Jimmy Buffett Recorded A 14-Track Album Prior To His Passing, And It’s Set To Be Released This Fall
“Equal Strain On All Parts” arrives on November 3.
Jimmy Buffett; Photo by Jean-Philippe Piter
Jimmy Buffett’s legacy lives on with the release of three new songs and the announcement of a posthumous album, Equal Strain On All Parts.
As the world continues to mourn the loss of the late Jimmy Buffett, a beloved singer-songwriter, performer, entrepreneur, best-selling author, and the Mayor of Margaritaville, three new songs were released to fans on Friday (Sept. 8) to keep his memory alive.
The news comes just days after Jimmy Buffett died of a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. Buffett, 76, died on September 1 after a four-year battle with the disease.
Listen to the three new songs, including “Like My Dog,” “My Gummie Just Kicked In,” and “Bubbles Up,” below.
“Like My Dog”
Buffet was an avid animal lover and owned several dogs including Lola, Kingston, Pepper, Rosie, Ajax, and Kody.
Throughout his career, he featured his pups on album covers and in music videos, so it’s no surprise that he’d release a song titled, “Like My Dog.” The track was written by Scotty Emerick and Harley Allen and Buffett knew he had to record it the moment he heard it.
“My Gummie Just Kicked In”
This tune came about during an unforgettable dinner party with Jimmy Buffett, his wife Jane and Paul McCartney and his wife, Nancy.
Nancy stumbled while heading to the dinner table, and when a concerned Buffett inquired if she was okay, she replied: “Oh, no — I’m perfectly fine. My gummy bear just took effect!”
The group shared a laugh, and they playfully suggested they should compose a song titled “My Gummy Bear Just Kicked In.” True to their word, Buffett went on to create the song, with McCartney contributing on bass. McCartney fondly recalled the experience in his Twitter tribute to his friend Buffett, stating, “I had the pleasure of playing on one of his latest songs, ‘My Gummy Bear Just Kicked In.’ Our session was truly enjoyable, and he even shared some of his new songs with me.”
See a behind-the-scenes clip of the recording of “My Gummie Just Kicked In” HERE.
“Bubbles Up”
Buffett teamed up with “honorary Coral Reefer,” Will Kimbrough to write the poignant “Bubbles Up.” The track delivers a message of hope for listeners as Buffett sings, “Just know that you are loved, there is light up above, and joy, there’s always enough.”
His longtime friend, McCartney, shared his love for the song in a statement released on Friday. “One [new track], in particular, I loved was the song, ‘Bubbles Up’. And I told him that not only was the song great but the vocal was probably the best I’ve heard him sing ever. He turned a diving phrase that is used to train people underwater into a metaphor for life when you’re confused and don’t know where you are just follow the bubbles – they’ll take you up to the surface and straighten you out right away.”
New Album, Equal Strain On All Parts
The three new songs will appear on Buffett’s posthumous new album, Equal Strain On All Parts, which is set to arrive on November 3 via Mailboat Records and distributed by Sun Records.
The connection with Sun Records is serendipitous: Sun Records, renowned as the birthplace of rock and roll and the label where Elvis Presley famously launched his career, has consistently fascinated Buffett. Both Buffett and Presley hail from Mississippi, with Buffett even performing a cover of Gillian Welch’s “Elvis Presley Blues.” Hence, it’s clear why Buffett saw Sun Records as the ideal destination for his latest album.
“It is a privilege to welcome Jimmy Buffett among the legends who have released their music through Sun Records,” said Dominic Pandiscia, Chief Strategy Officer, Primary Wave/Sun Label Group. “Jimmy’s music truly stands for something – as does the Sun Records legacy – and having this album join that lineage is a special moment that honors his enduring impact.”
Equal Strain On All Parts will “keep the party going” just as Buffett requested. The title of the 14-track project was inspired by Buffett’s grandfather’s description of a good nap.
The record, co-produced by longtime Coral Reefers, Michael Utley and Mac McAnally, features well-known friends, including Paul McCartney, Emmylou Harris, Lennie Gallant, Angelique Kidjo, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
Equal Strain On All Parts was recorded this year and overflows with Buffett’s trademark lighthearted tunes while also showcasing a more contemplative aspect.
Fans can pre-order/pre-save the album now HERE.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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