Jimmy Buffett ably summed up his catalog with the title of his 1992 box set — Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads. But that cuts broader, and deeper, than many realize.
Buffett’s prevailing image, of course, was of floral shirts and Hawaiian leis, summer concert parties and fans with parrots on their shoulders and sharks, or at least fins, on their heads.
And cheeseburgers on a paradise of tailgate grills. He also pioneered lifestyle branding, turning his tunes into an inclusive universe that includes restaurants, casinos, beer, real estate,
radio and even a form of social media well before Mark Zuckerberg took the SAT. (Sadly, Buffett died at age 76 this week,
as announced on his website, “surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs.” His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.)
20. Jimmy Buffett, “Gypsies in the Palace” 19. Jimmy Buffett, “Livingston Saturday Night” 18. Jimmy Buffett, “Oldest Surfer On The Beach”
16. Jimmy Buffett & Martina McBride, “Trip Around The Sun” 15. Jimmy Buffett, “Pencil Thin Mustache” 14. Jimmy Buffett, “Boat Drinks”
13. Jimmy Buffett, “It’s Midnight and I’m Not Famous Yet” 12. Jimmy Buffett, “Volcano” 11. Jimmy Buffett, “Nobody From Nowhere”
10. Jimmy Buffett, “Why Don’t We Get Drunk” 9. Jimmy Buffett, “Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes” 8. Jimmy Buffett, “Come Monday”
7. Jimmy Buffett, “One Particular Harbor” 6. Jimmy Buffett, “A Pirate Looks at Forty” 5. Jimmy Buffett, “Margaritaville”
4. Jimmy Buffett, “Cheeseburger In Paradise” 3. Jimmy Buffett, “He Went to Paris” 2. Jimmy Buffett, “Fins” 1. Jimmy Buffett, “Son of a Son of a Sailor”