Barometer Soup
Encyclopedia
Barometer Soup is the 20th studio album
by American
popular music singer-songwriter
Jimmy Buffett
. Released in August 1995
, one year after Fruitcakes
in May 1994
, this album represented a return to his one-album-per-year writing and recording pace of the 70s and 80s.
in the previous year, Buffett returned to songwriting and recorded the collection in Key West, Florida
in January and February 1995. The album continued Buffett's album chart success begun with Fruitcakes and reached #6 on the Billboard 200
. The album was also certified "Platinum" by the RIAA
on 19 December 2004.
The first single from the album, "Mexico" reached #10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary
chart but "Bank of Bad Habits," the second single, did not chart.
As usual, Buffett went on tour in the summer of 1995, although instead of basing it on the album, he called it the "Domino College Tour", after a song released on the box set
three years prior; the song was co-written by Buffett and Dan Fogelberg
. Songs from Barometer Soup still appeared regularly in the tour, including Don't Chu-Know, Diamond as Big as the Ritz, and Mexico. Less frequently on the tour were Jimmy Dreams, the title track, Bank Of Bad Habits, and The Night I Painted the Sky.
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
. Buffett regarded the song as his favorite on the album. "The Ballad of Skip Wiley" is based primarily on Carl Hiaasen
's book Tourist Season
(although it also references the character of Skink Tyree
, who appeared not in Tourist Season, but in 5 other Hiaasen novels). The final song on this album is a cover of James Taylor's
song "Mexico". Buffett noted his appreciation for some cover songs, and regarding "Mexico", he said "I always loved that song... and it's a nice way to pay homage to your friends. I think the audience really likes it, too."
:
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
popular music singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
. Released in August 1995
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
, one year after Fruitcakes
Fruitcakes (album)
Fruitcakes is the 19th studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. This album was released in May 1994, coming off a five year hiatus from the recording studio since 1989's Off to See the Lizard.-Chart performance:...
in May 1994
1994 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
, this album represented a return to his one-album-per-year writing and recording pace of the 70s and 80s.
History and reception
Following the release of FruitcakesFruitcakes (album)
Fruitcakes is the 19th studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. This album was released in May 1994, coming off a five year hiatus from the recording studio since 1989's Off to See the Lizard.-Chart performance:...
in the previous year, Buffett returned to songwriting and recorded the collection in Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
in January and February 1995. The album continued Buffett's album chart success begun with Fruitcakes and reached #6 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. The album was also certified "Platinum" by the RIAA
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
on 19 December 2004.
The first single from the album, "Mexico" reached #10 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart but "Bank of Bad Habits," the second single, did not chart.
As usual, Buffett went on tour in the summer of 1995, although instead of basing it on the album, he called it the "Domino College Tour", after a song released on the box set
Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads is a four-compact disc compilation box set of Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band's greatest hits, rarities, and previously unreleased songs. Released in 1992, the collection reached quadruple platinum.-Boats:...
three years prior; the song was co-written by Buffett and Dan Fogelberg
Dan Fogelberg
Daniel Grayling "Dan" Fogelberg was an American singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, whose music was inspired by sources as diverse as folk, pop, rock, classical, jazz, and bluegrass music...
. Songs from Barometer Soup still appeared regularly in the tour, including Don't Chu-Know, Diamond as Big as the Ritz, and Mexico. Less frequently on the tour were Jimmy Dreams, the title track, Bank Of Bad Habits, and The Night I Painted the Sky.
Songs
"Diamond as Big as the Ritz" is based on the short story of the same nameThe Diamond as Big as the Ritz
The Diamond as Big as the Ritz is a novella by novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was first published in the June 1922 issue of The Smart Set magazine, and was included in Fitzgerald's 1922 short story collection Tales of the Jazz Age...
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigm writings of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the "Lost...
. Buffett regarded the song as his favorite on the album. "The Ballad of Skip Wiley" is based primarily on Carl Hiaasen
Carl Hiaasen
Carl Hiaasen is an American journalist, columnist and novelist.- Early years :Born in 1953 and raised in Plantation, Florida, of Norwegian heritage, Hiaasen was the first of four children and the son of a lawyer, Kermit Odel, and teacher, Patricia...
's book Tourist Season
Tourist Season
Tourist Season is a 1986 novel by Carl Hiaasen. It was his first solo novel, after co-writing several mystery/thriller novels with William Montalbano.-Plot:...
(although it also references the character of Skink Tyree
Clinton Tyree
Clinton Tyree, a.k.a. Skink, is a fictional character who has appeared in several novels by Carl Hiaasen, beginning with Double Whammy in 1987. He is an opponent of sprawl and development, and partakes of roadkill cuisine.-Personal history:...
, who appeared not in Tourist Season, but in 5 other Hiaasen novels). The final song on this album is a cover of James Taylor's
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
song "Mexico". Buffett noted his appreciation for some cover songs, and regarding "Mexico", he said "I always loved that song... and it's a nice way to pay homage to your friends. I think the audience really likes it, too."
Track listing
All songs by Jimmy Buffett, Russ Kunkel, Jay Oliver, Roger Guth and Peter Mayer, except where noted.- "Barometer Soup" – 4:58
- "Barefoot Children" – 4:54
- "Bank of Bad Habits" – 3:53
- "Remittance Man" – 5:59
- "Diamond as Big as the Ritz" – 5:20
- "Blue Heaven Rendezvous" – 4:01
- "Jimmy Dreams" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:39
- "Lage Nom Ai" – 3:42
- "Don't Chu-Know" – 3:48
- "Ballad of Skip Wiley" – 4:33
- "The Night I Painted the Sky" – 5:30
- "Mexico" (James TaylorJames TaylorJames Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
) – 4:06
Personnel
The Coral Reefer BandCoral Reefer Band
The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Originally it was a fictional band consisting of the imaginary members Marvin Gardens, Kay Pasa, Al Vacado and Kitty Litter....
:
- Jimmy Buffett: Guitar and vocals
- Michael UtleyMichael UtleyMichael Utley, often credited as Mike Utley, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer for Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. He is the musical director of the band...
: Keyboards - Greg "Fingers" Taylor: Harmonica
- Robert GreenidgeRobert GreenidgeRobert Greenidge is a steelpan player in the United States and a member of popular music singer Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band and the instrumental group Club Trini.-Career:...
: Steel drums, percussion - Roger Guth: Drums
- Peter Mayer: Guitars, vocals
- Jim Mayer: Bass, vocals
- Jay Oliver: Keyboards, programming
- Amy Lee: Saxophone
- Johnny Padilla: Saxophone
- John Lovell: Trumpet
- Thom Mitchell: Horns
- Michael Tschudin: Keyboards, Mallet Kat
- Ralph MacDonaldRalph MacDonaldRalph MacDonald is an American percussionist and song-writer. He joined Harry Belafonte's band at age 17. He wrote the Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway song "Where is the Love" with songwriting partner William Salter. Probably his best-known composition is the Grover Washington, Jr...
: Percussion - Background Singers: Claudia Cummings, Mary Harris, Nicolette LarsonNicolette LarsonNicolette Larson was an American pop singer. She is perhaps best known for her work in the late 1970s with Neil Young, as well as her 1978 cover of Young's "Lotta Love". The song, her debut single, was a Number One Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks hit and #8 pop hit that year...