Church of Buffett, Orthodox: January 1998 News

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Last update: Monday, 13-Aug-2001 21:22:58 EDT

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January 1998 News

January 31

Rumors of a Jimmy Buffett Festival at the MGM in Las Vegas have surfaced. Perhaps a huge bash before the show? Maybe even the elusive Jimmy Buffet will show up! [Thanks to Ken Jenkins!]

So far the response to the new Question of the Week has been outstanding. Keep 'em coming, and look for a couple to be answered by Monday!

Jimmy has worked with Brian Wilson (of Beach Boys fame) on Wilson's first new (solo) album in 10 years:

Wilson, who sings all the lead and backing vocals on the album, laid down the lead vocals to the song "South American," with lyrics by Buffett, on Jan. 28 at Shrimpboat Sound. It has been described as an uptempo track along the lines of "California Girls" and "Kokomo."

After Azoff hooked up Wilson and Thomas with Buffett, the latter "put a couple of lines in there about South America and (actress) Cameron Diaz, and the rest was history," Thomas says. "He came to Brian's house and sat down and gave us his concept of the song."

Says Wilson, "Jimmy Buffett is a really bright guy with a lot of imagination and creativity. He really writes great lyrics, and he has helped us out a lot."

The album is due for release some time in late April. [Thanks to Ken Jenkins!]

Jimmy is mentioned in an article in the magazine Soundings. It seems that Jimmy donated his time and voice to help make an 11 minute information tape that is braodcast over and over to drivers and boaters on Florida Bay Research Radio, 1610 AM on the radio dial in Key Large, Fla. It's mostly educational information on how to be eco-tourists. [Thanks to Bob871@aol.com!]

January 29

All the good feedback has convinced me to start The Question of the Week.

January 28

Rumors rumors rumors! A "Jimmy Buffett" album to be released in April? Mickey passed this along to me. Here's my take on it: The gang was in Nashville in recording studios late in 1997. I believe they were laying down tracks for Don't Stop The Carnival. I'm betting that this is coming out this April.

Tickets for the May 2 show at Jazzfest (New Orleans) go on sale Monday 2/16 through Ticketmaster. [Thanks to Jeff Gardner!]

Jimmy's third report for his article on the Pope's visit to Cuba has been posted on the Coconut Telegraph.

January 26

Here's how my day was ruined:

Thankfully the copyright violation that had been pointed out to me has been removed. I'd like to thank everyone for their support and help.

The second in a series of reports from Jimmy in Havana has been published on The Coconut Telegraph.

The Spring '98 issue of PassageMaker has some info on the new boat Jimmy recently purchased. The article is entitled "And Now, For Our Next Song ...Cheeseburgers in Pilothouse!" The new boat is a 62ft Nordhaven named Continental Drifter. The article goes on to say that this is comfort for sailers who are still feeling quilty about going the motorboat route..... The final sentence states "that the crew can swap their trademark flip-flops for snuggly bunny slippers..." [Thanks to Jeanne Boston]

January 25

I've started a new sorta-weekly commentary page.

Latest release date for Jimmy's new book A Pirate Looks At 50 is May 5th. [Thanks to Kevin Axt!]

January 24

Citizen's Scholarship Foundation of Mansfield, Mass. is offering a scholarship to "Sea Education" (a science program that focuses on the coastal and off shore marine environment of Cape Cod) in honor of Jimmy Buffett, sponsored by the Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, or an application, contact the Mansfield High School Guidance Office. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 31. [Thanks to Bob871@aol.com!]

January 22

More information on Elmopalooza: rock-on-tv lists the air date of the Elmopalooza special as Feb 20, 1998 8:00 PM. Buffett and Kermit may sing "Caribbean Amphibian."[Thanks to Jeremy Coe and Bob from AOL!]

Jimmy will be playing Jazzfest in New Orleans on May 2.

The Coconut Telegraph is publishing reports from Buffett in Cuba...

