The Great Filling Station Holdup
Encyclopedia
"The Great Filling Station Hold Up" is a song written and performed by American
popular music singer-songwriter
Jimmy Buffett
. It was first released on his 1973
album A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean
and was his first single from that album. The single reached #58 on the US Country
chart in 1973.
The song appears on Live at Fenway Park
, a live album
that opened with an acoustic set consisting of "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
", "The Great Filling Station Holdup" and "Pencil Thin Mustache
". The album also includes all songs from Songs You Know By Heart
, except "He Went to Paris".
a filling station
and the aftermath of getting caught shortly after the robbery in a honky tonk
, where both robbers are drunk on beer they bought with the cash they stole. Buffett got the idea to write the song after finding amusement in a newspaper article about recovered property from a holdup.
Soon after the release of the single, with "Why Don't We Get Drunk
" as its B-side, it was reported that it had sold over 50,000 copies just to jukebox operators, according to B.J. McElvee, country promotion manager for ABC-Dunhill Records. Billboard magazine reported that only the A-side was promoted to country radio, because the word "screw" (repeatedly used in "Why Don't We Get Drunk") was not generally acceptable in country radio programming at the time; however, "Why Don't We Get Drunk" was played by some "underground" stations on FM radio. "Why Don't We Get Drunk" was identified by Billboard as a "jukebox favorite" more than three years after its original release.
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"...
. It was first released on his 1973
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
album A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean
A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean
A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean is the third album by American popular music singer–songwriter Jimmy Buffett and the first major-label album in Buffett's Don Gant-produced "Key West phase"...
and was his first single from that album. The single reached #58 on the US Country
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart in 1973.
The song appears on Live at Fenway Park
Live at Fenway Park
Live at Fenway Park is a live album by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and is one of number of Jimmy Buffett sound board live albums recorded directly from the mixing console without further editing thus resembling bootleg recordings....
, a live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
that opened with an acoustic set consisting of "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes (song)
"Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" is the title of a song written and recorded by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released as a single on ABC Dunhill 12305 in August 1977....
", "The Great Filling Station Holdup" and "Pencil Thin Mustache
Pencil Thin Mustache
"Pencil Thin Mustache," originally released as "Pencil Thin Moustache," is a song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released as a single on Dunhill D-15011 in August 1974.It was first released on his 1974 album Living & Dying in ¾ Time...
". The album also includes all songs from Songs You Know By Heart
Songs You Know by Heart
Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett's Greatest Hit is the 18th album and the first greatest hits compilation by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released in January 1985 as MCA 5633...
, except "He Went to Paris".
History
The song is about two robbers holding upRobbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
a filling station
Filling station
A filling station, also known as a fueling station, garage, gasbar , gas station , petrol bunk , petrol pump , petrol garage, petrol kiosk , petrol station "'servo"' in Australia or service station, is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants...
and the aftermath of getting caught shortly after the robbery in a honky tonk
Honky tonk
A honky-tonk is a type of bar that provides musical entertainment to its patrons...
, where both robbers are drunk on beer they bought with the cash they stole. Buffett got the idea to write the song after finding amusement in a newspaper article about recovered property from a holdup.
Soon after the release of the single, with "Why Don't We Get Drunk
Why Don't We Get Drunk
"Why Don't We Get Drunk" is a novelty song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was a b-side to the first single from his 1973 album A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean...
" as its B-side, it was reported that it had sold over 50,000 copies just to jukebox operators, according to B.J. McElvee, country promotion manager for ABC-Dunhill Records. Billboard magazine reported that only the A-side was promoted to country radio, because the word "screw" (repeatedly used in "Why Don't We Get Drunk") was not generally acceptable in country radio programming at the time; however, "Why Don't We Get Drunk" was played by some "underground" stations on FM radio. "Why Don't We Get Drunk" was identified by Billboard as a "jukebox favorite" more than three years after its original release.
Chart performance
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Hot Country Songs | 58 |