Customer Reviews

Live at Texas Stadium

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For people who like Jimmy Buffett, the world's richest beach bum, springtime brings great anticipation.

Springtime means the Big Kahuna is going on tour and a Jimmy Buffett tour means it's time to break out the flip-flops, tropical party favors, the Margarita machine and Buffett's latest album.

Parrotheads (Jimmy's fans) are lining up for "Live at Texas Stadium," recorded with George Strait and Alan Jackson during their 2004 stadium mega- show in Irving.

During their long careers, Jackson, Strait and Buffett have separately released over "85 number one singles, and sold more than 120,000,000 records," according to a press release from MCA-Nashville, the record's distributor.

Although Buffett is famous for "Margaritaville," he actually got his start in country music, working in Nashville during the late 1960s. It wasn't until good friend Jerry Jeff Walker took him to Key West that Buffett discovered the island point of view, his considerable song writing skills and developed his happy, laid back style of music.

Buffett and Strait team up on three cuts, "All My Ex's Live in Texas," Hank Williams' "Hey, Good Looking" and "Sea of Heartbreak." Strait's smooth vocal styling is the perfect foil for Buffett's world-weathered sound.

If you're from the 50s or even the early 60s and you grew up in the south, Jimmy and King George's cover of the Don Gibson hit "Sea of Heartbreak" might evoke memories of a Saturday night when your parents were going out on the town. They were all dressed up, with Hi-Fi playing the latest dance tune. Cha-cha-cha.

Of course, Buffett and Jackson do a great turn on the Grammy-nominated "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," their huge 2003 hit. The song spent 38 weeks on the top 40 charts, including a five-week stint at number 1. The duet won a limousine full of awards for the song, too.

Strait and Jackson step up to the microphone and deliver some pure country on "Murder on Music Row" and they wail on "Cowboys Like Us."

Strait and his Ace in the Hole band have a rollicking good time with Bob Wills' "Milk Cow Blues" and Jackson proves why he's one of the best voices in country music on his cover of The Eagles' "Seven Bridges Road." The tight harmonies are incredible, especially considering they were done in front of a live audience. The album wouldn't be complete without a visit to "Margaritaville," and Jackson adds a nice dimension to the parrothead national anthem.

One of the more pleasant surprises on the CD has to be Buffett and Jackson teaming up on "Boats to Build." The song was written by Texan Guy Clark and it's a great choice for the two musicians, who first met when they were out cruising around the Caribbean.

Long-time parrotheads will be delighted that Jimmy chose to include Willis Alan Ramsey's song, "Northeast Texas Women," on his set list for the show.

Buffett, Ramsey, a Dallas native, and Jerry Jeff Walker used to hang out together during the early 70s, playing the bars on lower Greenville Avenue in Dallas, struggling to make a living the music business.

Ramsey's self-titled 1972 album has influenced musicians for years, including Buffett and Walker, who have covered some Ramsey' tunes, including "The Ballad of Spider John."

Ramsey's second album, "Gentilly," is due out later this spring, so maybe including the tune on the new CD is Buffett's way of tipping his hat to his old friend.

Here's the first verse from "Northeast Texas Women":

South of Oklahoma, east of New Mexico
West of Louisiana, where all the Cajuns grow.
We've got a little place called Texas,
where the women grow on trees.
They're right there for the picking,
just as pretty as you please.

You're smiling now, right?

Smiling and happiness is what Buffett does best. He's so much more than "Margaritaville" and "Come Monday."

Buffett's been playing happy music for over 30 years and after more than 20 albums, he obviously knows what his fans want. The album from the historic Texas Stadium show is no different. Having George Strait and Alan Jackson on the stage just makes listening to the 15 songs three times the fun.

Buffett and his talented Coral Reefer Band are about to head out on the road. The Bama Breeze Tour takes its name from a cut from Buffett's last solo CD, "Take the Weather with You." Pick up the CD, get out your brightest Hawaiian shirt, put on your flip flops and go to a Buffett show. It's the most fun you'll ever have -- legal.

Hula, hula!

If there was ever anything that could be called a sure thing it is this live recording from Texas Stadium that brings together individually, in duets and trios, a cowpoke, a country boy and a parrothead. George Strait, Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett are kindred spirits who have all worked together in the past and shine in the various combinations here.

This is a perfect, laid back, summertime tailgating outing. Nothing too serious, much tongue in cheek as the three headliners comprise the perfect mutual admiration society. Everyone one stage is having fun, the audience is having a good time as you will in the comfort of your home or your truck.

The stars came out to play and now all you need to complete the fun is some fried chicken, greasy burgers and beer and a pitcher of margaritas and count the days until summer.

We have really enjoyed this CD and love the songs on it but the only thing that is not top notch is the accoustics in some songs only, but heck, I still enjoy listening to it anyway!

This is a very enjoyable album and certainly collectible.My only question is since they waited this long to put it out,why didn't they release it as a DVD video? Recommended.

I was at this concert, and this is one of the best live cds I have heard. I usually don't like "live" as I don't want to listen to the crowd, but this is at a minimum on this one. Brought back wonderful memories of a truly remarkable concert!

I have to say this is one one of the most enjoyable CDs I have listened to. I am a big George Strait fan but had only listened to a little Buffet and virtually no Jackson. What a pleasant surprise! Of course, I love Cowboys Like Us, but I've played Designated Drinker, Five O'Clock Somewhere, and Where I Come From over and over and over. There' not a bad track on the disc. And you can't help but smile listening to how much fun these guys are having together. A friend of mine will be 50 tomorrow and I bought one for him for his birthday. Great!

You just can't go wrong with this one. To have Alan Jackson redo Hank Jr's "Texas Women" just makes it that much better. George, Alan, and Jimmy sound great by themselves and together as well as the rowdy crowd. For a live recording they caught everything so open up a cold beer, throw some meat on the pit, and crank it up!

As a big fan of all three musicians, I was disappointed that I could not attend the concert in person but after listening to the cd I'm glad to have missed it. If I hear "Let's hear it for George Strait or Alan Jackson or Jimmy Buffet" again, that's fine with me. While the music is good the mutual admiration society was over the top. Way too much introduction/promotion goes on and it becomes distraction. It really wore thin on me.

How could you possibly not like this CD?! Being an old parrothead and a someone who got off the LA freeway without getting caught this is the perfect blend for me. Bottom line, get me out of the city....if I cant be on a tropical island, give me the range. Give me a cheeseburger or a steak in paradise. Way to go George, Alan and Jimmy!

Love this CD, It's hard to find music with 3 top rated talents on one CD and great tunes to boot!