Jimmy Buffett Album: “Living and Dying in 3/4 Time”

Living & Dying in 3/4 Time is Jimmy Buffett's last recording that concentrates on country music. He would still keep a country flavor in his music, but this album contains none of the Caribbean rhythms or beach themes that would permeate his future work. The album opens up with the vaudevillian "Pencil Thin Mustache" which is one of his more enduring classics. "Come Monday" is a trippy folk number that deservedly became his first Top 40 hit. "Ringling, Ringling", "Brahma Fear", "Brand New Country Star" and "Livingston's Gone To Texas" all are in the country theme and take on subjects such as the circus, rodeo riding, the Nashville music scene and head out to the range. "The Wino & I Know" speaks of the wisdom of old drunks. "Saxophones" and "Ballad Of Spider John" are slight numbers, but the album closes out with Mr. Buffett's take of Lord Buckley's "God's Own Drunk". It is a perfect song for Mr. Buffett as it fits perfectly into his storytelling persona and he more speaks the story than sings it.

And still my favorite. This is Buffett before he became popular, bordering on caracature. Seems he was living what he was singing about. I used to listen to this over and over on 8 track (along with Gord's Gold) in a cabin in the Canadian wilderness. For some reason, it seemed to fit that environment. Not a lot of distraction or amenities, just family, nature and some countrified music. Simple pleasures.

It's a bit country and a bit more but what makes this album so great is the fact that he's a phenomenal storyteller. He writes stories about people and places nobody writes songs about.

'Come Monday' is the song that put him on the map and it never ceases to get old yet there are some true gems on here. He's got moments of lyrical comedy that are pure gold (and not the lyrics that are comedy in the 'clown' sense that seems to characterize his later work). 'God's Own Drunk' has to be one of the best (and funniest) songs ever recorded.

If you haven't dug into his old stuff, you're missing out.

On "Living & Dying In 3/4 Time", Jimmy Buffett's fourth LP overall and his second release on the now defunct ABC/Dunhill label, it would appear that Buffett had for the most part traded in his homespun lyrical sense of humor in favor of a more serious and sentimental side, which many of JB's fans never fully saw or heard until this sophomore effort. But, that's not to say that Jimmy Buffett can't compose a humorous song without sounding too mish-mosh or overbearing, which in either case he doesn't. Whatever few humorous songs there are on "Living And Dying...", the combination of these with the more straightforward, subtle selections works wonders on an album of fine caliber such as this. Buffett felt he had something to prove to his increasingly growing audiences, and therefore needed to make a statement by writing wholehearted, contemporary ballads, such as "Come Monday" and "Ringling, Ringling", although the latter number is more of an up-tempo sort of ballad. "Come Monday" was also Buffett's first hit single, reaching the Top 30 of the Billboard pop charts in early 1974. JB's lightweight humor on "Pencil Thin Mustache" looks good on both paper and in the music itself, while "God's Own Drunk" is 360 degrees of pure comic relief, combined with masterful, impressionistic humor performed in classic Jimmy Buffett style! Not one bad moment can be found on "Living And Dying...", and that includes all the other compositions as well, which makes it the best of the early Buffett CD's. A word of caution for the younger generation of "ParrotHeads" - due to the nature of the heavily influenced country sounds as featured on this selection, you might find "Living And Dying..." a bit hard to digest at first. But, once you begin to understand its unique nuances and down-home charm, you'll definitely take it at face value, and will want to add it to your must have Jimmy Buffett collection. Since this title is virtually out of print in most areas, you should order it soon, although there's a rather distinct possiblity that either MCA Records or Jimmy Buffett himself will re-release his catalogue of older JB titles on his own label (Margaritaville), complete with the remaster treatment, including the original artwork and liner notes in the CD booklet. But, as they say, there's nothing like an original. Thus, MCA's "Compact Disc-Compact Price" edition of "Living And Dying In 3/4 Time" is destined to become a collector's item. It's the best "old school" Buffett money can buy!

This is the album that really gave Buffett his start. Come Monday actually made the top 40, it would be a while before that was to happen again. Yet, there is more to this album than one song. The stories are what continues to make me listen. Less the beat than the words. Brand New Country Star is a wonderful parody about success. And God's Own Drunk is just fun, when taken at face value. I believe everyone who would give this a listen would find at least one song that really appeals to them.

Love this album. Not to take away from James Ferguson's sentiments for God's Own Drunk, but I feel it's only right to point out that this is not Buffett's song. It was written and originally performed by Lord Buckley I believe. But none the less, a great song and a good choice by Jimmy. Brahma Fear, Livingston's gone to Texas, love it all.