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A1A (album)
Encyclopedia
A1A or A-1-A is the fifth album
by American
popular music singer-songwriter
Jimmy Buffett
and the third major label album in Buffett's Don Gant
-produced "Key West phase." It was initially released in December 1974 as Dunhill
DS-50183 and later re-released on Dunhill's successor labels ABC
and MCA
.
The album is named for Florida State Road A1A
that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean
and is the main road through most oceanfront towns. It is also referenced in the song "Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season". The album's original back cover is a photograph of a section of A1A.
album chart but did not make the country chart. Singles included "Presents to Send You" (b/w "A Pirate Looks at Forty") released in February 1975 and "Door Number Three" (b/w "Dallas") in July 1975 which reached #88 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
about the game show
Let's Make a Deal
co-written with Steve Goodman
, and "Dallas", written by Coral Reefer Band
guitarist Roger Bartlett. There are also two cover songs: "Stories We Could Tell" from John Sebastian
's 1974 album Tarzana Kid and "Making Music for Money" originally written by Alex Harvey for the First Edition
's 1974 album I'm Not Making Music For Money.
The album's songs are typical of Buffett's music in the early and mid 1970s. The music is heavily country oriented with Buffett backed by the Third Coral Reefer Band
with a number of Nashville
session musicians. Likewise, several of the songs (the entire second side of the album) are nautical-themed, a feature of Buffett's music following his move to Key West, Florida
.
The lyrics of "Nautical Wheelers" refer to "living & dying in ¾ time
", the title of Buffett's previous album and the song is actually in ¾ time signature
.
Side B
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
popular music singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
and the third major label album in Buffett's Don Gant
Don Gant
Donald W. Gant was an American singer, songwriter and record producer.With Tupper Saussy, in the late 1960s he formed "The Neon Philharmonic." Singing vocals, with Saussy on the keyboards, they recorded five singles and two albums for Warner Bros. Records between 1969 and 1971...
-produced "Key West phase." It was initially released in December 1974 as Dunhill
Dunhill Records
Dunhill Records was started by Lou Adler, Al Bennett, Pierre Cossette and Bobby Roberts in 1964 as Dunhill Productions, originally for the purpose of releasing Johnny Rivers recordings on Imperial Records. It became a record label in 1965 and was distributed by ABC Records...
DS-50183 and later re-released on Dunhill's successor labels ABC
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
and MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
.
The album is named for Florida State Road A1A
Florida State Road A1A
State Road A1A is a Florida State Road that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean, with sections from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Callahan, just south of Georgia. It is the main road through most oceanfront towns. SR A1A is designated the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a...
that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and is the main road through most oceanfront towns. It is also referenced in the song "Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season". The album's original back cover is a photograph of a section of A1A.
Chart performance
The album reached #25 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
album chart but did not make the country chart. Singles included "Presents to Send You" (b/w "A Pirate Looks at Forty") released in February 1975 and "Door Number Three" (b/w "Dallas") in July 1975 which reached #88 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
Songs
The songs were written by Buffett except for "Door Number Three," a novelty songNovelty song
A novelty song is a comical or nonsensical song, performed principally for its comical effect. Humorous songs, or those containing humorous elements, are not necessarily novelty songs. The term arose in Tin Pan Alley to describe one of the major divisions of popular music. The other two divisions...
about the game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
Let's Make a Deal
Let's Make a Deal
Let's Make a Deal is a television game show which originated in the United States and has since been produced in many countries throughout the world. The show is based around deals offered to members of the audience by the host. The traders usually have to weigh the possibility of an offer being...
co-written with Steve Goodman
Steve Goodman
Steve Goodman was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. The writer of "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
, and "Dallas", written by Coral Reefer Band
Coral Reefer Band
The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Originally it was a fictional band consisting of the imaginary members Marvin Gardens, Kay Pasa, Al Vacado and Kitty Litter....
guitarist Roger Bartlett. There are also two cover songs: "Stories We Could Tell" from John Sebastian
John Sebastian
John Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
's 1974 album Tarzana Kid and "Making Music for Money" originally written by Alex Harvey for the First Edition
The First Edition
The First Edition was a country music/rock band. Its stalwart members being Kenny Rogers , Mickey Jones and Terry Williams...
