Jimmy Buffett Album: “High Cumberland Jubilee (1972)”

High Cumberland Jubilee unfortunately was released on the tiny Barnaby label or else it could have been Jimmy Buffett's breakout. It contains some of his best songs, "In The Shelter" and "Livingston's Gone To Texas" were later revived and re-recorded on future albums, and great singing. "Ace" & "Rockefeller Square" are songs about odd-ball characters. "Death Valley Lives" is one of his all-time best songs and pops along like a car on the open road. "God Don't Own A Car" & "The Hang-Out Gang" are typical Jimmy Buffett wry look at life songs. The album fulfills the promise of his debut and is a great hidden gem.

Having had "Before the Beach" for quite some time, I was surprised to hear the different versions on this re-release. Note the flute on "Ace", the electric guitar on "Death Valley Lives", and the slightly differently set-up version of "High Cumberland Jubilee/Comin' Down Slow". Excellent folk-rock album, recommended more to James Taylor and Gordon Lightfoot fans than those especially fond of "Songs You Know By Heart." Early versions of Livingston's Gone to Texas" and "In the Shelter" are also interesting to listen to.

I agree with Mr. Bede on this one. While I own every Jimmy Buffett album, I certainly am NOT a "Parrothead" or a mindless devotee of any sort for that matter. Also, I actually wasn't alive in the 70's or the better half of the 80's but I know good music when I hear it! While I adore his debut, Down To Earth, I think High Cumberland Jubilee was his first truly great album. All the songs are great. He sounds more confident and full of energy than he did on the debut, plus the lyrics are even more biting in that classic 'protest era' folk way. The best song in my opinion, "In the Shelter", was later re-done for Changes in Latitude, and while I love both versions, I much prefer this one. Sure, the other one fits well on Changes in Latitudes (where it's given a more laid-back beachy treatment) this version is far more evocative and personal. You can't go wrong with this one.

Jimmy's second album follows a similar style as his first, but overall is the better recording of the two. This is still pre-beach bum Buffett and many of the songs reflect a social / political consciousness that would fade away on his later (and more popular) recordings. Songs like "Rockefeller Square", "In The Shelter" and "Ace" all paint pictures of economic social situations that still ring true today. Some of Jimmy's best character studies are to be found here too with songs like "Death Valley Lives" and "Livingston's Gone To Texas". Another highlight is the country rock romp of "High Cumberland Jubilee / Coming Down Slow" medley that closes the album. Along with the good stuff there are some clunkers that sound very hippi-ish and dated. Songs like "The Hang Out Gang" and "God Don't Own A Car" probably went over really well in 1972, but have not aged very well. This album would prove to be the last to be recorded for independent label as Buffett would move on to MCA for his next release. It would also be his last album for many years to be recorded in Nashville which would reflect itself in the music to come.