Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Son of a Son of a Sailor
2. Havana Daydreamin'
3. Mañana
4. Treat Her Like a Lady
5. Steamer
6. Jolly Mon Sing
7. Nautical Wheelers
8. Take It Back
9. On a Slow Boat to China
10. Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
11. Love and Luck
12. Captain and the Kid
13. Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season
14. Boat Drinks
15. One Particular Harbour
16. Pirate Looks at Forty
17. Lovely Cruise

Disc 2:

1. Margaritaville
2. Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit
3. Ragtop Day
4. Frank and Lola
5. Tin Cup Chalice
6. Knees of My Heart
7. Money Back Guarantee
8. When the Coast Is Clear
9. Biloxi
10. Distantly in Love
11. Coconut Telegraph
12. Stars on the Water
13. Who's the Blonde Stranger?
14. I Have Found Me a Home
15. Christmas in the Caribbean
16. Volcano
17. Brown Eyed Girl
18. Cheeseburger in Paradise

Disc 3:

1. Fins
2. Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful
3. Tampico Trauma
4. Livingston Saturday Night
5. Cuban Crime of Passion
6. First Look
7. Wino and I Know
8. Great Filling Station Holdup
9. Why Don't We Get Drunk
10. Elvis Imitators
11. Pencil Thin Mustache
12. Kick It in Second Wind
13. Desperation Samba (Halloween in Tijuana)
14. When Salome Plays the Drum
15. They Don't Dance Like Carmen No More
16. Pascagoula Run
17. Sending the Old Man Home
18. Domino College

Disc 4:

1. Come Monday
2. Defying Gravity
3. Survive
4. Incommunicado
5. I Heard I Was in Town
6. Ballad of Spider John
7. Little Miss Magic
8. California Promises
9. If the Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me
10. African Friend
11. Everlasting Moon
12. Pre-You
13. Middle of the Night
14. Coast of Marseilles
15. Island
16. He Went to Paris
17. Stars Fell on Alabama
18. Changing Channels
19. Twelve Volt Man

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3023 in Music
• Brand: MCA
• Released on: 1992-05-19
• Number of discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: 1.69 pounds

Amazon.com essential recording
When Jimmy Buffett eventually becomes the subject of a college course--and given his enduring popularity as a singer-songwriter and author, you know he will someday--here's what'll be on the final exam. Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads is so named because the four-CD collection divides Buffett's collected works among those categories, giving each disc a theme. From early classics such as "Biloxi" and "Come Monday" to more recent fare known only by the Parrothead cognoscenti, this set is the perfect accompaniment to a cool drink and a hammock on a summer afternoon. What kind of cool drink? Well, that'll be on the final, too. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews

SOMETHING HERE FOR ALL BUFFETT FANS
I've been a Buffett fan for over 25 years, and personally enjoy the singer's more tender songs over the "party" songs. This is not to say there aren't times when I absolutely MUST hear "Fins" or "Cheeseburger In Paradise." The great thing about this excellent box set is that it includes a broad spectrum of tunes, spans Jimmy's entire career (up to the point of its release, of course), and has something to fit every mood. Buffett has even gone to the trouble of organizing the set in a way such that the listener can pick and choose between different types of songs. What more could we ask?

Of course there are, as with all anthologies or greatest hits packages, going to be questions as to why one song or another wasn't included. I would like to have seen "Death Of An Unpopular Poet" thrown in, but I'm not complaining - "I Heard I Was In Town" and "Sending The Old Man Home" are pleasant surprises.

So I'm more a "Ballads" and "Beaches" kind of guy - there is more than enough music of those types here to keep me occupied. Maybe you prefer the "Bars" and "Boats" stuff more - same deal. The fact that Buffett has included 72 songs in the set leaves little or no room for complaint. The simple fact is, if you like Buffett, you'll like "B,B,B, and B". It doesn't matter whether you're one of the new breed of Parrotheads or an old curmudgeon like me who would, at this point in my life, rather sit in the yard and listen to "When The Coast Is Clear" than be caught up in the mob scene at a live show.

This wonderful box set would, in my opinion, make a great gift for anyone (if there is anyone left) who's not yet been introduced to Buffett. In fact, if you have anyone on your Christmas list who fits that description, I suggest you pony up the dough (at 50 bucks or so, it's a steal) and buy that person a gift for which he or she will thank you many times over. Oh, and by all means, if you don't own it, buy it for yourself first.

