I've been following Jimmy Buffett's career for over 20 years...I have all his records and have seen him in concert more times than I can count.

Having said that, I think the new CD is a great overview of the world's most famous beachcomber. His tunes have stood the test of time and they tell wonderful stories.

All the standards like FINS, VOLCANO, A PIRATE LOOKS AT FORTY, SON OF A SON OF A SAILOR and CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ATITUDES are included. That's to be expected. What I like about this collection is the inclusion of more mellow Buffett tunes like HE WENT TO PARIS, CREOLA, and THE CAPTAIN AND THE KID (which is made more special because Jimmy talks about his dad right before the cut. Mr. Buffett passed away from Alzheimer's right after the CD was released.)

He also does a great job on a couple of 'cover' songs -- EVERYBODY'S TALKIN' and The Beachboys' SAIL ON SAILOR.

The only disappointment was the absence of a live recording of Neil Young's SOUTHERN CROSS.

The booklet that comes with the CD is well done. The band sounds great. Jimmy's in good voice and the new recordings are terrific.

It's summertime ... the living is easy .... there's nothing better than listening to one of our great storytellers weave his magic one more time.

Sing.

Dance.

Smile.

Enjoy!


It Really Is The Ultimate Collection!   January 11, 2004
Barron Laycock (Temple, New Hampshire United States)
24 out of 24 found this review helpful

Anyone who has carefully watched singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett literally charm the pants off the million of rabid parrot heads over the last several decades will love this newest compilation of Jimmy Buffett hits. It is indeed, the ultimate collection, as entitled, and serves up (shaken but not stirred) all of the best of the guy from Magaritaville. One should be forewarned, however, that not all the cuts here are the original released versions, and several have been redone, and for purists like me, the original versions would have been better to have on board here. But not to quibble, as this is a neat CD to have for the car or office, and I love listening to everything from "Magaritaville to "Come Monday", from "Why Don't We Get Drunk" to "The Captain and the Kid", and from "A Pirate Looks At Forty" to "Pencil Thin Mustache".

Alas, Buffett fans, there are a few new songs here as well, including a nice cover of Nillson's "Everyone's Talkin" and the Beach Boys' "Sail On Sailor" which Jimmy certainly is doing here. He has made a career out of continuing to recycle a limited repertoire of songs, and the fans keep coming back again and again to party with him, such that his concerts are always sellouts and the rabid fans are true loonies when it comes to celebrating life along with the parrot Master himself. This is a great album, and one I am sure you will enjoy!


Jimmy does it again!   April 22, 2003
23 out of 24 found this review helpful

I picked up this cd the day it came out. In fact, I left school early to pick it up at the local Best Buy :) I popped it in and was met with the anthem, Margaritaville. Moving down the songs on the first disc there are a lot of the usuals and some lesser known songs (AKA the ones not on songs you know my heart) such as Migration, Pascagoula Run (live - sounds great) for instance. The 2nd disc is hot with such songs as School Boy Heart, Knees of my Heart, Desperation Samba (love this song), and the beach boys cover - Sail on Sailor.

Overall this disc is great and is the ultimate collection, if there is such a thing. This would be a GREAT gift for those that are not familiar with the music of Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers.
oh yeah, the sound is amazing on these cds. You can hear every instrument with clarity.... except for the annoying accoustic guitar in some live tracks, this cd sounds AMAZING


Ultimate??-Is that possible with Buffett?? YES!!   April 17, 2003
todd vittum (North Palm Beach, Florida)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Summer is coming but we have that state of mind all the time with this music, and a new collection of Buffett songs is always welcomed to ears the world over!
But Wait! This isn't just a collection of songs off of other albums, there are some true finds here, some new gems, good songs that may have been overshadowed at the time of release,rerecordings with new arrangements, and favorites recorded live or with updated technology. "Saxophones" is brought into the new millenium, as are the classics "Knees Of My Heart" and "In The Shelter". "Take Another Road" is given new life here, in its first inclusion on a compilation,this should have been a hit. Perhaps as with other songs in the key of "JB" it is too deep.
The live cuts are Buffett at his best-the band too- and often they are overlooked, but not here.
The brand new songs are the real reason for this to exist though. "Everbody's Talkin'" is given Buffett's wry twist, but it is at the end of disc two where the true treasure is burried. The last two songs are remakes,one of his own,the other born of his songwriting with, and admiration for Beach Boy Brian Wilson(Check out "South American" on Wilson's 'Imagination' release, the Cameron Diaz reference is priceless!).Wilson's "Sail On Sailor" is a true classic, more somber than tunes Buffett's fans are used to, but joyous nonetheless.The nautical wave continues with "The Captain & The Kid". This one was originally written for Buffett's grandfather, but one can feel the changes that have come since it's original release in the early 1970's. Fatherhood, strained business and personal relationships, and his father's health have added layers of truth to an already wonderful song, one made better by time.
Since "Ultimate" is defined as "final"-let us hope it is not the final collection - but in common parlance- this is the "Ultimate", indeed. Meet Me In Margaritaville? I am already packed.


A Great Intro for the Newbie   July 23, 2004
R. Miller (Aurora, IL USA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I've always known about Jimmy Buffett and "Parrotheads." I knew and enjoyed his song, "Margaritaville," but I was never inclined to seek out and listen to any more of his music, and I was content in my world. But then someone loaned this CD set to my wife . . .

You never know what you have been missing in life. I listened to the songs on these CDs and was hooked. The versions of the songs on these CDs are not necessarily the original versions. Some have had minor word changes, tempo changes and arrangement changes, but it certainly doesn't matter to me. After performing all of these songs, some of them for many years, I can't blame Jimmy Buffett for changing them around a little to keep things interesting.

While this 2-CD set is a great collection, it has only lit the fire in me to find more of his music, including the original versions. What a pleasant task this is. After listening to some of the originals, I can say that the songs on this set are consistently richer, fuller, more mature, and Jimmy's voice is more mellow.

Want to get your feet wet in Jimmy Buffett's Caribbean? Try this CD set - you won't be disappointed.