| Equal Strain on All Parts | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 3, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2022–2023 | |||
| Length | 52:55 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| Jimmy Buffett chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Equal Strain on All Parts | ||||
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Equal Strain on All Parts is the thirty-second [1] studio album by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It is the final album to be completed prior to his death on September 1, 2023, [2] [3] [4] and was released on November 3, 2023, through Mailboat and Sun Records.
After the release of Jimmy Buffett's 2020 album Life on the Flip Side , he continued to tour in support of his music. [5] However, privately, he had been diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but aggressive form of skin cancer, something he would fight for four years. [6] Buffett still continued to tour and write new music, though hospitalization in 2022 and 2023 would cause him to postpone or cancel some shows. [7] [5] [6] Buffett worked on recording the new album up through 2023, and completed it prior to his death on September 1, 2023. [8]
The title of the album, Equal Strain on All Parts, comes from a saying his grandfather would use to describe "a good nap". [9] The track "My Gummie Just Kicked In" was described as a surf rock song about a woman's experience of eating a cannabis edible at a summer dinner party. [10] The song was inspired by a real life event attended by Buffett, his wife Jane Slagsvol, Paul McCartney, and his wife Nancy Shevell. [11] Buffett was concerned about Shevell at a dinner party, and her response to his question about her well-being was simply the title of the song. [9] They all joked that the experience would make for a good song, and Buffett later followed through on writing it, even including McCartney on bass guitar on the final recording. [12] [11] The track "Bubbles Up" was described as a "reflective ballad" that was co-written with singer-songwriter and guitarist Will Kimbrough. [9] McCartney, who discussed the song with Buffett prior to his death, explained that the song's meaning was derived from common advice given to sailors and other people who may find themselves unexpectedly thrown into a body of water from a boat. McCartney explained that Buffett "turned a diving phrase that is used to train people underwater into a metaphor for life when you’re confused and don’t know where you are just follow the bubbles—they’ll take you up to the surface and straighten you out right away." [9] He also considered Buffett's vocal performance on the song to be the best in his career. [13] Michael Utley and Mac McAnally, two members of Buffett's backing band – the Coral Reefer Band – produced the album. [12]
The album contains three cover songs. "Like My Dog" was originally recorded by Billy Currington for his 2010 album Enjoy Yourself , from which it was released as the fourth single. Written by Harley Allen and Scotty Emerick, [10] the song is about a man wishing a woman would love him as loyally and enthusiastically as his own dog. [10] "Columbus", written by Noel Brazil for Mary Black's 1989 album No Frontiers and then later covered by David Crosby on his 1993 solo album Thousand Roads . [14] The album closer is a recording of Bob Dylan's "Mozambique", featuring Emmylou Harris who reprises her background vocal from the original recording. [15] [11]
The album was released on November 3, 2023. [9] Prior to his death, across July and August 2023, Buffett had teased clips of songs on social media, and had revealed a new song each Friday on his Radio Margaritaville radio show. [16] [10] On September 8, 2023, three songs were released ahead of the album release, "Bubbles Up", "My Gummie Just Kicked In", and "Like My Dog". [12] "Bubbles Up" is also the album's lead single. [17]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "University of Bourbon Street" (featuring Preservation Hall Jazz Band) |
| 4:19 |
| 2. | "Bubbles Up" |
| 4:46 |
| 3. | "Audience of One" |
| 3:22 |
| 4. | "My Gummie Just Kicked In" (featuring Paul McCartney) |
| 3:27 |
| 5. | "Close Calls" |
| 3:05 |
| 6. | "Equal Strain on All Parts" |
| 3:24 |
| 7. | "Like My Dog" | 2:36 | |
| 8. | "Ti Punch Cafe" (featuring Angelique Kidjo) |
| 3:56 |
| 9. | "Portugal or PEI" (featuring Lennie Gallant and Will Kimbrough) |
| 4:05 |
| 10. | "Nobody Works on Friday" |
| 3:37 |
| 11. | "Fish Porn" |
| 4:20 |
| 12. | "Johnny's Rhum" |
| 4:22 |
| 13. | "Columbus" | Noel Brazil | 4:20 |
| 14. | "Mozambique" (featuring Emmylou Harris) | 3:16 | |
| Total length: | 52:55 | ||
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) [18] | 42 |
| US Billboard 200 [19] | 6 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard) [20] | 2 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [21] | 2 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [22] | 1 |
James William Buffett was an American singer-songwriter. He was known for his tropical rock sound and persona, which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapism" and promoted enjoying life and following passions. Buffett recorded many hit songs, including those known as "The Big 8": "Margaritaville" (1977), which is ranked 234th on the Recording Industry Association of America's list of "Songs of the Century"; "Come Monday" (1974); "Fins" (1979); "Volcano" (1979); "A Pirate Looks at Forty" (1974); "Cheeseburger in Paradise" (1978); "Why Don't We Get Drunk" (1973); and "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" (1977). His other popular songs include "Son of a Son of a Sailor" (1978), "One Particular Harbour" (1983), and "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" with Alan Jackson (2003). Buffett formed the Coral Reefer Band in 1975.
"Margaritaville" is a 1977 song by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, released on his seventh album, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes. In the United States, "Margaritaville" reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and went to number one on the Easy Listening chart, also peaking at No. 13 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Billboard ranked it number 14 on its 1977 Pop Singles year-end chart. It was Buffett's highest charting solo single. After Buffett’s death on September 1, 2023, the song re-entered the Top 40 for the week ending September 16, 2023.
