Beautiful Swimmers

[nlmdrummer]

Long time lurker here, and I know this probably comes under the heading of "jimmy's retiring" or "bubba's mailing it in", etc., so get your popcorn .....
BUT
I've been listening to the demo of "Beautiful Swimmers" and "Asking Us To Dance", as well as the released version of "Salty Peice of Land", and also James Taylor's version of "Sugar Trade" ...
AND
I've recently heard the album version of "Beautiful Swimmers" ... which as a mid-tempo tune with full band is not as powerful as the slowed-down man himself
AND
I can only come to the conclusion that Jimmy can and does still write great songs, not just novelty songs, but his record company won't allow them to be on a "Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers" album, and his producers ruin what he's written. (sorry Mac and Utley!)

MAYBE
Jimmy should either do a "Chris Gaines" album and change his name, or buck the record company and put out something like "Be As You Are" by KC.

Let the flaming begin.

[sonofabeach]

I don't think Jimmy has to "buck the record company".
He can put out whatever he wants and I'm sure that's what he's doing.

[ragtopW]

Be as you are?? great songs.. does he ever play them in Concert??? no

doesn't Jimmy own the record company???

[nlmdrummer]

Not to get on some KC tangent, but I think most will agree that Be As You Are was KC's best during the "beach" period - and was exactly what "corporate" country didn't want to hear.

I wonder if that's what Buffett is doing as well - acting the part of "Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers" rather than being true to himself. The man has won songwriting awards for G sakes, and not for "Let's Get Drunk Again" type songs. I guess I'm thinking he's a little too much Bars, and not enough Boats/Beaches/Ballads anymore. A song like Beautiful Swimmers could have been this decades "He Went To Paris", and IMHO, it's now forgetable.

[sonofabeach]

"Be as You Are" was not intended to produce singles so I don't think KC cared what corporate country thought.
I wouldn't say that KC's in a beach "period". That will always be a part if him just like it's part of most of us.

What "let's get drunk again" songs are you refering to and does he really have that many of them in recent years?
I wish he do more of them.

[conched]

That reminds me of James Taylor and B. S. U. R. SUSSIMIM

I really think Jimmy takes the liberty to do SOME songs that he wants...like the covers of Bruce Cockburn's songs. I also think it would sure be nice to hear BIBOMO just once in concert. You know we'd all have that ONE PARTICULAR recording to listen to from RM.

http://www.buffettnews.com/resources/songs/?song=608

Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On: Shows played at 0! That's a travesty.

I guess with the amount of money Jimmy makes from selling albums lately, he's just NOT gonna write us many new ones....why should he? Or do the record sales really make him MUCH? I know he must have sold lots and lots of LIVE IN ANGUILLA DVDs. It is so nice to get all the new stuff this tour!! Even if they were CO-writes. (Yea, Will!!!!)

[conched]

And, yeah, I remember BIBOMO was written with Matt Betton. Yea, Matt!

[Dezdmona]

I gotta agree with nlmdrummer on this one. The original Beautiful Swimmers demo was lovely, melodic & "visual".
While it's perfect as an acoustic number, it could have been adapted for the band quite easily.
This new cut just doesn't flow...

I'm still hoping for something with a nice melody on the new CD

[Tiki Bar]

I still long for a Buffett acoustic album. The FSOTW demo and the sag harbor benefit shows are favorites to listen to. I haven't heard the produced version of "Beautiful Swimmers" yet, but would have been really excited for him to release "Asking Us to Dance". But then again, I'll always have the demo, which is perfect enough.

As much as I enjoy the talent and interaction of the Coral Reefer Band, and adore the band members individually, I'd absolutely love to see a Jimmy acoustic tour, because Jimmy and a guitar singing songs and telling stories is really what it's all about.

[conched]

I gotta agree with nlmdrummer on this one. The original Beautiful Swimmers demo was lovely, melodic & "visual".
While it's perfect as an acoustic number, it could have been adapted for the band quite easily.
This new cut just doesn't flow...

I'm still hoping for something with a nice melody on the new CD

Am I missing something, DEZ? What new cut? You mean the Nissan performance of Beautiful Swimmers?

Is RM playing a new studio version (new cut) of Beautiful Swimmers?

[conched]

And, JoAnn, I'm still waiting for the superb New Orleans show to promote A Salty Piece of Land. I know some folks never got a chance to see a show that was sent out to the whole USA at movie theaters...it sure would be nice to have that one on video or audio.

Jimmy does his ballads...those sweet sensitive songs so well. My favorite has to be Whoop De Doo.

I think of Jimmy as an Island...I see you in the distance!

[phjrsaunt]

And, JoAnn, I'm still waiting for the superb New Orleans show to promote A Salty Piece of Land. I know some folks never got a chance to see a show that was sent out to the whole USA at movie theaters...it sure would be nice to have that one on video or audio.

Jimmy does his ballads...those sweet sensitive songs so well. My favorite has to be Whoop De Doo.

I think of Jimmy as an Island...I see you in the distance!

Me three!!!

[looking4OPH]

I still long for a Buffett acoustic album.
.
.
.
As much as I enjoy the talent and interaction of the Coral Reefer Band, and adore the band members individually, I'd absolutely love to see a Jimmy acoustic tour, because Jimmy and a guitar singing songs and telling stories is really what it's all about.

Agreed. Some of my favorite shows are either of just Jimmy or Jimmy and Mac. I've made my own "acoustic album" as an iTunes playlist with my favorite acoustic versions from a number of shows.

[sonofabeach]

where can we hear the album version of Beautiful Swimmers?
If it's anything like the live Nissan version on youtube I like it.

[phjrsaunt]

where can we hear the album version of Beautiful Swimmers?
If it's anything like the live Nissan version on youtube I like it.

It'll be on the new cd "Buffet Hotel" that comes out in December.