When Did you find JB?

[philm]

I am a new to this forum ( thanks for the cordial welcome) and sort of new to the Jimmy Buffett state of mind. I was in high school in the 70's and new about JB like I new about Waren Zevon, Frank Zappa, John Stewart, Jackson Browne Ect. But it wasn't until I was 42 years old and walked into a Circle K gas station in Phoenix and bought a JB greatest hits cassette. It changed my life, I could not believe that this guy could pen such brilliant lyrics. The next thing I new I was in California deep sea fishing . There is such a thing as " The Cowboy In The Jungle". Whats your story?

[Sidew13]

Find JB? I'm still tring to find a missing sock

[Wino you know]

Welcome to Buffett News, Phil. Please try to hang out here as your time permits and tell us about yourself and your travels.

My story isn't too different from most others, although I did miss the first few years of the parrothead phenomena. It was the mid-1970's (which I not-so-affectionately refer to as my "lost decade"), and I was still in mourning over the demise of the Beatles, although it had been close to 7 years, and I wasn't really paying much attention to any other music except for a few country artists.
I heard the song "Margaritaville" one day, and thought "Nice-it MIGHT catch on." Then one night in a bar in Singapore, of all places, I heard this really great song on the jukebox being played. I asked a friend what it was called and who the singer was. He told me it was called "Changes In Latitudes/Attitudes" by some guy named Jimmy Buffett. I asked if it was the same guy who sang about the "Margarita thing." He told me indeed it was. That was the beginning for me. A couple years later (1979) I was living in Hawaii (known to the locals and many mainlanders as "Paradise"-to go along with my undying love for Cheeseburgers), and he'd just released a new song called "Volcano". Since I lived only about 90 miles from Kilauea Volcano, I HAD to give that song a listen. Before long, I knew all those songs by heart, and the rest, as they say, is history.

[sy]

I can't even remember a time when I didn't listen to JB. My dad has always been a big fan, and I always heard him around the house, in the car, etc. I remember the great filling station holdup being one of the first songs I ever knew. Actually, I think I knew JB songs better than I ever knew any kiddie songs or nursery rhymes.

[Elrod]

I saw Jimmy open for the Eagles when I was in high school.

The Eagles broke up, Jimmy didn't. The rest (as they say), is history.

[SomeGuyNamedDan]

My wife and I were relatively late bloomers. . .

It was grad school at Penn State in summer of 1992. By then everyone had heard of Margaritaville. But a classmate of mine was playing SYKBH in the computer lab. As the tape played, I began recognizing more and more songs (Cheeseburger, Volcano, Changes in Latitudes) and thought, hey this is a good CD. Within a few months I had order SYKBH through a Columbia House "12 free" deal (back when Columbia House carried Buffett).

The following summer of '93, some friends asked if we wanted to go to the show at the Starlake Amphitheatre outside Pittsburgh. After being told what a good time a Buffett show was, we were on board and ready to go. But because of logistics, we ended up having to cancel.

A couple of years passed and we moved down to Maryland. In the summer of '95 or '96 (I can never seem to remember, but it was the tour supporting the Banana Wind CD) we decided to get tickets to the show at Merriweather Post, and see the concert we missed a few years back. My wife and I were not prepared for the scene in the parking lot at Merriweather (back when tailgating there was good)! Rental vans with full living room furniture sets, generators to run stereo systems and blenders, people dressed in tropical wear. Then the show. The "new" songs we had not heard before (Jamaica Mistaica, School Boy Heart, Only Time Will Tell). This guy Buffett not only had good old songs, but his new songs were great too!!! We went out and bought Banana Wind within a few days after the show.

Ever year since then, it's been at least one concert, and a few more CD's to the collection (we still only have a little over half of his CD's)

[Jahfin]

Early 70s sometime when an older brother was home for the weekend from college. I can't remember exactly now which album it was but I know 3/4 Time was in there somewhere as well as a homemade copy of Down To Earth on 8-track.

[CaptainP]

It all started very slowly. In high school, I referred to Jimmy Buffett coming to SUmmerfest as "that guy who's made a career out of one song". That same year, as a member of a tape0 club, acquired (by mistake) SYKBH. Didn't really listen to it.

Fast forward to college. I had 3 jobs, including one working in a tiny little corner health food store. We had a casette deck, and I could bring in tapes to listen to. Most of the stuff I had was not acceptable there (KISS, Zappa, John Valby), so I dug out the couple I had, and one of those was Buffett. I had to fast-forward through WDWGDAS, but otherwise, it was all good. I actually started to like it, particularily SOASOAS and APLAF.

One day, I was in my friend Dirk's dormroom. He had some music on that I didn't recognize. Suddenly, a Buffett song I knew came on, and I said, "Hey, Jimmy Buffett!". He told me that the whole tape had been. It was his box set. I liked it, so he copied it for me. I started to discover more songs, and that summer, Dirk took me to my first concert (Poplar Creek, 1992), and my second (Summerfest, 1992). Been hooked ever since!

[spucketts]

I've listened for years but wasn't a BIG fan. When I was married, she was a PH and would go to the concerts without me. At that time I was just glad to get her out of the house, so I guess I was an indirect fan of Buffett. It wasn't until my last girlfriend that I became really interested. Been down hill ever since, haven't missed but one Atlanta (Phillips) show in 8 years.

