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I’m new here, but have been enjoying Jimmy’s music and writings since the 70’s. Jimmy is the ultimate “escape artist,” a fine songwriter, author, and a purveyor of fun par excellence. I own most of his recordings, including the recent ones, and they all get “heavy rotation,” especially in my car. For me, Jimmy's live shows are always great, except for one thing -- his singing. (I’m donning my asbestos suit right now.) I'm not talking about his overall performance, which is always a lot of fun; I’m talking about his singing only. At his shows, it's as though he’s turned his "vocal sensitivity dial" all the way down, to the point where Jimmy sounds harsh to me most of the time. Don’t get me wrong: he’s always had a great “growl” when he needs it – think about his studio recording of “The Weather Is Here, I Wish You Were Beautiful,” where, just before the first verse begins, he yells, “Don’t ever start a baaaaaand!” Perfect. But I think there’s a time to be raucous, and a time to tone it down. It seems to me that Jimmy decided years ago that a JB show is not the place for nuance (as a listen to some of the old shows at Radio Margaritaville seems to bear out). In some of the rockers, he frequently shouts the lyrics rather than sings them – again, wonderful occasionally, but not so effective if overused. He also sings out-of-tune a lot at the live shows, more so in recent years, which I think may be due to sloppiness rather than an inability to sing in tune. (But I could be wrong; it could be the result of hearing loss.) The “Feeding Frenzy” concert recording from shows he did in Georgia and Ohio years ago represents the kind of live vocal performance I’d like to hear from Jimmy today – he sounds fantastic on that disk. To me, a great ballad like "Come Monday" deserves all the sensitivity that the artist has at his disposal. But even rockers like "Changes in Latitudes" would, IMO, benefit greatly from more in-tune singing and less shouting, and less "speaking," rather than singing, the songs. I'd love to hear if some of you have a similar response to Jimmy's live singing. At his best, even today, I think Jimmy is a wonderful singer - I only wish he sounded his best – or at least, nearly so - at his shows, and by extension, on the more recent live recordings.

I think that's a pretty legitmate complaint but beware of the people on this site that think Buffett can do no wrong. I say that because someone brought up the same subject recently and the fans that see Buffett through rose colored glasses attempted to rip that person a new one.

Thanks for the warning. My asbestos suit has multiple layers of kevlar and ripstop nylon woven into the seat, so I should be okay.

Jimmy always said he doesnt have that great a voice (not that I care). I think he even said that on the 60 minutes special. I could be wrong.

As artists get older, there vocal skills weaken. Very few artists sound like they did back in the day. I do agree with you on a lot of points though. Like the "Shouting" of lyrics during cilcia and other songs. Yes Jimimys singing isent the best, but was it ever that good?

UpstateNYPH wrote:Jimmy always said he doesnt have that great a voice (not that I care). I think he even said that on the 60 minutes special. I could be wrong.

yep he said that he new his voice wasent that great, so in the early 90's he said he took voice lessons

Your right about the vagaries of an older set of "pipes". Still, Jimmy's recent studio album performances are pleasing to my ear, as are they all. Also, his tour schedule is light to the point that it shouldn't be contributing to vocal strain. Jimmy sound a lot better to me in the studio, so it seems to be a matter of choice, not of ability.

Phineas wrote:Your right about the vagaries of an older set of "pipes". Still, Jimmy's recent studio album performances are pleasing to my ear, as are they all. Also, his tour schedule is light to the point that it shouldn't be contributing to vocal strain. Jimmy sound a lot better to me in the studio, so it seems to be a matter of choice, not of ability.

yea but many artists sound better in the studio then live. In the studio they can just keep doing it until the artist voice sounds perfect.

True. But "better" covers a lot of territory. I'm not talking primarily about "mistakes" to be corrected with another take, like the odd out-of-tune note or phrase. I'll just say by way of clarification that Jimmy's *approach* to live singing sounds less musical, less "artistic" to me than his approach to his studio work, and leave it for others to argue

His yelling the last word of a line or verse is a little grating. But over all, his can still be in pretty good voice for an old F*rt when he wants to be

I think when JB is performing a solo act he "sings" his songs more than what he does in the big show. With age he has lost some his range,but he's never had a wide range to begin with. I like his tone and his phrasing I think those can't be beat.