's 1974 album I'm Not Making Music For Money.
The album's songs are typical of Buffett's music in the early and mid 1970s. The music is heavily country oriented with Buffett backed by the Third Coral Reefer Band
Coral Reefer Band
The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Originally it was a fictional band consisting of the imaginary members Marvin Gardens, Kay Pasa, Al Vacado and Kitty Litter....
with a number of Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
session musicians. Likewise, several of the songs (the entire second side of the album) are nautical-themed, a feature of Buffett's music following his move to Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
.
Living & Dying in 3/4 Time
Living & Dying in ¾ Time is the fourth album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and the second major label album in Buffett's Don Gant-produced "Key West phase." It was initially released in February 1974 as Dunhill DS-50132 and later rereleased on Dunhill's successor labels...
", the title of Buffett's previous album and the song is actually in ¾ time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
.
Critical and commercial reception
Although it was not extremely commercially successful at the time of its release, A1A is generally considered one of Buffett's better albums. Reviewer Vik Iyengar of Allmusic calls A1A "one of Jimmy Buffett's classic '70s albums that established his persona, and it is a perfect introduction to his music." "A Pirate Looks at Forty" from the album appears on all of Buffett's major greatest hits collections and is a perennial concert favorite, one of "The Big 8" that he has played at almost every concert.Track listing
Side A- "Making Music for Money" (Alex Harvey) 4:01
- "Door Number Three" (Jimmy Buffett, Steve GoodmanSteve GoodmanSteve Goodman was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. The writer of "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
) 3:03 - "Dallas" (Roger Bartlett) 3:25
- "Presents to Send You" (Jimmy Buffett) 2:40
- "Stories We Could Tell" (John B. SebastianJohn SebastianJohn Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
) 3:18 - "Life Is Just a Tire Swing" (Jimmy Buffett) 3:04
Side B
- "A Pirate Looks at FortyA Pirate Looks at Forty"A Pirate Looks at Forty" is a song written and performed by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was first released on his 1974 album A1A and "Presents to Send You" is the B-side of the single....
" (Jimmy Buffett) 3:57 - "Migration" (Jimmy Buffett) 4:13
- "Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season" (Jimmy Buffett) 4:21
- "Nautical Wheelers" (Jimmy Buffett) 3:35
- "Tin Cup Chalice" (Jimmy Buffett) 3:38
Personnel
The Third Coral Reefer BandCoral Reefer Band
The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Originally it was a fictional band consisting of the imaginary members Marvin Gardens, Kay Pasa, Al Vacado and Kitty Litter....
- Jimmy Buffett: Vocals and guitar
- Roger Bartlett: Acoustic lead and road band
- Steve GoodmanSteve GoodmanSteve Goodman was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. The writer of "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
: Acoustic lead guitar - Reggie YoungReggie YoungReggie Young was lead guitarist in the American Sound Studios Band , and is a leading session musician. He played on various recordings with artists such as Elvis Presley, B.J. Thomas, John Prine, Dusty Springfield, J.J...
: Electric lead guitar - Doyle Gresham: Pedal Steel
- Greg "Fingers" Taylor: Harmonica
- Tommy CogbillTommy CogbillThomas Clark Cogbill, and known as Tommy Cogbill was an American bassist and record producer.Tommy Cogbill was born in Johnson Grove, Tennessee. He was a highly sought-after session and studio musician who appeared on many now-classic recordings of the 1960s and 1970s, especially those recorded in...
: Bass - Mike UtleyMichael UtleyMichael Utley, often credited as Mike Utley, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer for Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. He is the musical director of the band...
: Piano, organ - Ferrel Morris: Percussion
- Sammy CreasonSammy CreasonSammy Creason was an American session drummer who played with Tony Joe White, Kris Kristofferson and Bob Dylan among others....
: Drums - Buzz CasonBuzz CasonBuzz Cason is an American rock singer, songwriter, producer and author....
, Bergen White and Don GantDon GantDonald W. Gant was an American singer, songwriter and record producer.With Tupper Saussy, in the late 1960s he formed "The Neon Philharmonic." Singing vocals, with Saussy on the keyboards, they recorded five singles and two albums for Warner Bros. Records between 1969 and 1971...
: Background vocals