[The Lost Manatee]

It was a dark and stormy night and I was driving down a rutted track leading through what had to be the biggest swamp in South Florida when before my eyes appeared Jimmy Buffett!

Oh wait, you don't mean like that, you mean how did I become a big time fan. Well, it was a long time ago in a galaxy far...wait, that's not it, either. Hmmm, how to do this without using all those tired old phrases.

It was in the mid 70's when I was at a friend's house and I heard my first Jimmy Buffett song. Jimmy's music was playing on their stereo and I got hooked. I had grown up on listening to Country Western (Johnny Cash, the Carter Family, et. al.) and the Beatles (my oldest sister's influence). Jimmy was really the first artist that I discovered on my own and I've stuck by his music ever since. Sure, I like some songs and albums better then others yet there has always been enough new great music to keep me around.

[FFishstick]

My parents took my brother and I to Hawaii in an effort to seperate my brother from a girlfriend that Mom and Dad did not like. As they spent their efforts keeping him occupied, SCUBA lessons and all, I found myself quite bored. I rented a surfboard and started surfing in the Lahina Harbor. That is where I met Captain Jack. Captian Jack ran a large Catamaran that he used to take tourists on sunset booze cruises. I was 15, and he noticed my delima and offered me a job working on his boat for the rest of our two week stay. I think Mom and Dad were happy to have me out of their hair, so they could focus on their devious plan. Captain Jack played Jimmy Buffett all day all night on his boat. I learned all the words to all the tunes that Summer. I went to my first Buffett Concert later that Summer in California. I have been hooked ever since. I have seen at least one show every year for the last 25 years. This year I was my 40th birthday, and I have already seen my 72nd show and hoping for 73 and 74 in San Diego and Vegas. Hard to believe it, but Captain Jack and his music changed my life. Thank you Captain Jack.


P.S. Mom and Dad were successful in breaking up my Brother and his Girlfriend. I don't know if it was a good thing or not, but for me it was the best plan they ever had.

[BigR-KyParrothead]

1st JB concert was August of 87 in Nashville, 18 years old and hooked-up with 2 girls at once....needless to say I WAS HOOKED!

[Bohemuth]

I grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan; living in Chicago and boating in Grand Haven Michigan. As a child my dad had Songs You Know... and I was strongly attached to it throughout my adolescence, but once I was old enough to go with my friends to concerts I got hooked on the parrothead life. Now I am 25, I live and boat in Chicago, and it has been 18 years since I started listening to Buffett. The lyrics always seem to find a deeper meaning as I find myself in new latitudes.

[jonesbeach10]

Bohemuth, welcome to the board as well. I love Happy Gilmore, btw.

My first Buffett experience was during a camping trip when I was about 10 or 11. My cousins, brother, uncle and I were going out somewhere. My uncle put in SYKBH and the first song is of course, CIP. When the get to the chorus, one of my cousin (a boy) sings the background lyrics that the reeferettes sing (Paradiiiiiise). Looking back, it was so corny, but at the time it was HILARIOUS. A couple of songs later comes Margaritaville and I think to my self, "This is the guy that does M'ville?!?!" Well, when I got home, all I sung to myself was a botched up version of CIP until it got itself engrained in my memory. CIP was the first SIKBH and the songs keep adding themselves to my memory.

[RockinRick]

Find JB? I didn't know he was missing.

Seriously...
I don't quite understand anyone that gets completely into the sort of "worship" they have for certain performers. This "state of mind" existed/exists with or without him, he simply embraced it and many went along for the ride. And why not? I really enjoy Jimmy's music, own all the albums, seen quite a few shows. It was the concerts that pushed me over the top. I listened to his music enough times and liked what I heard, but it was no big deal. After the first concert, I was hooked.
There is plenty of great music out there. I have around 20,000 individual song titles. For me Buffett is a seasonal thing (living where there are dramatic changes in the weather). Jimmy just doesn't sound right in the dead of winter. Sailing and beaches at 10 below zero doesn't fit. Conversely, those 100° days in the summer with humid air so thick you can chew it, I have to break out the Bob Marley. But those 80° days, laying in the hammock with a daquiri, Buffett is exactly what I need to hear.

[Tiki Bar]

I still... haven't found... what I'm lookin' for!

But someday I will!

[Quiet and Shy]

Welcome, newbies.

I was "aware" for a long time, but going to a concert is what did it for me, too (Tiki Time, 2003). I kind of look back and say "duh, why didn't I get it sooner?" But I figure better late than never. It's a lot of fun. I've bought other CDs since then, but I confess the majority of my purchases have been Buffett.

[Jahfin]

For me Buffett is a seasonal thing (living where there are dramatic changes in the weather). Jimmy just doesn't sound right in the dead of winter. Sailing and beaches at 10 below zero doesn't fit. Conversely, those 100° days in the summer with humid air so thick you can chew it, I have to break out the Bob Marley. But those 80° days, laying in the hammock with a daquiri, Buffett is exactly what I need to hear.

If it weren't for Buffett and other island type music during the winter a permanent case of cabin fever would be very liable to set in.

[ph4ever]

Find JB? I'm still tring to find a missing sock

I bet your sock and mine ran off together!!!

[buffettbride]

Find JB? I'm still tring to find a missing sock

I bet your sock and mine ran off together!!!

And joined my sock for a 3-some.