Wings at the Speed of Sound is the fifth studio album by the British–American rock band Wings, released on 26 March 1976. Issued at the height of the band's popularity, it reached the top spot on the US album chart—the band's fourth consecutive album to do so—and peaked at number 2 on the UK album chart. Both singles from the album also reached the top 5 of the UK and US singles charts, with "Silly Love Songs" reaching number 1 in the US.
License to Chill is the twenty-fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and was released on July 13, 2004, by Mailboat and RCA Nashville.
Havana Daydreamin' is the sixth studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and his fourth regular major label album. It was produced by Don Gant and released on January 20, 1976, on ABC ABCD-914 and January 28, 1987, on ABC Dunhill's successor label MCA.
Son of a Son of a Sailor is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was initially released in March 1978 as ABC Dunhill AA-1046 and later re-released on its successor label, MCA.
Christmas Island is Jimmy Buffett's first Christmas album and is his twenty-first studio album overall. It features covers of popular Christmas songs in Buffett's musical stylings as well as two tracks which Buffett wrote for the album. "Twas the Night Before Christmas" is a hidden track. It was his last release with MCA Records.
"It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" is a song performed by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett, and written by Jim "Moose" Brown and Don Rollins. It was released in June 2003 as the lead single from Jackson's 2003 compilation album Greatest Hits Volume II. It spent eight non-consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs in the summer of 2003, and ranked #4 on the year-end chart. In addition, the song peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September, and ranked #65 on the year-end Hot 100, making it the biggest pop hit for Jackson and the first top forty hit for Buffett since the 1970s.
"Now and Then" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 2 November 2023. Dubbed "the last Beatles song", it appeared on a double A-side single, paired with a new stereo remix of the band's first single, "Love Me Do" (1962), with the two serving as "bookends" to the band's history. Both songs were included on the expanded re-issues of the 1973 compilations 1962–1966 and 1967–1970, released on 10 November 2023.
Living and Dying in ¾ Time is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It is the second major label album in Buffett's Don Gant-produced "Key West phase". It was initially released in February 1974 as his second album for Dunhill Records. It contains the song "Come Monday", his first top-40 hit single.
The discography of American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett consists of 32 studio albums, 11 compilations albums, 14 live albums, one soundtrack album, and 67 singles. Buffett was known for his unique style of music called "Gulf and Western", which combines elements of country, folk rock, pop, and Caribbean, with tropical lyrical themes. Buffett has sold over 20 million albums worldwide and had a net worth of $550 million.
A1A or A-1-A is the fifth studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and the third major label album in Buffett's Don Gant-produced "Key West phase". It was initially released in December 1974 as Dunhill DS-50183 and later re-released on Dunhill's successor labels ABC and MCA.
Volcano is the ninth studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and is his 11th overall. It was released on August 1, 1979, as his first album for MCA after its absorption of ABC Dunhill.
One Particular Harbour is the twelfth studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released in September 1983 as MCA 5447 and was produced by Buffett and Michael Utley. It was Buffett's first involvement producing an album. "Stars on the Water" was a minor hit for its original writer, country music songsmith Rodney Crowell and was later covered by Texan country music singer George Strait on his 2001 album, The Road Less Traveled.
Riddles in the Sand is the thirteenth studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released in September 1984 as MCA 5512 and was produced by noted country music producer Jimmy Bowen and represented a concerted shift toward a more country sound by Buffett. He appeared on the album's cover in typical country singer garb and promoted the album at Fan Fair country music festival in Nashville, Tennessee. The album was originally to have been titled Gulf and Western Music reflecting the fusion of musical styles seen in much of Buffett's music often called Gulf and Western music. In the album's liner notes, Jim Harrison says, "This album has a musical range expanding in an arc from Bob Wills to Bob Marley with the Gulf somehow always there."
"Pencil Thin Mustache" is a song written and performed by American popular-music singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released as a single on Dunhill D-15011 in August 1974. It was first released on his album of 1974, Living and Dying in ¾ Time. It just missed the Billboard Hot 100 at number 101 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, and reached number 44 on the Easy Listening chart.
"Trip Around the Sun" is a song by American country music artists Jimmy Buffett and Martina McBride. It was released on August 16, 2004, as the second single from Buffett's 25th studio album License to Chill (2004) via Buffett's own Mailboat Records and McBride's RCA Nashville. The song was penned by Al Anderson, Stephen Bruton, and Sharon Vaughn, while production was handled by Mac McAnally and Michael Utley. "Trip Around the Sun" was originally recorded by Bruton in 1998 for his album Nothing But the Truth.
"Like My Dog" is a song written by Harley Allen and Scotty Emerick and recorded by American country music artist Billy Currington. It was released in October 2011 as the fourth and final single from Currington's 2010 album Enjoy Yourself. The song peaked at number 24 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Songs from St. Somewhere is the twenty-eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, released on August 20, 2013, by Mailboat Records.
New is the sixteenth solo studio album by English musician Paul McCartney, released on 11 October 2013 through MPL Communications, Hear Music, and Universal International. The album was his first since 2007's Memory Almost Full to consist entirely of new compositions.