Customer Reviews

Somewhere Over China

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

 

 

What is it about this album that makes so many parrotheads say "Well, I'm sure I'd like it if I gave it more of a chance, but..."? Perhaps it's the lack of a concert staple, although several of these songs could fit that bill just fine. Maybe it's because it's heavier than usual on ballads, but then some of those ballads are among his best. Whatever the reason may be, it's worth more of a chance than most fans I know have given it.

Somewhere Over China is obscure enough that if you're reading this, you're probably already quite a Buffett fan. Which means you understand his true appeal as most of the critics never will. It isn't about the commercialization of Key West or expensive cheeseburgers or dressing up like a Heinz 57 bottle to drink Corona until you...well, you know. Oh, the left-of-center goofiness is still here, notably in an off-the-wall cover of "On a Slow Boat to China" which Buffett appropriately dedicated to Spike Jones in the liner notes of the original LP, but it exists alongside some of the most introspective songs he's ever offered us.

The opener, "Where's the Party," is surely the most misleading title of his career, but its tale of loneliness from an extrovert's point of view is nothing if not thought-provoking. On the lighter side, "It's Midnight and I'm Not Famous Yet" features the late Steve Goodman as co-writer and a lead character named Lester Polyester...need I say more? Goofier still is "Lip Service," perhaps Buffett's all-time greatest double-entendre. (Is it about a co-dependent relationship or oral sex? You make the call!) But the mood is more serious for the most part. "Steamer" is arguably the most sensuous number he's ever recorded, while "I Heard I Was In Town" is tops in the subgenre of lonely-life-of-a-superstar songs (something he'd tried his hand at several times before, but never as convincingly as here).

Yes, I know, you already have half of those songs if you own the box set. So why buy this CD as well? The title track, which as far as I know has never been released on any other album, is the best Buffett you've never heard. It's a tale of an average guy who gets the unlikely chance to throw caution to the wind and travel to the far side of the world, discovering the pros and cons of that lifestyle along the way, much as our hero has spent much of the past three decades doing. What's the moral of the story? Maybe we're better off staying with the dull but familiar; but then again, maybe there's real joy in the loneliness of wanderlust. Buffett doesn't really give us an answer, and perhaps he hadn't made up his own mind when he wrote the song. That uncertainty makes for a lesson unto itself. Either way, if you're still hoping for that opportunity to go off one of these days in search of the Great Lost Saltshaker, you need this song in your collection!

Oh, the album that doesn't spawn any greatest hits tracks...it tends to get skewed or dismissed... Also, the album that has nuance usually gets passed over by the surface dwellers. This album was the first album that I have ever bought by Jimmy Buffett lo those many years ago. And I have been cherishing it more with every listen.

The lyrics on this album are some of the most ingenious lyrics composed and the few songs that are of non-Buffett origin are classics. The music is the culprit for the dismissals of this album since it's such nice music that unless one stops and listens, one can get carried away with merely the nice musical breeze.

"I Heard I Was In Town", "Somewhere Over China", "Where's The Party?" are tops on my Buffett lists along with the real classics of '70s Buffett. "If I Could Get It On Paper", as one reviewer accurately observed is dead-on if you are a writer.

This is sort of a Magic Eye album... if you don't see the picture at first, keep looking and suddenly the genius will pop out.

"Steamer" alone is a reason to buy this album. (not that the rest of it is bad) Buy it, put in on, open the windows on a cool evening, close your eyes and feel the breeze. I'm sure a lost love will come to mind.

I've owned this one for years and have introduced it to other Parrotheads. I love the title song, one of Jimmy's best I think, and "When Salome Played the Drums" is great! It's not country or Caribbean, just a nice mix of good music.

I remember when this album first came out. Rolling Stone panned it and laughed at Jimmy Buffett for standing somewhere other than over China on the album cover. For me, this is one of the quieter and more thoughtful of Jimmy Buffett's albums. Let Rolling Stone have their lousy rap and hip-hop, I'll be happy to keep Jimmy Buffett.

I became a Parrothead in the early 80s because of this album. It's always been my favorite, I guess because it was the first Buffett album I owned. I don't have a working turntable now, so I purchased this CD. A mini-vacation when the need arises. Fins up!

Sales of new Buffett albums continued to slip with "Somewhere Over China" as nothing on this disc got much if any airplay and the album tanked at the cash register. It remains one those albums that many Buffett fans do not own. It is a pretty average album for Jimmy, but there are a few gems to be found on it. Al of the songs were written by Buffett except for the final two tracks "Steamer" and "Slow Boat To China". Of the originals highlights include ""Where's The Party" whose lyrics suggest that the party life may not be all its cracked up to be. "Its Midnight And I'm Not Famous Yet" may be one of the best songs about Las Vegas ever written, and rocks harder than Buffett normally does. The title track "Somewhere Over China" is another good one telling the story of a world weary traveler. "I Heard I Was In Town" is a great little country tune with clever lyrics. This album has a melancholy feel to a lot of it especially compared to the good time party tunes of many of Buffett's other works. It is one of Buffett's most overlooked albums, but worth owning if you are a fan.

I purchased this album back in 1982. In fact, it was the first Jimmy Buffett album I ever purchased. I had been riding my bike to the library and constantly checking out his albums but this was to be my first purchase with my first ever paycheck when I was 15 years old. I brought it home and sadly I was disappointed. I have now through the years purchased everything in Jimmy Buffett's catalog of classics and have managed to catch his live shows 22+ times. I recently pulled out my old copy of "Somewhere over China" and realized that this is an album that has gotten much better with age. Its a reminder of a Jimmy Buffett that recorded music for himself and a select group of what I would refer to as "The truly hip". Today I feel that he lost that connection with his audience, although he is still a great performer, I would really like to see him put out another album that that has a sound that "Somewhere over China" captured.
This is a good album stock full of ballads, has a very relaxed atmosphere and truly deserves a title like "License to Chill"!

This collection deserves more acclaim. I agree with the rater about "Steamer." I believe it was written by a guy who used to play around Nashville with the best-named band ever, Wolves in Sheep's Clothing. There are songs anybody who is ambitious or interested in writing can identify with, but the rest of us can enjoy, too. I also love the version of the standard, "Stars Fell on Alabama," complete with lounge singer intro.

I love this album. Steamer is one of the most powerful ballads I've ever heard.