Smooth Sailing for Buffett Atop U.S. Albums Chart
Billboard
Magazine
By
Melinda Newman and Phyllis Stark
LOS
ANGELES/NASHVILLE - It only took 30 years, but Jimmy Buffett can
finally say he has reached No. 1 on the U.S. pop albums chart.
"I
figured if I didn't make it there in the next year or two, I was just going to
hang it up and try something else," Buffett said with an obviously
delighted laugh. "I'm just tickled pink."
His
ascent marks the longest period between an artist first charting on The
Billboard 200 and reaching the peak. Buffett debuted on the album chart in 1974
with his third release, "Living and Dying in 3/4 Time."
"We've
always done very well with him, but this is going to be the biggest record he
has had for us," said Steve Diesel, a senior buyer for Minneapolis-based
Best Buy.
Although
Buffett has had more than a dozen songs on the country chart over the years, his
country fortunes started to rise in earnest in 1999 when Jackson asked him to
duet on a remake of Buffett's classic drinking song, "Margaritaville."
"I
didn't know how big Alan was," Buffett admitted, "and then I found out
when that jet came in."
That
song peaked at No. 63 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, but it
paved the way for the duo's 2003 smash, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere,"
which spent eight weeks at No. 1.
"I
thought, 'Hell, when am I going to see everyone again?"' Buffett says.
"I thought if I got 50% of them, it would be great, but everyone's schedule
worked out."
He
said he was tremendously gratified that so many artists on the album have cited
him as an influence, but they shouldn't expect him to hand over the reins.
"It's
like being the old fart in the surf line," he says. "I'm the bald guy
surrounded by all these kids. But I'll take the wave, and I know how to ride it
for a long time."
As
"Chill" developed, and, "we caught some magic in the
studio," Buffett said he thought the album might need a little more juice
than Mailboat could provide.
"It's
kind of like fishing," he says. "I knew I could go to the Parrothead
fishing hole, but I thought there were a lot more fish we could reach if we also
went to another fishing hole. But we didn't have the bait to catch them."
RCA
BAITS THE HOOK
That's
where RCA came in.
"They
laid out a great marketing plan," Buffett says. "I shut up and said,
'Pick the single. I'll do the promotion you want me to do.' I couldn't be
happier."
Knowing
that country radio was already open to Buffett's music, RCA went after airplay
hard.
"We
felt like it was a no-brainer to take it to radio," said Jon Elliot, VP of
marketing and artist development for RCA.
He
was right. The song has raced up the country singles chart, and is currently at
No. 8.
Among
the other factors behind the album's successful debut were Buffett's recent
appearance on "Today" and his ongoing concert appearances on the
License to Chill tour.
"We
felt like it was a really interesting and unique opportunity to speak to the
Parrotheads who live and breathe Jimmy Buffett and also to the country music
consumer who was already predisposed to Jimmy," RCA's Elliot said. "He
has his own fan base, and it's amazing how strong it is. He built a brand that
all we had to do was tap into."
Buffett
is now turning to putting the finishing touches on his next novel, "A Salty
Piece of Land," which comes out later this year, as well as finalizing a
film deal.
"I'll
quit when I can't remember the words or when I go flat," Buffett said.
"But until then, I've definitely got a few more in me."
Editor's note: Buffett is on the cover of
© 1998 - 2004 Sandlapper Parrot Head Club