Well-Chosen Anthology Will Please Parrot Heads & Casual Fans.
"Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads" encompasses 20 years of Jimmy Buffett's material, from 1970-1990. It includes 72 songs (about 4 hours, 26 minutes) taken from 19 studio albums and 1 live album, as well as 8 previously unreleased tracks. The songs are distributed among 4 CDs, each dedicated to a boats, beaches, bars or ballads theme. There are Top 10 hits and obscure gems, all of consistently high quality.

As Jimmy Buffett is a man with sailing in his blood, the songs on the "Boats" CD seem close to his heart. "Boats"' 17 songs (66:22 minutes) are, for the most part, literally about sailing and sailors. The selection includes the popular "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" and background vocals by James Taylor on "Treat Her Like a Lady". "Love and Luck " is a previously unreleased track, written to a Zouk melody and featuring Steve Winwood on organ. "Take It Back" also makes its debut here.

Many of the songs on the "Beaches" CD were written about Buffett's days on Key West, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean. Others have nothing to do with the beach, but evoke an atmosphere of sand and sun. There are 18 "beach" songs (63:16 minutes), starting with the Parrot Head national anthem, "Margaritaville". "Money Back Guarantee" and "Christmas in the Caribbean" were previously unreleased.

The "Bars" CD kicks off with the rousing "Fins". Some of these 18 songs (61:35 minutes) are about bars; more may have been composed in bars, but mostly they are distinguished by indoors themes and lively beats. "Boats" is the Party CD. The slightly scandalous "Why Don't We Get Drunk" is here, along with Buffett's humorous, previously unreleased attempt at Elvis imitation, "Elvis Imitators". "Domino College" was also new as of this album.

The "Ballads" CD is self-explanatory. The melancholic-yet-optimistic hit "Come Monday" starts it off. The 19 ballads (74:22 minutes) include "Middle of the Night" and a live performance of "Everlasting Moon", both previously unreleased.

"Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads" is packaged in a 12 1/2" x 6" x 1 1/4" box that holds 4 CDs, each with its own jewel case, and a 63-page booklet entitled "The Parrot Head Handbook". In the Handbook, Jimmy Buffett comments on Parrot Heads, his search for a real "Margaritaville", the genesis of his career, and his seaplane, among other topics. There is fun stuff like a Parrot Head quiz, crossword puzzle, "Can you find Jimmy?" in old photos game, a recipe for the perfect Margarita, and a list of the world's 10 Best Cheeseburgers. Buffet has written a blurb telling the story behind every song, but lyrics are only included for "Margaritaville". Look for other lyrics at www.margaritaville.com . Keeping in mind that "Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads" was released in 1992 and includes none of Jimmy Buffett's work since then, this remains a fantastic and reasonably comprehensive set that will likely please casual fans and Parrot Heads alike.

My indoctrination to becoming a "Parrothead"!
I have a few box sets in my CD collection, and this one I pull out to listen to quite frequently. What can I say, if you want to become a "parrothead", you have to buy this box set! This is a gem of a collection of Jimmy's songs! I have a Beach Boys box set that was quite disappointing.It contained some hits, but mostly outtakes and unreleased Brian Wilson compositions. This box set from Jimmy is so much more refreshing. There are no boring outtakes or weird stuff, but JIMMY'S unreleased material is a treasure. It's just plain Jimmy Buffett at its finest!

I was a little apprehensive to buy this box set, but I see now why so many Parrotheads recommend it. There are some unreleased songs that are excellent! One is "Love and Luck" which is a great song: upbeat, relaxing, and just plain fun! Another unreleased work is "Elvis Imitators", and I'll tell you this, Jimmy does a sensational impression of Elvis! Other released ballads that just really move me are "Changing Channels", "Tin Cup Chalice", "Incommunicado" and "Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season". Some fun songs are "Manana", "Ragtop Day", "Frank and Lola", "Who's The Blond Stanger?", and "Jolly Mon Sing". Alot of this released material surprised me. I had no idea that besides the hits, Jimmy has written some incredible stuff!

With this box set and my first Jimmy concert in May 31, 2001, my transformation into a Parrothead is now complete! (Or so most of my Parrothead friends say, anyway!) Even if you aren't a hardcore Buffett fan, consider buying this CD box set. It is an exquisite and detailed collection of songs written by a guy who not only has depth and creativity, but knows how to have fun.