Of course in a studio he's going to sound perfect, Jimmy does 3 passes of each song then has the guys mix and piece together one vocal and that is normal, some guys sing up to 10 to 20 takes of a song just for 1 vocal.

I think in this type of music you don't have to have the greatest voice. I think the writing, the image and the love of the tropical lifestyle drives someone to this music. Guys like Jim Morris and other PH artist including myself don't have the greatest voices in the world,but can write the tunes you want to hear.

Jahfin wrote:I think that's a pretty legitmate complaint but beware of the people on this site that think Buffett can do no wrong. I say that because someone brought up the same subject recently and the fans that see Buffett through rose colored glasses attempted to rip that person a new one.

Yep, although my complaint was a little more broad in that I thought the musicians do the same thing as of recent years, particularly in the songs that are played the most (M’ville, Fins, CIP, Volcano etc.): they play it almost like their doing it just to get it over with, with the watered-down arrangements (at least IMO).

As we all know. JB is " Growing Older But Not Up". That always has an effect on your voice, unless you're Frank Sinatra! Jimmy is here to provide a lifestyle, and I enjoy every tune!

Parrot Monkey wrote:

Jahfin wrote:I think that's a pretty legitmate complaint but beware of the people on this site that think Buffett can do no wrong. I say that because someone brought up the same subject recently and the fans that see Buffett through rose colored glasses attempted to rip that person a new one.

Yep, although my complaint was a little more broad in that I thought the musicians do the same thing as of recent years, particularly in the songs that are played the most (M’ville, Fins, CIP, Volcano etc.): they play it almost like their doing it just to get it over with, with the watered-down arrangements (at least IMO).

I guess it all depends on who's voicing their opinion. There are some that have replied in this thread who's opinions would be completely different depending upon who made the complaint. Of course, that's not fair but that's the reality of BuffettNews unfortunately.

Jahfin wrote:I guess it all depends on who's voicing their opinion. There are some that have replied in this thread who's opinions would be completely different depending upon who made the complaint. Of course, that's not fair but that's reality of BuffettNews unfortunately.

That, and the fact the someone overacted last time when I said Jimmy “lied” in the lyrics to Makin’ Music For Money in thinking that meant he was nothing but a 100% liar, when I never posted such thing. I just though Jimmy recorded that particular song by Alex Harvey for reasons more than just to fill the album back in 74’. Really, what fan back then would have pictured Jimmy being what he is today (businessman etc.)? I’m not saying it’s bad and all to have good management and not smart to go for the big bucks all the time, but more often than not as the years go on it looks as if he gives his music that back seat to marketing, when such thing is not necessary to remain wealthy and please the fans.

Just read an article on Slate about a woman who took singing lessons. Here is what her teacher said to her:

"She said that singing was not just a matter of making a pleasing sound—which was good news for me. "A singer is a storyteller," she explained. "If you tell the story the song will sing itself. What makes a singer memorable is evoking a mood and a memory." "

Jimmy is certainly a storyteller and has made a fortune by evoking a mood and a memory.

So I agree he doesn't have the best voice (never did by his own admission), but I guess he is still a pretty good singer by this definition.

PA PAR8 HED wrote:Just read an article on Slate about a woman who took singing lessons. Here is what her teacher said to her:

"She said that singing was not just a matter of making a pleasing sound—which was good news for me. "A singer is a storyteller," she explained. "If you tell the story the song will sing itself. What makes a singer memorable is evoking a mood and a memory." "

Jimmy is certainly a storyteller and has made a fortune by evoking a mood and a memory.

So I agree he doesn't have the best voice (never did by his own admission), but I guess he is still a pretty good singer by this definition.

I once read an article about Sonny and Cher that had a voice "Teacher" telling Sonny to drop Cher because she would hold him back.

I like Little Jimmy Dickens

Cubbie Bear wrote:I like Little Jimmy Dickens

Now there's a singer! You can even hear his influence in Jimmy's music. "Plain Old Country Boy" to "Gypsies in the Palace". Coincidence???

Drink more before the show, and you won't even notice his voice!

Totally kidding! (although it would work!) I can see that Jimmy doesn't have the best voice, but it doesn't bother me in the least, and I don't know what to attribute it to. (choice, sloppiness, ability, etc)

I do like PA PAR8 HED's reasoning!