Boats Beaches Bars And Ballads [Best of]

As a self-described "Parrothead," hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio - the land where the term was coined, a veteran of over 20 Buffett shows, and a long-time collector of Jimmy's music, I must say that this set is THE definitive Buffett collection - way more so that "Songs You Know By Heart" and the recent "Margaritaville" 2 Disc set. If you want to know what Jimmy Buffett is about, if you want to understand why people dress up like Don-Ho on crack, wear inflatable alligators on their heads, and spend entire weeks enjoying Jimmy's concerts, this set is for you.
This 4-disc set offers the standard popular or "concert" fare songs that, even if you're not a Buffett fan, you've heard in the car, or at a barbeque, or drifting through the air on a hot summer day. Songs like "Volcano," "Margaritaville," "Changes in Attitudes," "Fins," "Boat Drinks," and others are all included on this set. But the real draw to this collection, especially for long-term Parrotheads, is the terrific sampling of older Buffett gems. Songs like "The Ballad of Spider John," "The Wino and I Know," "Stars on the Water," "They Don't Dance Like Carmen No More," the schmaltzy "Stars Fell on Alabama," and my personal favorite, "One Particular Harbor," demonstrate the range and breadth of Jimmy's song-crafting talent which is lost on many who simply lump him into the "beach music" or, god forbid, "country" genres.
My only complaints about the set are the GLARING ommisisons of two absolute classics - "We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us About" and "God's Own Drunk," the latter of which got Buffett banned from performing in several towns early in his career. Otherwise, this set is nearly perfect.

What more could a Parrothead ask for? The best of Buffett and some interesting reading. This is the essential collection for my money. Have it handy whenever enjoying a Fosters with sailing mates.

Whether you like the man or not you have to give him this much. He found a unique niche in the music world and made it his own. Very few artists have done that so well. He's no joke, his music can stand on its own. It's just that he was humble enough to realize his own limitations and not try to remake himself into what the BIZ wanted him to be. He has a good time with his art and he makes people happy. I remember seeing him at the coffee shop in the North Texas student union building in 1971 when he was just a solo act with a guitar and a mike. He was one of the best entertainers I've ever seen. This is great music to listen to while you cruise. Not all of them are gems, but I dare you not to start singing along when "Volcano" or "Cheeseburger in Paradise" comes on. This is a celebration of a good guy who did it right.