Disco de Jimmy Buffett: “Havana Daydreamin'”

This is Buffett when he was still making up his mind if he was a rocker, a folkie, a country balladeer, or a beach bum guitar player (of course, we now know he turned out to be all 4, which is why parrotheads love their leader so much). I'll admit I bought the cd mostly to get my hands on a copy of "This Hotel Room," which ranks right up there in terms of the kind of Buffett song his critics hate and his fans love. I'm incredibly thrilled with the rest of it, though, especially the beautiful, lyrical, eccentric first track, "Woman Goin Crazy on Caroline Street." Buy this cd.

I like this album quite a bit. Material-wise, it's not quite up to the standards set by his previous two efforts, "Livin' & Dyin' in 3/4 Time," and the brilliant "A-1-A,' but I still think this is an essential and important classic Buffett recording that any serious fan of his music should own.

Also, you can say that this album was a tranisitional one in his career as well. It was the last time Don Gant was his producer. Gant clearly did a very good job on the previous three sides, helping to define his sound as something of a country-rock hybrid, which reflected Buffett's musical taste. In my opinion, though, Buffett wanted to move toward a more popular sound, eliminating the steel guitar, for example was a move in that direction, even though some of his most memorable tunes featured that instrument.

In addition, for the first time, there is a real Coral Reefer band, with the Nashville Cats doing backup. Even the Oak Ridge Boys get a credit. In any case, Buffett was living the lifestyle he sang about and it really began to strike a chord with his growing fan base. He and his management recognized this and understood that it might make them all very wealthy if they didn't screw it up. They didn't.

As far as the music goes, there are some very good tunes on this album. It consists of ballads and stories, some of them pretty clever, in typical Buffett style. Side one features the great ballad about his grandfather, "The Captain and the Kid," and his cover of Jesse Winchester's "Defying Gravity." He fills out the side with the humorous "My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink & I don't Love Jesus," the opening cut and Key West soaper "Woman Going Crazy on Caroline St," and "Big Rig." Side two features the great title cut, and a collection of autobiographical story-tunes, "Cliches," "Something so Feminine about a Mandolin," "Kick it in 2nd Wind," and "This Hotel Room."

The classic tunes are the title cut and "Captain & the Kid," and the rest of the material is for the most part, very good, allowing for the comments noted in the opening paragraph. I have no problem saying that this album earns a solid 4 stars, which sure isn't any disgrace. If you can pick up the vinyl of this and the previous two albums, by all means, do so. The artwork and photos are great and are as well on "Changes in Latitudes" and "Volcano."

One oddity, though, is the use of the Spanish letter "enye" in the word Havana, so it reads as "Havanya." It's not correct at all -- I mean, it's the equivalent of spelling "New York," as "New Yorc." What the hell, Buffett's a wordsmith and he should know better. Maybe they kept it that way, because it looks kind of cool and figured that most of his fans wouldn't know the difference. I didn't until I learned Spanish....

Also, on the back cover of the album, can anyone out there verify that the artwork is what used to be Sand Key?

Thanks!

"Havana Daydreaming" should make you want to write your congressman and end the stupid embargo now. The title cut makes me want to go there now. The cut "Defying Gravity" alone is worth the price of the album, if only for Greg "Fingers" Taylor's harmonica melodies intersperced throughout this relaxing, melodic tune. The autobiographical "Captain and the Kid", evokes memories of my own seafaring grandfather, who sailed for Delta Lines as master for years. All in all, a true artifact of his laid back Key West days when "money didn't mean nothin' to him", and he "went down to Bridgetown to spend some time in the Barbados sun, instead his plans took a skid when he smoked a whole lid and wound up where he'd begun". (See "A1A")

This remains one of my very favorite Jimmy Buffett albums, nearly the equal of greats such as "A-1-A" and "Living and Dying in 3/4 Time". Long before the Parrothead silliness set in, this was the impressive Buffett who skillfully balanced light-hearted and comical tunes such as "My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink and I Don't Love Jesus", Steve Goodman's "This Hotel Room" and the bluesy "Big Rig" with eloquent and lovely songs like the title track, Jesse Winchester's "Defying Gravity" and what could be the best song he ever wrote, the poignant "The Captain and the Kid." The only knock against this CD is the horribly cheap packaging by MCA, which by default is now Universal. Zero liner notes, zero songwriting credits, zero bonus tracks. If you didn't already know who wrote these songs or who played on the album, you are out of luck. An album as fine as this one deserves much better treatment. Times for a deluxe reissue with maybe some bonus live tracks, and proper booklet with liner notes.

I was stuck for 4 days in a cabin with 5 friends, no TV, tons of beer, two decks of cards and HAVANA DAYDREAMIN' on 8 track. 15 years, 12 concerts and many more Beers & Margaritas later and this is still my favorite album.