember a local commercial (can't remember who it was for) have a middle aged woman character use the line: "Toss me a mango and call me a Parrot Head!"
But he's no Cocanut Pete.
"They still love him here in Cincinnati though. A few years back, right before his concerts, I remember a local commercial (can't remember who it was for) have a middle aged woman character use the line: "Toss me a mango and call me a Parrot Head!""
Yes they do. Mr Buffet doesn't verbalize his view of the fans here very often, and never within range of a microphone.
But he's no Cocanut Pete.
Pina Colada Burg.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Heh, heh, heh... couldn't have said it better. I have been going to concerts since 1977, sometimes 2 or 3 venues a year and even took the train to South Florida to see him at the Miami Marine Stadium for the concert that later came out on video, Live By the Bay in 1985 (my friends insist that they can hear me yelling during a couple of lulls, hell, who knows?) Anyway, about 4 or 5 years ago, we were at a concert and had a pretty good time but as it ended I looked at my watch and realized that, if not for the concert, I'd be in bed by now.
We sat for about an hour in the parking lot waiting for traffic to clear and nursing a Pepsi. I watched as two kids (early 20s) climbed the lightposts in the parking lot and when they reached the top they pulled beers out of their shorts and started rocking the posts back and forth screaming at the top of their lungs, "WHOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
I shook my head and turned to a friend (another ParrotHead from waaaaaay back). He looked at me and told me not to laugh, if this was twenty years ago, there would have been four idiots swinging from the lightposts... I looked at him, smiled and said, "Damn, your getting old!"
This spring, I thought it would be fun to go back and get some close-up seats in the pavillion so I prepared in advance. I had 4 seats all picked out set to be purchased online, just waiting for the clock. When the green light came, I looked at them...and looked....and looked. I couldn't pull the trigger. $250+ for four pavillion seats? I figured, heck, I can buy the latest album and a case of Corona and go sit on the deck all night. Jimmy won't miss me.
I've never read that book, but others have echo'd your viewpoint about it.
As for the tipping, thats not a surprise. His extended family here in Cincy is comprised of trust fund babies. One of them actually lectured me on why you don't "talk to the help" at a summer home in Maine, circa 1979.
I ended my relationship with that family as a direct result.
OK, I'll give you the weed. But still, for the most part, Buffett shows are for lushes, not druggies. Dead and Phish is for serious trippers, from the "reality is for people who can't handle drugs" school. Not talking Boat Drinks.
Yeah - I've got that one, too. Interesting sidenote - ran into Josh Leo at a Buffett show in Nashville about 10 years ago. Literally almost knocked him down. Simple case of folks not watching where they're goin' and bumpin' into each other. During the show, Clint Black delivered a pizza and Buffett threw the slices into the audience. I was on the 5th row for that one.
"But still, for the most part, Buffett shows are for lushes, not druggies"
No doubt. The numerous people who couldn't 'hold' their alcohol made me swear off ever returning to this annual collection of drunks. And "Gypsies in the Palace" Tour blew massive chunks, honestly.
I've probably outgrown some of this too, sad to say.
Think I'll just stick to jazz.....a lot less politicking by the performers....besides, I'll never forgive Jimmy Buffett or Bonnie Raitt for fawning all over Fidel Castro in Cuba
Although, you know, going to concerts in a minivan DOES have it's advantages... ;-)
I just bought Havana Daydreaming on CD. I'd forgotten the funny "This Hotel Room" by Steve Goodman. Great song.
I saw Buffett once about 15 years ago. I wasn't very impressed with his live show. He sings off key. He hams it up so much that it sorta kills the songs for my taste. But that's what his audience wants. I think he sounds pretty good on record, or did back in the day, and wrote some good songs. I liked albums like "White Sport Coat with a Pink Crustaceon" and "Son of a son of a sailor." Good songwriting with good production. The best example of the country/calypso blend that he trademarked. But all the hamboning and boozing I can live without. He becomes more of a cheerleader than a singer/songwriter. But like I say, that's the gig. So I didn't ever go back.
I saw Jimmy in the mid 70s at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, CA.
My daughter served his breakfast at a resort in Laguna a couple weeks ago, scrambled eggs with goat cheese and a side of mangos.
Hey rebel, check my post #36. I wrote it without having seen your post. I like the same two albums.
My daughter was in Vegas a while ago and said she knew Jimmy Buffett was in town because she saw a bunch of drunk middle-aged men in Hawaiian shirts walking around town with cocktails in their hand.
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