From Spin Magazine: Every Jimmy Buffett Album, Ranked
“Equal Strain on All Parts” is ranked #12 while “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” is ranked the #1 album.
In April, Forbes estimated Jimmy Buffett’s net worth at $1 billion, making him one of the richest musicians in the world. Despite a business empire that included restaurant chains, best-selling novels, and real estate, Buffett never stopped making the Caribbean-flavored “gulf and western” country music which made him a household name. A befitting one of the most popular touring acts in America for decades, Buffett’s fans, the ‘Parrotheads,’ dutifully followed him around the country, singing along with ‘70s soft rock anthems like “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise” while kicking back on the lawn with family and friends.
Born in Mississippi and raised in Alabama, Buffett tried his hand at conventional country stardom in Nashville before moving in 1972 to Key West, Fla. There, the warm weather and leisure lifestyle inspired him to adopt a persona based around hard drinking and easy living, and a tropical rock sound full of steel drums and pedal steel guitars. With his longtime backing musicians the Coral Reefer Band and producers Don Gant and Norbert Putnam, Buffett discovered a winning formula, becoming a platinum star by the end of the ‘70s.
Shortly before his death in September at the age of 76, Buffett finished his 32nd studio album Equal Strain on All Parts, backed by his longtime Coral Reefer Band as well as guests like Paul McCartney and Emmylou Harris. Where does the album rank among the highlights and lowlights of Buffett’s massive discography?
32. Somewhere Over China (1982)
31. Hot Water (1988)
30. Banana Wind (1996)
29. Floridays (1986)
28. Barometer Soup (1995)
27. Down to Earth (1970)
26. Don’t Stop the Carnival (1998)
25. Christmas Island (1996)
24. ‘Tis The SeaSon (2016)
23. Off To See the Lizard (1989)
22. Riddles in the Sand (1984)
21. Far Side of the World (2002)
20. Songs From St. Somewhere (2013)
19. Beach House on the Moon (1999)
18. High Cumberland Jubilee (1976)
17. Life on the Flip Side (2020)
16. Buffet Hotel (2009)
15. Last Mango in Paris (1985)
14. Songs You Don’t Know by Heart (2020)
13. Coconut Telegraph (1981)
12. Equal Strain on All Parts (2023)
11. Living and Dying in ¾ Time (1974)
10. License To Chill (2004)
9. One Particular Harbor (1983)
8. Take the Weather With You (2006)
7. A1A (1974)
6. Fruitcakes (1994)
5. Volcano (1979)
4. Havana Daydreamin’ (1976)
3. Son of a Son of a Sailor (1978)
2. A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean (1973)
1. Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes (1977)
Fix it!
*I am ranking what I feel are front-to-back albums. Who gets the skip button the least…..
31(27). Down to Earth (1970)
30(18). High Cumberland Jubilee (1976)
29(26). Don’t Stop the Carnival (1998)
28(22). Riddles in the Sand (1984)
27(32). Somewhere Over China (1982)
26(24). ‘Tis The SeaSon (2016)
25(25). Christmas Island (1996)
24(15). Last Mango in Paris (1985)
23(31). Hot Water (1988)
22(29). Floridays (1986)
21(23). Off To See the Lizard (1989)
20(10). License To Chill (2004)
19(16). Buffet Hotel (2009)
18(13). Coconut Telegraph (1981)
17(9). One Particular Harbor (1983)
16(28). Barometer Soup (1995)
15(19). Beach House on the Moon (1999)
14(21). Far Side of the World (2002)
13(17). Life on the Flip Side (2020)
12(8). Take the Weather With You (2006)
11(3). Son of a Son of a Sailor (1978)
10(4). Havana Daydreamin’ (1976)
9(7). A1A (1974)
8(5). Volcano (1979)
7(20). Songs From St. Somewhere (2013)
6(11). Living and Dying in ¾ Time (1974)
5(12). Equal Strain on All Parts (2023)
4(30). Banana Wind (1996)
3(6). Fruitcakes (1994)
2(2). A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean (1973)
1(1). Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes (1977)
?(14). Songs You Don’t Know by Heart (2020) > Does this count? If so, so should SYKBH, the box set, and live discs. So I am leaving this out.
Seriously, Banana Wind at 30 of 32? I call shenanigans on the Spin writer.
Well, I don’t know about ranking the Top 31 or 32 – but in my humble opinion the Top 4 (in no particular order) are clearly Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes (1977), A1A (1974), Fruitcakes (1994), and A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean (1973).
This is stupid.
Every parrothead knows it’s the live shows that matter.