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Posted By Anonymous
Submit your review of the album !!!

Posted By Son of a beach
"If I could just get it on paper"is the 10$ song here.
The rest of the songs are just so so bonus tracks
1 out of 5 stars*

Posted By Spider John
This album isn't that bad. It certainly deserves more than 1 star (maybe 2 or 3). The songs of note are: "When Salame Plays the Drum" - sort of lively tropical song, "It's Midnight and I'm Not Famous yet" - a different sort of rock song from Jimmy, and the acoustic songs "Somewhere Over China" and "I Heard I Was in Town". The rest of the songs are okay (certainly not bad, just not too memorable).

There is a lot of electric piano and acoustic guitar on this album, but not much electric guitar. On the good side, Greg "Fingers" Taylor can be throughout most of the album.

Perhaps the main drawback of the album is that the words on most of the songs are kind of down-and-out. It sounds like Jimmy was a bit depressed during this period.

Despite the shortcomings, I'd recommend this album over Mango, Riddles, and Havana any day!

Posted By Anonymous
this is one of my favorite cd's, I love It's midnight, I'm not famous yet!!!

Posted By Sonofabeach
Upon further review,I now think this is a solid album
3 out of 5 phinz^^^

Posted By headparrothead
This album cries out in desperation like a lost lamb looking for its mother. After 9 mostly rock-solid releases that get the train moving like a bullet, this one is the dynamite that blows up the bridge in the train's path.
There are 2 rockers on it--"Lip Service" and "It's Midnight and I'm not Famous Yet". Both are good, but "Lip Service" is just a little better. "It's Midnight" just sounds like it should be done by someone else. The 2 covers, "Steamer" and "On a Slow Boat to China" are tastefully done and the sound effects in "Slow Boat" are amusing to listen to. The best song, "When Salome Plays the Drum" really helps to keep the album's head above water. Listening to the lyrics of the song it should be safe to say that Jimmy is not singing about the SALOME of religious importance, the daughter of Herod. She was present at the crucifixion of Jesus and also had ties to the death of John the Baptist. I have seen a reproduction of an old tin sign in a seafood restaurant that depicted (if memory serves) a southeast asian goddess and the name Salome. Perhaps this is the Salome Jimmy sings about. After these songs the rest of the album nearly sinks like a stone. "Where's the Party", "I Heard I was in Town", and "If I Could Just Get it on Paper" sound lyrically as though they are reaching for a life preserver that's just beyond their grasp. "Get it on Paper" sounds (musically) like a song Jimmy would release on his next album (more on that later). Somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of this album sounds like Jimmy is struggling with his creativity...like the well is about to run dry.

On the up side, Jimmy recorded (around this time) a song for the movie "Urban Cowboy" called "Hello Texas" and it is as good as "Livingston Saturday Night" and "Tampico Trauma". In '82 Jimmy recorded "Spicoli's Theme" for the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", which is good at best.

score for "China": 3 of 5 coronas
score for the 2 soundtrack songs: 4 of 5 coronas

Posted By PGHPIRATE
just love It's midnight i'm not famous yet, i heard i was in town, somewhere over china....ah hell, i like the whole damn thing.
another cd i've had for about 2 years and never listened to is Son of a Son of a Sailor, i bought it, listened a little, threw it in the CD holder, forgotten. Just brought it out, started listening to it, hey it's like i have a new CD! not too bad

Posted By Tommy MacLuckie
The beauty of this album is it's NOT like the previous record nor anything else before that. It's obvious that Jimmy's life was changing - less partying, less drugs, the record reflects all of this. When he toured for this record, it was one of his best tours show wise, and the new songs were a breath of fresh air. The title track is most excellent, Steamer is fantastic, and Slow Boat To China is hilarious and good and a perfect record closer. The musicianship had improved, as had the mix, and the steel drums were now a central part of the CRB's sound. Not a typical Buffett record and a MUST HAVE for the collection.

This is one of my least favorite CDs. "I heard I was in Town", title track, "Get it on paper" and "Steamer" are better that the others. "When Salome play the Drum" is fun and more upbeat than the others.

For hph comments, I like Spicoli's Theme much more than Hello Texas. The Fast Times song was an altered version of Volcano.

I certainly would not recommend "Somewhere" over "Last mango" which has "Jolly Mon sing", "Gypsies in the Palace", title track and "Frank and Lola"

[size=-1][ This Message was edited by: ParrotheadJon on 2001-09-19 04:28 ][/size]

Its my opinion that Somewhere Over China is the weakest release since Jimmy's first big release. He was going through a difficult time in his life at the time, and this album is painfully reflective of it. Although there are 5 tracks that I do like, I still think overall its one of my least favorites.

Songs I do like:

Its Midnight and I'm Not Famous Yet
I Heard I Was in Town
Lip Service
Steamer
If I could Just Get It On Paper

Songs I Don't Like

Where's the Party
Somewhere Over China
When Salome Plays the Drum
On A Slow Boat to China

Overall 2 out of 5 stars

A decent album with some good songs such as Where's the party, It's Midnight and i'm not famous yet, I heard i was in town, Somehwere over China, Lip Service, If i could just get it on paper!

Another great CD by the man!!!! This CD had to grow on me, but it is a grrreeeeeaattt CD!!

I just picked this album up today and I love it. I'd heard it once or twice before but never could find the album until today. I especially love "I Heard I Was In Town." I know a lot of fans don't care too much for this album, but I can't stop listening to it.

4/5 phins ^