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A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean

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A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean is the third studio album by American singer–songwriter Jimmy Buffett and the first major-label album in Buffett's Don Gant-produced "Key West phase", although Buffett himself frequently refers to "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean" as his first album. It was initially released on June 4, 1973 in LP as Dunhill DS-50150 and October 26, 1987 on CD as MCA. It was the first album of his career to feature Jimmy Buffett's trademark mustache, and it would remain in use until Floridays.

The title of the album is a play on the country song "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation" by Marty Robbins and it contains several of what would later become Buffett's most popular songs. The album was recorded at outlaw country singer Tompall Glaser's studio in Nashville, Tennessee. It marks the first reference to Buffett's backup band as "The Coral Reefer Band" and is the first album on which long-time Reefers Michael Utley and Greg "Fingers" Taylor play.

Chart performance

The album reached #43 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart but did not make the Billboard 200 album chart, his last major release not to make that chart. The single of "The Great Filling Station Holdup" reached #58 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and "Grapefruit Juicy Fruit" was #23 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.

Songs

All of the songs on A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean were written or co-written by Buffett.

The most well-known song of the album, the novelty "Why Don't We Get Drunk (and Screw)," was originally released as a B-side, backing the single "The Great Filling Station Holdup" and inspired some controversy at the time due to its lyrics. Buffett wrote "Why Don't We Get Drunk" and is credited with playing maracas and beer cans on the album under the pseudonym Marvin Gardens, derived from a property on the original Atlantic City version of the Monopoly game board.

"He Went to Paris" is perennial fan favorite ballad, appearing on most of Buffett's greatest hits collections. It was remade by Waylon Jennings in 1980 and by Buffett himself for his 2003 Meet Me In Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection.

Both Buffett and Jerry Jeff Walker wrote "Railroad Lady." Walker recorded the song a year earlier than Buffett and it was later further popularized by Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Billboard(positive)[2]
Robert ChristgauB[3]

Although it was not extremely commercially successful at the time of its release, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean is generally considered one of Buffett's better albums and the beginning of his success. Johnny Loftus of AllMusic argues that "while it still lies much closer to Nashville than Key West," the album "does begin to delineate the blowsy, good-timin' Key West persona that would lead him to summer tour stardom" and is "highly recommended for Buffett completists and those interested in his more introspective side."[1]

Track listing

LP record and Compact disc

Side A:

  1. "The Great Filling Station Holdup" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:02
  2. "Railroad Lady" (Jimmy Buffett, Jerry Jeff Walker) – 2:46
  3. "He Went to Paris" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:29
  4. "Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit" (Jimmy Buffett) – 2:57
  5. "Cuban Crime of Passion" (Jimmy Buffett, Tom Corcoran) – 3:42
  6. "Why Don't We Get Drunk" (Marvin Gardens) – 2:43

Side B:

  1. "Peanut Butter Conspiracy" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:43
  2. "They Don't Dance Like Carmen No More" (Jimmy Buffett) – 2:57
  3. "I Have Found Me A Home" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:58
  4. "My Lovely Lady" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:10
  5. "Death of an Unpopular Poet" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:39

Compact Cassette

Side A:

  1. "The Great Filling Station Holdup" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:02
  2. "Cuban Crime of Passion" (Jimmy Buffett, Tom Corcoran) – 3:42
  3. "I Have Found Me A Home" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:58
  4. "Death of an Unpopular Poet" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:39
  5. "Peanut Butter Conspiracy" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:43

Side B:

  1. "Railroad Lady" (Jimmy Buffett, Jerry Jeff Walker) – 2:46
  2. "He Went to Paris" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:29
  3. "Why Don't We Get Drunk" (Marvin Gardens) – 2:43
  4. "Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit" (Jimmy Buffett) – 2:57
  5. "They Don't Dance Like Carmen No More" (Jimmy Buffett) – 2:57
  6. "My Lovely Lady" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:10

Personnel

The Coral Reefer Band:

Singles

  • "The Great Filling Station Holdup" b/w "Why Don't We Get Drunk" (Released on Dunhill D-4348 in April 1973)
  • "They Don't Dance Like Carmen No More" b/w "The Great Filling Station Holdup" (Released on Dunhill D-4353 in 1973)
  • "Grapefruit Juicy Fruit" b/w "I Have Found Me a Home" (Released on Dunhill D-4359 in July 1973)
  • "He Went to Paris" b/w "Peanut Butter Conspiracy" (Released on Dunhill D-4372 in October 1973)

Notes

  1. ^ a b https://www.allmusic.com/album/r2914
  2. ^ "Billboard's Top Album Picks". Billboard. 85 (23): 54. June 9, 1973. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. ^ [1]
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