Why Don't We Get Drunk - Jimmy Buffett, Gardens, Marvin
Pencil Thin Mustache
Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit
Boat Drinks
Volcano
Critics have always been singularly unkind to Jimmy Buffett. Or at least they have since the singer became immune to their jabs, commanding a nation of Parrotheads who sell out his shows, snap up his records and books, and... more » eat and drink in his nightclubs in Key West and New Orleans. By now, you've made up your mind as well: To paraphrase Buffett himself from his song "Volcano," you either lava him now, or you lava him not. Songs You Know by Heart is a friendly little best-of collection that features concert perennials such as "Margaritaville," "Fins," "Cheeseburger in Paradise," and the immutable "Why Don't We Get Drunk." If by some chance you've not yet been introduced to Buffett's music, this album is the best way to say hello. --Daniel Durchholz« less
Critics have always been singularly unkind to Jimmy Buffett. Or at least they have since the singer became immune to their jabs, commanding a nation of Parrotheads who sell out his shows, snap up his records and books, and eat and drink in his nightclubs in Key West and New Orleans. By now, you've made up your mind as well: To paraphrase Buffett himself from his song "Volcano," you either lava him now, or you lava him not. Songs You Know by Heart is a friendly little best-of collection that features concert perennials such as "Margaritaville," "Fins," "Cheeseburger in Paradise," and the immutable "Why Don't We Get Drunk." If by some chance you've not yet been introduced to Buffett's music, this album is the best way to say hello. --Daniel Durchholz
Barb V. from GAINESVILLE, FL Reviewed on 2/19/2007...
Classic Jimmy Buffett at his best!!!
CD Reviews
Great Mood Setting Music
K. Fontenot | The Bayou State | 04/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Of course, the mood I'm talking about is the "no worries, I'm happy sitting here on the beach(or frontporch)" type of mood. Buffett is notoriously well-known for provoking thoughts of becoming a sailor, pirate, beach bum, etc. This collection of hits delivers that perfectly.
If you aren't familiar with Buffett, this is definitely a great starter album since you don't have to plunk down much change for it and it consists of the majority of his greatest hits. Those hits include "Cheeseburger In Paradise," "Volcano," "Come Monday" and the legendary "Margaritaville." It also includes the devilishly fun "Why Don't We Get Drunk" and my personal favorite, "Fins."
Buffett has the knack for making you imagine yourself sucking down daiquiris and pina coladas on a beach somewhere, much like Gary P. Nunn makes you long for living in Texas. He's a master at this and he has proven it time and again. His sound has been copied by Garth Brooks("Two Pina Coladas"), and out-and-out stolen by Kenny Chesney(most of his recent work sounds like it was ripped directly from this album). He's worked with some great current artists(most notably Alan Jackson) and he has a following, Parrottheads, comparable to that of the Grateful Dead's Deadheads.
So, if you aren't familiar with Buffett, get this album and experience what millions of others have already done. You won't be sorry."
Jimmy's Greatest
Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 01/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"No one of has made a bigger career for themselves out of one hit than Jimmy Buffett. He transformed his only top ten single, "Margaritaville", from just a mere song, into a successful restaurant, clothing line, a brand of tequilas and inspired a way of live for a nation of Parrotheads. Even though "Margaritaville" is his biggest hit, he is by no means a one hit wonder. In fact that song isn't even his best. Songs like "A Pirate Looks At 40", "Son Of A Son Of A Sailor", "He Went To Paris" & "Come Monday" are all superior songs and the rest of the album is made up of similarly excellent songs. If you are a novice to the music of Jimmy Buffett, this is the place to start."
The Best Of Jimmy Buffett
The Footpath Cowboy | Kingston, NY United States | 01/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"SONGS YOU KNOW BY HEART contains most of the Jimmy Buffett songs that anyone knows, including such tales of a life spent outdoors as "Cheeseburger In Paradise", "Fins", "Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes", and his all-time biggest hit, "Margaritaville." There are also sentimental straight-ahead country ballads here, including the searching "He Went To Paris" and the wistful "Come Monday." If that wasn't enough diversity for one CD/cassette, there's also the drinking song "Why Don't We Get Drunk (And Screw)" and the detective story "Pencil Thin Mustache." If you get this collection, plus a few of his other albums, you'll have an essential library of Jimmy Buffett."
A BUFFET OF CLASSICS
Jukebox Dave | RECORD TOWN, USA | 10/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"By his own admission, few have done so much with so little as this Son of a Son of a Sailor. Moving gradually from a one hit wonder in the 70's to millionaire King of the Parrotheads in the 90's and beyond, Buffet's 1985 "Best of" to this day represents 75% percent of the material he performs to beach bum wannabes 'round the planet. There's nary a party animal among us who has not bellied up to a sand bar and bellowed and boogied to FINS, that ornery ode to land sharks everywhere, the glutton's national anthem CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE, or WHY DON'T WE GET DRUNK AND SCREW, which needs no introduction to fans. For variety, there are several reflective sea-faring ballads, A PIRATE LOOKS AT 40 being the most memorable, and PENCIL THIN MUSTACHE, a dose of nostalgia on par with anything the Statler Brothers ever recorded. A glaring omission however, has to be the harp-drenched dance inducer LIVINGSTON SATURDAY NIGHT, but I'm grabbing at boat drink straws here. And don't even MAKE me mention that wondrous little ditty that started it all for Jimmy. You already know it by heart. RATING: FIVE SHAKERS OF SALT