Quality over Quantity. . . .

[MidwestPhish]

I've been reading through some of the posts on here, it was mainly the posts about the song Lisence to Chill. . Allthough I haven't heard it I must say the reactions I read from you fellow parrotheads are not positive. While I don't have an opinion on the song because I haven't heard it I do agree with the overall sentiment I've been feeling throughout different post that Jimmy has gone commercial, and "sold out" if you will. I agree with the thought that he has gone that route but i don't know if I hate it or I love it??? We all want to keep him to ourselves don't we. . at least I do. . we'd all love to go backstage, we all want to see him in some dive bar in the keys. . . thats the dream right? But the fact is he's an entertainer, despite what the critics say, he's got talent, and NOW. . after sooo looong the mainstream audience is getting a chance to hear him. So we kind of feel robbed. . I mean, these "fans" don't know anything about him but now, since he's been in a video and a #1 song they think he's the greatest. . . . and what can I say but who among us, if placed in that situation, wouldn't try to capitolize. I know I know. . no one would. . . . . but the truth is we probably all would.

I can think od three invidiuals, well two and one band. . that are/were in the mainstream spotlight and madea concious effort to stay true to quality over quantity. Mark Cuban, Todd McFarlane, and Pearl Jam (theres probably many more) Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, may never win an NBA championship (allthough they may) with thier offense/score first and play defese second approch. . but with thier style of play, the talent he brought in, the comfort with which he treats his players . . it all adds up to the best product in the NBA. Now Cuban is filthy rich. . he's a damn pig in the monetary sense, but he chose quality for the fans over sitting back and making more money with a mediocre team, which many owners do. Todd Mcfarlane makes toys, action figures actually. . I collect his sportspicks. . the athletic line of figures. Todd is another guy who has choosen to produce these figurines in stunning detail. They're incredible, but you can find them for 10 bucks at all toy places. . he could charge so much more. . and people do on ebay. He only creates a limited amount so it's hard to find the ones your really want. . but thats whats great about collecting things. McFarlane could make a lot more money of the figures he makes, but he chose quality in his craft over the quantity over mone he could make. Oh yeah, and he chats regularly with members of his sites message board, about product lines and for suggestions, wouldn't we love it if Jimmy did as much . Lastly Pearl Jam, with thier fight against ticketbastard for the fans to keep prices down and thier parallel fight agaist scalping. . they have stayed true to the quality of thier music over the quantity of records sold.

Now. . like i mentioned, I'm sure there are many others out there like these three - but these three are great examples of what I believe we want Jimmy to be. But those are three. . out of thousands, and I'm afraid Jimmy may be in the thousands. . . . but like I said. . I don't know if I'm for or against it. . While I'd love be best freinds with him or watch him play to crowds of twenty like in the Nautical Wheelers video, I do love Margaritaville Blano tequila with Margaritaville mix in a salted rimmed glass. And if he were smaller I wouldn't get that anymore So I'm up in the air, but I'd love to hear your opinions. . . . . . . I'm sure we all would, and we wish Jimmy did too. . .. .

[tryin' to reason]

You're gonna be in SERIOUS trouble for starting a new thread on this!!!!

[Jahfin]

"Sell out" is a relative term and also one of the oldest clichés in the business. Technically, Buffett "sold out" the first time he charged anyone to see him or signed a record contract. If an artist blatantly begins to cater to an audience for the sole purpose of monetary gain I guess that could be construed as "selling out" and that seems to be what a few people are accusing Buffett of here. Some seem to overlook that not only has country music played a part in his musical style from the very beginning but this upcoming country album was in the works before his number one hit with Alan Jackson.

I'd love to see Buffett mentioned among his cult status contemporaries such as John Prine, Steve Goodman, Jerry Jeff Walker and Jesse Winchester but that changed long ago when the whole Parrothead phenomenon caught on. Personally, I can't blame Buffett for riding the wave and opening his chain of Margaritaville restaurants because he knew it was his one opportunity for insuring his longevity if he never had another hit record. What's happened in the years since has been scrutinized on any number of Buffett sites but one conclusion I think we can all agree on is we'll never hear from the Key West beach bum, starving artist Buffett again. Personally, I no longer expect to. If he did return to that image (imagine if he grew his mustache back) I'm afraid it would only come across as pandering of the worst kind at this stage of his career. I keep buying the albums on the day of release and will always consider myself a Buffett fan (no offense to those that like to be called "Parrotheads", but I'm a Grateful Dead fan too and have never particularly been fond of the term "Deadhead" either, especially in the years leading up to Garcia's death, but that's another thread entirely) and I just take the good with the bad. I don't think his latter day albums are terrible, there's some good stuff and some bad stuff, but I think the peak of his songwriting creativity has long since passed. That doesn't make me any less of a fan, just a very realistic one.

[playapalms]

"Sell out" is a relative term and also one of the oldest clichés in the business. Technically, Buffett "sold out" the first time he charged anyone to see him or signed a record contract. If an artist blatantly begins to cater to an audience for the sole purpose of monetary gain I guess that could be construed as "selling out" and that seems to be what a few people are accusing Buffett of here. Some seem to overlook that not only has country music played a part in his musical style from the very beginning but this upcoming country album was in the works before his number one hit with Alan Jackson.

I'd love to see Buffett mentioned among his cult status contemporaries such as John Prine, Steve Goodman, Jerry Jeff Walker and Jesse Winchester but that changed long ago when the whole Parrothead phenomenon caught on. Personally, I can't blame Buffett for riding the wave and opening his chain of Margaritaville restaurants because he knew it was his one opportunity for insuring his longevity if he never had another hit record. What's happened in the years since has been scrutinized on any number of Buffett sites but one conclusion I think we can all agree on is we'll never hear from the Key West beach bum, starving artist Buffett again. Personally, I no longer expect to. If he did return to that image (imagine if he grew his mustache back) I'm afraid it would only come across as pandering of the worst kind at this stage of his career. I keep buying the albums on the day of release and will always consider myself a Buffett fan (no offense to those that like to be called "Parrotheads", but I'm a Grateful Dead fan too and have never particularly been fond of the term "Deadhead" either, especially in the years leading up to Garcia's death, but that's another thread entirely) and I just take the good with the bad. I don't think his latter day albums are terrible, there's some good stuff and some bad stuff, but I think the peak of his songwriting creativity has long since passed. That doesn't make me any less of a fan, just a very realistic one.

I agree with so many things in your post, I could not just highlight to copy one so I just qouted it all (ARGHHHH) the one thing I think about this is we are here to support him, not make judgement on his tunes good or bad. Like every artist there will be those not so good ones. As Jahfin said, it does not make me or should not make anyone less of a fan. We are the people that keep him going, and doing what he loves to do, sing, and create that certain ATMOSPHERE.

[changingchannels]

The name of this thread says it all. Quality vs. Quantity.I for one think that this "License to Chill" album is about Quantity i.e., how much $$$ can be made off other artists names and songs(covers and guest artists.)A Quality album, in the vein of Buffett doing a "country album", would have been if he had released something with his name on it and not Alan Jackson,Chesney, etc., i.e, prior to 5'o'clock.If releasing new albums has come down to this for Buffett i feel he's better just leaving them alone and touring in support of his back catalog only.His song writing mind isn't into or isn't there anymore its solely about making the next album easier for him to make money.