Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes [Gold Disc] [Gold CD]

Jimmy Buffett | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 7, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Gold CD
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002OQQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,402 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Buffett sold his promise as a real-world singer-songwriter God knows how many boats ago, but 1977's Changes remains one of his last stands before plunging into a sea of parrotheads, "Fins," and personal empire building. "Margaritaville" was the deceptively lighthearted hit, but Steve Goodman's "Banana Republics" and the title tune also raised an eyebrow at the worlds Buffett encountered in his 100-proof-fueled travels. Yet soon the empire would overtake the wit and ego would subsume his creative reach. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Jimmy Buffett album, October 10, 2003

By 

Tom B "handydandy" (Westport, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Changes in Latitudes Changes in Attitudes (Audio CD)

Wonderful songs, lovely tunes and fabulous singing. There's the famous Buffett good-time party-at-the-beach feeling permeating the tracks, but the high energy comes from swaying, lyrical melodies, not noisy distortion. That's why everyone loves this album. There's "Margaritaville," which is a phenomenon unto itself, but that's just the start. Every track here draws you in with its sweet sounds, smooth rhythms and good times, all perfectly expressed in music. I have later albums by JB and I like them, but not nearly as much. This album is a standout not only for Buffett, but for all albums. It is unique and wonderful. It's music you can play over and over, and still smile and sing along each time you hear it. If you're a Jimmy Buffett fan I don't have to convince you -- you already own this disc. If you're new to JB, this is definitely the place to start.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If not the very best, the most important work of Buffett's career, July 4, 2005

By 

Tim Withee "Tim Withee" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Changes in Latitudes Changes in Attitudes (Audio CD)

Look, ask yourself how important the tune "Margaritaville" has been to Jimmy Buffett in terms of identifying him, branding him and flat out making him a multi-millionaire? It was huge, there's nothing to compare with it, save "Cheeseburger in Paradise," but that's on another album. Bottom line is that his brand is "Margaritaville," and it's been very good to Buffett.

Thus, "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes," marked the end of his classic period and was the transition album to the persona he was in the process of becoming, so even the album title works in that sense.

Nevertheless, the music on this album is terrific. You could exclude "Margaritaville," too, and it'd still be great. The title tune is one of them, as are "Wonder Why We Ever Go Home," "Banana Republics," concert fave "Tampico Trauma," "In the Shelter," Miss You So Badly," and the great cover of the Jesse Winchester opus, "Biloxi," in my humble opinion, one of his best ever recordings. It's Jimmy at his balladeering best.

On this album, the Coral Reefer Band comes into it's own, too. The Nashville Cats who were his sidemen on previous albums aren't featured as Coral Reefers anymore and Don Gant has been replaced by Norbert Putnam as the producer. Although the personnel of the Reefers has changed over the years (Mr. Utley being the last of the early Reefers still around), Buffett eschewed the steel guitar in his sound, moving to a contemporary rock sound -- including experimenting with instruments not normally heard on rock tunes -- and "Margaritaville," is the classic example of this change in musical direction.

As I said, Buffett was becoming a big star, supporting this album in bigger venues than ever and he wasn't sure where it was all going as he says in "Wonder Why We Ever Go Home," "....wondering if I can keep her, as I race to catch up with my dreams....how they shine and glitter and gleam."

Well, clearly, Buffett was getting the picture that if he played his cards right, he could live a lifestyle most people could only dream of with and still play his music, too. On "Changes In Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes," this all kind of comes to the surface.

On the other hand, the music on this album is just about as good as Jimmy Buffett can get. I personally like "A-1-A" about the same, maybe a little more, but this album has been around for almost 30 years and has stood the test of time. The material was great then and it's still great. It's much, much more than "Margaritaville," believe me. And like "A-1-A," there isn't a weak cut on the album.

Five stars.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can I rate it higher than 5?, March 21, 2000

By 

KEY WEST-the band (Nederland, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Changes in Latitudes Changes in Attitudes (Audio CD)

This album, along with "Son of a Son of a Sailor", are what secure Jimmy Buffett's place in my personal Hall of Fame for music. It's hard to decide which is best to me, but the songs on "Changes in Latitudes" make you feel like you're on a personal guided tour of the Caribbean with Buffett himself. Though I've liked many of his albums before ("A1A" comes to mind) and after ("Fruitcakes") these two back to back masterpieces really illustrate Buffett when he was in a groove that few writers have ever been in. It's almost unfair to him to compare subsequent recordings to "Changes in Latitudes", because no writer can be expected to fabricate his own magic twice in a lifetime. IT JUST HAPPENS! Same thing happened for Springsteen, Elton John, Billy Joel, Brian Wilson, etc. If you are a novice to Buffett, please buy this album, and listen to the words. If you are a member of a Parrot Head Club, and haven't listened to this album in a while, please buy it and listen to the words! This album, along with "Sailor" are what inspired me to write songs myself..... Jerry Diaz, Key West-the band