January 20

Well, even though I still haven't picked up Rancho Deluxe on CD yet, I know that Roger Bartlett was one of Jimmy's key people for making the soundtrack. Roger even sang lead on "Left Me With A Nail To Drive." In addition to being on of the original members of the Coral Reefer Band (along with Fingers), Roger has quite an impressive list of his works over the years: being a prolific songwriter to even movie appearances (!) to having his own music publishing company, Bartlett Music. Roger is currently finishing up a new album with his band, Hell's Kitchen. This is definitely something to watch out for! I'm pleased to announce that Roger Bartlett is the newest member of Hepcat Corner. Both Bartlett Music and Hell's Kitchen have sound bites to listen to, plus you can even get in talk with the former Coral Reefer! Be sure to drop by and listen to some music, sign Roger's guestbook, and tell him you said hi!

January 19

Heard on the radio: there is a TV event planned on ABC for late February called Elmopalooza featuring Sesame (sp?) Street characters dueting with popular musicians. According to the radio Buffett is on the schedule to appear. [Thanks to Brad Carlson]

January 18

Take a minute and think about the struggle that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for. The struggle isn't over. Have you done your part?

Friday's New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper, in its coverage of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, reports Jimmy saying he would be playing the second weekend of Jazzfest. Perhaps he will play a night at Margaritaville sometime during Jazzfest as well? [Thanks to Guy Brierre]

I was tipped off to a wonderful repository of country music links and pages dedicated to some of country's original greats. Check out DJ Coolz's County Pages.

January 15

Playboy has a profile on Jimmy in the February issue.

Reprinted without permission from the Boston Globe:

Regardless of what Jimmy Buffett's song says, his next gig is not just "Havana Daydreaming." The singer will head for Cuba at the end of this month to cover the Pope's visit there for Rolling Stone magazine. "I'm going to be a journalist again," Buffett said Monday night at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Awards in NY. He studied journalism at the University of Southern Mississippi. Also heading south -among the 5,000 journalists-- will be homemaking guru Martha Stewart. She will presumably cover the visit in connection with her regular appearances on CBS's "This Morning" show.

Rolling Stone also gave the recent rerelease of Rancho Deluxe three stars.

Finally, a little birdie (a parrot perhaps) whispered something about possibly two shows in Denver this year.

January 13

The Original Rancho Deluxe Soundtrack was released today on Rykodisc. Various reports have it being difficult to locate. My suggestion is to either call around before shopping or else ask sales associates to check in the back for it.

The JB Listserv members know Kevin Mulvenna. His website is now finished and you too can enjoy Kevin's music. It's sort of a cross between Harry Chapin and Jimmy Buffett and Steve Goodman. Check it out at http://www.hepcat.com/mulvenna!

January 7

An excerpt (?) of Jimmy in Men's Journal is now available.

January 6

Jimmy is interviewed in the February issue of Playboy and Bubba will also introduce the Eagles as they are being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [Thanks to Marty Farrell]

January 5

Brace yourself for a heart attack... Jimmy is now financially supporting Newt Gringrich!

Oops sorry about that, I meant that From The Vault has been updated for the first time in almost 6 months! Warning though: this clip contains strong language...

January 3

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Holiday season. I enjoyed relaxing. Thanks to all of those who wrote me to wish me a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year-I appreciated each and every one of the messages but sadly I couldn't reply to them all. May 1998 be wonderful to you all, as long as you don't get better concert seats than me ;-)

If you haven't read through the December news, please do so soon! I will be moving it to the archives shortly to make room for good news in 98. Don't forget Rancho Deluxe comes out on the 13th!

On 12/23, Jimmy was on Jeopardy just as an Audio Daily Double came on in the category Christmas Day Birthdays. The guy had to identify the singer doing his version of "Christmas Island." The guy correctly answered Buffett which seemed to surprise Alex Trebek. [Thanks to Jamie Parks]

During Christmas week, Christmas Island hit #12 on Billboard Online. [Thanks to Marty Farrell]

This is from Bob number 871 on AOL:

In the upcoming issue of "Men's Journal" it features Jimmy Buffett. On the cover it has a picture of Jimmy flyfishing off of his seaplane in the Keys. The cover also mentions his book "A Pirate Looks at Fifty". I believe that the cover says something like: A trip back to Margaritaville.

Finally, the Church of Buffett, Orthodox is proud to offer a report on the Aspen show of Freddie and the Fishsticks, courtesy of Evan Chesler. This is well worth the read!