Jimmy Buffett Meet Me In Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection CD

This collection contains 12 previously unreleased tracks including, 2 new songs, 6 alternate versions and 4 live recordings.

Jimmy Buffett had one gigantic pop hit back in 1977 with his ode to brain-drain, "Margaritaville." Buffett's laid-back combination of country, folk, and calypso also garnered him an huge cult following; his fans, dubbed Parrotheads, have helped him remain one of the top touring acts and a platinum-album creator for 25 years following his Top 10 hit. While many massively successful artists whose catalogue is overshadowed by one hit have been known to curse their fate, no one has embraced their hit with quite the zeal of the mellow Buffett, and indeed his latest double-CD collection is entitled MEET ME IN MARGARITAVILLE.

Of course, the titular song is featured, as are Buffett's other minor hits (including underrated classics like "Come Monday"), many beloved fan favorites, and most importantly 10 brand new recordings. Eight of these revisit familiar Buffett songs, best of which is a rousing live version of "A Pirate Looks At 40." The remaining two are covers of the Fred Neil-penned "Everybody's Talking" and the Beach Boys' "Sail On Sailor," each perfectly suited to Buffett's voice and trademark island-flavored sound. MEET ME IN MARGARITAVILLE contains something for both Buffett's longtime fans and casual listeners who want a good collection of all the man's music in one place.

2cds-Ultimate Coll=2 New Songs 6 Alt.Versions,4 New Live Rec.

Recorded at Shrimp Boat Sound Studio, Key West, Florida; Seventeen Grand Recording, Nashville, Tennessee; Jupiter Recording, Jupiter, Florida. Includes a 32-page booklet with liner notes by Tom Corcoran.

Personnel: Jimmy Buffett (vocals, guitar); Peter Mayer, Mac McNally (vocals, gutiar); Jim Mayer (vocals, bass); Nadirah Shakoor, Tina Gullickson (vocals); Doyle Grisham (pedal steel guitar); Amy Lee, Tom Mitchell (saxophone); John Lovell (trumpet); Michael Utley (keyboards); Roger Guth (drums); Ralph McDonald (percussion).

Producers include: Norbert Putnam, Don Grant, Jimmy Buffet, Michael Utley, Russ Kunkel.

Compilation producers: Jimmy Buffet, Michael Utley.

Personnel: Jimmy Buffett (vocals, guitar); Jim Mayer, Mac McAnally, Peter Mayer (vocals, guitar); Tina Gullickson, Nadirah Shakoor (vocals); Bob Weber (guitar); Tom Mitchell , Amy Lee (saxophone); John Lovell (trumpet); Michael Utley (keyboards); J.L. Jamison (drums, steel drum, percussion); Roger Guth (drums); Robert Greenidge (steel drum, timbales); Ralph MacDonald (percussion); Julie Harkness, Heather Perry (dancer).

Audio Mixers: Chris Stone; Alan Schulman; Michael Utley.

Liner Note Authors: Jimmy Buffett; Tom Corcoran.

Recording information: Jupiter Recording, Jupiter, FL; Seventeen Grand Recording, Nashville, TN; Shrimp Boat Sound Studio, Key West, FL.

Photographers: Savannah Jane Buffett; Noah Greenberg; Jim Shea; Fred Valentine; Ray Stanyard; Jean Pagliuso; Michael Ramos; Tom Corcoran.

Arranger: Coral Reefer Band.