BACK IN THE DAY, and admittedly before my time, radio DJs played vinyl records. They had 45 RPM disks with an “A” side and a “B” side. The A was the song that the record company was trying to push—what they believed was the smash hit. The money maker.
In old tapes of pop radio I’ve heard, sometimes the disk jockey would say “and now the flip side,” and you’d get to hear the B side. Usually a fan favorite.
Jimmy Buffett is really his own deal. To his audience that encompasses many generations, his rhymes are known by heart. As novelist Thomas McGuane so succinctly wrote, “Jimmy Buffett has written and sung songs which are now part of our collective memory.” It’s what all songwriters are aiming for, but with Buffett there’s always his rare talent at combining the profound with the light-hearted.
And the enduring appeal of Buffett is that he is one of those artists who means different things to different people, and this meaning changes as they grow older. It’s his versatility as a writer and an interpreter that always keeps his albums and performances so fresh.
So speaking of albums, it was with equal parts anticipation and curiosity that I began listening to Jimmy Buffett’s 2020 release: Life on the Flip Side (Mailboat Records). Where does the time go? This is his first studio album in 7 years and the longest he had ever gone between record releases since his one of a kind career began.
But, what a recording career it has been and continues to be for him! Something Buffett is frequently not credited for: being one of the most prolific singer-songwriter/recording artists in American popular music. He’s released more albums than his peers: Randy Newman, James Taylor, Billy Joel, etc. In fact, when you look at his discography (not to mention his books and other endeavors) you can’t help but wonder how it’s possible. This is his 28th studio record, 30th if you include his two Christmas albums.
People who really love music don’t care about how “commercial” it sounds, on the contrary. Record label executives may want to know if a song has radio hit potential. But to those faithful who buy the concert tickets year after year, the hits are good, but their ears perk up to something new. It tends to be the obscure songs that get them going. As many a fan has said to me through the years, “Man, I like the B sides.”
Fortunately for those who are Buffett fans, this album features a lot of songs sure to be “deep cut” favorites and also a great diversity of material. The production was expertly handled by Coral Reefers and longtime Buffett friends Michael Utley and Mac McAnally. The “Buffett sound” is continuously being perfected and I would suspect Utley and McAnally play a big hand there. It’s oftentimes imitated, but never duplicated.
I gave the album the drive test. You know what I’m talking about. Stereo up, windows down. There’s plenty of lighthearted, escape songs, that will be perfect for listening at the beach or pool, sailing or you know, cruisin’ along in your automobile. Some of the highlights in that realm are: the opening track “Down at the Lah De Dah,” “Hey, That’s My Wave,” and “Who Gets to Live Like This” which Lukas Nelson cowrote and sings on.
But the unexpected is what keeps the concerts that Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band bring to town year after year such a thrill, and the albums always have a curveball as well. Seeing them in concert in April 2019, I recall one of the more unique songs that night as “The World is What You Make It.” It’s got a lot of swagger and is just plain fun.
It’s a song from Irish singer-songwriter Paul Brady, respected by everyone from Mark Knopfler and Bob Dylan to Bonnie Raitt. I was inspired to interview Paul Brady by seeing the song performed last year and hoped Buffett would record it. On Life on the Flip Side and in Buffett’s hands it somehow manages to sound like a modern take of a 60s rock song.
Paul Brady’s masterful songwriting is also on display in “Oceans of Time,” which he cowrote with Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame Sharon Vaughn. Buffett writes in the liner notes, “Now I hope Paul Brady is a big blip on your musical list.” It’s something Buffett seems to enjoy doing: finding and exposing the masses to musical talent they may be unaware of. As his musical director Michael Utley once told me, “he’s always looking.”
The diversity I mentioned? Something Buffett is under appreciated for is his jazz singing. In the past he’s crooned standards from the American Songbook like “Stars Fell on Alabama” and “Slow Boat to China.” There’s a jazz tune on Life on the Flip Side as well. “Half Drunk,” was written by Americana songwriters Will Kimbrough and Brigitte DeMeyer. The lyrics are very clever: Hey darlin’ here’s one. Won’t you come and lend me your ear Like Mona Lisa gave old Da Vinci that half smile. I’ll paint a picture that will half convince you I’m fine.” You can imagine Jimmy singing this in a dimly lit jazz club, martini in hand. It just works.
Although frequently overshadowed a bit by the Carnival nature of his shows and his fans, I share the observation some others have about his more sentimental, storytelling songs. That’s his strongest suit. Jimmy is the beach balladeer.
One such example is “Slack Tide,” a great song cowritten with Peter Mayer and Will Kimbrough. Jimmy did a great vocal on it. Nobody pulls off wistful better, and the song is a portrait of what could be learned from the stillness of slack tide: when there is neither push nor pull. No tide. It’s a real highlight on the album and example of great songwriting. In Buffett’s vivid imagination, the whole world swims together. It’s a truly unique vision.
As mentioned, I like the ballads. Frequently the best part of seeing a Buffett show is the encore. It seems he believes in leaving the crowd with something a bit more contemplative. Oftentimes he closes his shows with one of his best songs and it tends to be a bit poetic.
This is the case with his albums too. The last song is usually a knockout. Think “Changing Channels” on Off to the See the Lizard or “That’s What Livin’ is to Me” on Hot Water.
This album seems to follow that pattern. The last song is the best song on the record: “Book on the Shelf,” which he cowrote with Mick Utley and Erin McAnally. It’s the perfect bookend to the album. When someone has had a career like Jimmy Buffett’s now surpassing 50 years of performing and recording, there’s always the fair question. How much longer will this continue?
On it’s surface, “Book on the Shelf” is Buffett telling us that retirement is not in his thoughts, “I’m not ready to put the book on the shelf,” he sings. There are still words to write and new songs to be sung. But, I think the song is also about the importance of the storytelling tradition. “These songs aren’t for me they’re for you,” Jimmy sings.
Stories are what make us human. Jimmy Buffett’s storied life is the stuff of legends, but thankfully for us he’s always been happy to tell the tale.
Always one to please and never to tease, the album leaves the listener with reassurance that the adventure and the music are not over. We’ll be introduced to more intriguing characters, more reports from exotic ports of call and far sides of the world.
We all look forward to that day when we can wander once more. In the meantime we have this album which is sure to take you away.
He’ll be back. We’ll be back.
“I’ll keep scribblin’ on pages not jumpin’ off stages
Not ready to put the book on the shelf.”
Jimmy Buffett? Catch him on the flip side.
Release Date: May 29, 2020
Label: Mailboat Records
Tracks / Total Length: 14 songs, 55:05
I came across this article this morning after hearing Book on the Shelf for the first time. You hit the nail on the head with regard to Jimmy and his music. Had I heard the song when it was released I would have agreed with you wholeheartedly. But after the death of Jimmy the song has a whole new perspective. I find myself wondering if the song was written after learning of his diagnosis and was a means of expressing his fear and his defiance of death. It is such a beautiful song and along with Bubbles Up, it will always keep me looking forward. Thank you for sharing your love of Buffet and the “B sides”.
I just stumbled on this article. I enjoyed it so much, I read it twice. As with many others, Jimmy’s passing hit me hard. I love how his music brought escapism to us all. I really like when you said he means different things to different people and the meaning changes as we grow older. So much truth in one statement. I have immersed myself in his music since his passing, listening to some songs for the first time while finding new favorites. Jimmys creative writing style always told a story in a fun lyrical way. Thanks for a great article. Fins up.