Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...
 Laid Back Buffett January 10, 2001
Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Havana Daydreamin' is probably the most laid back, easy going album in the Jimmy Buffett catalog. Songs like the title track, "Defying Gravity", "This Hotel Room", "Something So Feminine about a Mandolin" and "The Captain & The Kid" just sort of float along like a breezy afternoon. Despite the breezy feel there are some songs that disrupt the leisurely pace. "Big Rig" rocks like a semi and "Cliches" as the title suggests is a witty song with some great lines. "My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink & I Don't Love Jesus" is not only one of the best song titles in history, but the best song ever written about a hangover.
 A comical collection of story songs September 6, 2000
David Hugaert (Honolulu, HI United States)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This being the only Jimmy Buffett CD in my collection and judging from the titles of some of the songs, I felt it necessary to purchase "Havana Daydreamin'". Boy, was I taken aback! What a witty and talented songwriter/musician Mr. Buffett is! This is evidenced in the track "Cliches", where the song opens with "He's got a ballpark figure, she's got a ballpoint pen." My favorite lyrics occur later in the track:"He's always tuned into Star Trek, she's always tuned into him. Hiding his cookies when he gets the munchies, tryin' hard just to keep the boy slim". "My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink And I Don't Love Jesus" is a laugh riot! This CD also has a melacholy side, featured in the track "The Captain And The Kid", which is a reworking from one of JB's earlier albums. "Big Rig" is an enjoyful, up-tempo number that also contains a comical line: "I'd rather much be home rollin' with you than watchin' Tom Snyder on TV." Nice easy-going tunes can also be found here: the title track and "Defying Gravity." The Steve Goodman penned "This Hotel Room" is also good for laughs. Parrotheads young and old will have a blast out of this CD. You'll "Kick It In Second Wind" upon the first listen. Please do yourself a favor, and buy this CD. The witty lyrics alone are worth it!
 Transistional period.... March 27, 2002
Ei (Seekonk, Massachusetts)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
"Havana Daydreamin" is an earlier album of JB's. It doesn't have many of the hits that we hear at the concerts, but it has some great songs that tell stories. It makes you want to sit back and relax with a mixed drink, and it also makes you want to get up and two step.
In listening to the earlier albums, I have noticed that he seems to mix up his country western music with the calypso/rock/hawaiian tropical sound that we all know and love.
He didn't leave his country western heart to quickly, and I appreciate it. I love all his music.
"My head hurts, My feet stink, and I don't love Jesus" is more of a country song, and the back up band is The Oak Ridge Boys, which is a country western group that had great success in the 70's and 80's.
There aren't very many commercial successes from this album, and I will admit that the only songs I really knew before getting to know this album were "The Captain and the Kid", and "Havana Daydreamin'"
I do think that Jimmy is a great storyteller, and such a talented musician. I listen to his music with an open mind, and am learning to appreciate the earlier JB as I have only been a fan since the box set came out. While it isn't one of the classic and essential albums, it is still pretty good.
Classic Buffett March 20, 2002
ae01 (Lexington, KY, USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is Buffett when he was still making up his mind if he was a rocker, a folkie, a country balladeer, or a beach bum guitar player (of course, we now know he turned out to be all 4, which is why parrotheads love their leader so much). I'll admit I bought the cd mostly to get my hands on a copy of "This Hotel Room," which ranks right up there in terms of the kind of Buffett song his critics hate and his fans love. I'm incredibly thrilled with the rest of it, though, especially the beautiful, lyrical, eccentric first track, "Woman Goin Crazy on Caroline Street." Buy this cd.
Classic Key West Jimmy Buffett July 5, 2005
Tim Withee (Auburn, WA United States)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I like this album quite a bit. Material-wise, it's not quite up to the standards set by his previous two efforts, "Livin' & Dyin' in 3/4 Time," and the brilliant "A-1-A,' but I still think this is an essential and important classic Buffett recording that any serious fan of his music should own.
Also, you can say that this album was a tranisitional one in his career as well. It was the last time Don Gant was his producer. Gant clearly did a very good job on the previous three sides, helping to define his sound as something of a country-rock hybrid, which reflected Buffett's musical taste. In my opinion, though, Buffett wanted to move toward a more popular sound, eliminating the steel guitar, for example was a move in that direction, even though some of his most memorable tunes featured that instrument.
In addition, for the first time, there is a real Coral Reefer band, with the Nashville Cats doing backup. Even the Oak Ridge Boys get a credit. In any case, Buffett was living the lifestyle he sang about and it really began to strike a chord with his growing fan base. He and his management recognized this and understood that it might make them all very wealthy if they didn't screw it up. They didn't.
As far as the music goes, there are some very good tunes on this album. It consists of ballads and stories, some of them pretty clever, in typical Buffett style. Side one features the great ballad about his grandfather, "The Captain and the Kid," and his cover of Jesse Winchester's "Defying Gravity." He fills out the side with the humorous "My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink & I don't Love Jesus," the opening cut and Key West soaper "Woman Going Crazy on Caroline St," and "Big Rig." Side two features the great title cut, and a collection of autobiographical story-tunes, "Cliches," "Something so Feminine about a Mandolin," "Kick it in 2nd Wind," and "This Hotel Room."
The classic tunes are the title cut and "Captain & the Kid," and the rest of the material is for the most part, very good, allowing for the comments noted in the opening paragraph. I have no problem saying that this album earns a solid 4 stars, which sure isn't any disgrace. If you can pick up the vinyl of this and the previous two albums, by all means, do so. The artwork and photos are great and are as well on "Changes in Latitudes" and "Volcano."
One oddity, though, is the use of the Spanish letter "enye" in the word Havana, so it reads as "Havanya." It's not correct at all -- I mean, it's the equivalent of spelling "New York," as "New Yorc." What the hell, Buffett's a wordsmith and he should know better. Maybe they kept it that way, because it looks kind of cool and figured that most of his fans wouldn't know the difference. I didn't until I learned Spanish....
Also, on the back cover of the album, can anyone out there verify that the artwork is what used to be Sand Key?
Thanks!
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