Equal Strain on All Parts

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Equal Strain on All Parts
Studio album by
Jimmy Buffett
ReleasedNovember 3, 2023
Recorded2022–2023
Length52:55
Label
Producer
Jimmy Buffett chronology
Songs You Don't Know by Heart
(2020) 		Equal Strain on All Parts
(2023)
Singles from Equal Strain on All Parts
  1. "Bubbles Up"
    Released: September 8, 2023

Equal Strain on All Parts is the 32nd[1] studio album by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It is the final album to be completed prior to his death on September 1, 2023,[2][3][4] and was released on November 3, 2023, through Mailboat and Sun Records.

Background[edit]

After the release of Jimmy Buffett's 2020 album Life on the Flip Side, he continued to tour in support of his music.[5] However, privately, he had been diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but aggressive form of skin cancer, something he would fight for four years.[6] Buffett still continued to tour and write new music, though hospitalization in 2022 and 2023 would cause him to postpone or cancel some shows.[7][5][6] Buffett worked on recording the new album up through 2023, and completed it prior to his death on September 1, 2023.[8]

Themes and composition[edit]

The title of the album, Equal Strain on All Parts, comes from a saying his grandfather would use to describe "a good nap".[9] The track "My Gummie Just Kicked In" was described as a surf rock song about a woman's experience of eating a cannabis edible at a summer dinner party.[10] The song was inspired by a real life event attended by Buffett, his wife Jane Slagsvol, Paul McCartney, and his wife Nancy Shevell.[11] Buffett was concerned about Shevell at a dinner party, and her response to his question about her well-being was simply the title of the song.[9] They all joked that the experience would make for a good song, and Buffett later followed through on writing it, even including McCartney on bass guitar on the final recording.[12][11] The track "Bubbles Up" was described as a "reflective ballad" that was co-written with singer-songwriter and guitarist Will Kimbrough.[9] McCartney, who discussed the song with Buffett prior to his death, explained that the song's meaning was derived from common advice given to sailors and other people who may find themselves unexpectedly thrown into a body of water from a boat. McCartney explained that Buffett "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."[9] He also considered Buffett's vocal performance on the song to be the best in his career.[13] Michael Utley and Mac McAnally, two members of Buffett's backing band – the Coral Reefer Band – produced the album.[12]

The album contains three cover songs. "Like My Dog" was originally recorded by Billy Currington for his 2010 album Enjoy Yourself, from which it was released as the fourth single. Written by Harley Allen and Scotty Emerick,[10] the song is about a man wishing a woman would love him as loyally and enthusiastically as his own dog.[10] "Columbus", written by Noel Brazil for Mary Black's 1989 album No Frontiers and then later covered by David Crosby on his 1993 solo album Thousand Roads.[14] The album closer is a recording of Bob Dylan's "Mozambique", featuring Emmylou Harris who reprises her background vocal from the original recording.[15][11]

Release and promotion[edit]

The album was released on November 3, 2023.[9] Prior to his death, across July and August 2023, Buffett had teased clips of songs on social media, and had revealed a new song each Friday on his Radio Margaritaville radio show.[16][10] On September 8, 2023, three songs were released ahead of the album release, "Bubbles Up", "My Gummie Just Kicked In", and "Like My Dog".[12] "Bubbles Up" is also the album's lead single.[17]

Track listing[edit]

Equal Strain on All Parts track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."University of Bourbon Street" (featuring Preservation Hall Jazz Band)
4:19
2."Bubbles Up"
  • Buffett
  • Kimbrough
4:46
3."Audience of One"
3:22
4."My Gummie Just Kicked In" (featuring Paul McCartney)
  • Buffett
  • Tina Gullickson
  • Roger Guth
  • Peter Mayer
3:27
5."Close Calls"
  • Buffett
  • Kimbrough
  • M. McAnally
3:05
6."Equal Strain on All Parts"
  • Buffett
  • M. McAnally
3:24
7."Like My Dog"
2:36
8."Ti Punch Cafe" (featuring Angelique Kidjo)
3:56
9."Portugal or PEI" (featuring Lennie Gallant and Will Kimbrough)
  • Buffett
  • Lenny Gallant
  • Kimbrough
  • M. McAnally
4:05
10."Nobody Works on Friday"
  • Buffett
  • E. McAnally
  • Mick Utley
3:37
11."Fish Porn"
4:20
12."Johnny's Rhum"
  • Buffett
  • Gallant
  • M. McAnally
4:22
13."Columbus"Noel Brazil4:20
14."Mozambique" (featuring Emmylou Harris)
3:16
Total length:52:55

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Equal Strain on All Parts
Chart (2023) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[18] 42
US Billboard 200[19] 6
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[20] 2
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[21] 2
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[22] 1

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Jimmy Buffett's new music isn't over yet: 3 songs out now, album due in November". USA Today.
  2. ^ Jimmy Buffett's Final Album Recorded Before His Death To Arrive in Fall: Release Date Revealed
  3. ^ "Jimmy Buffett Will Keep the Party Going With Final Album Equal Strain on All Parts". Billboard. September 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "Jimmy Buffett's posthumous final album to be released this fall; 3 new songs already out, including McCartney collab". New York Daily News. September 8, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Mayhem, Music (September 2, 2023). "BREAKING: Jimmy Buffett's Cause Of Death Revealed". Music Mayhem Magazine.
  6. ^ a b "Jimmy Buffett died after a 4-year fight with a rare skin cancer". NBC News. September 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Mayhem, Music (September 27, 2022). "BREAKING: Jimmy Buffett Postpones Remaining 2022 Tour Dates Due To "Health Issues & Brief Hospitalization"". Music Mayhem Magazine.
  8. ^ Willman, Chris (September 8, 2023). "Jimmy Buffett's Final Album, Equal Strain on All Parts, to Be Released This Fall; Paul McCartney-Boosted 'Gummie' Out Now".
  9. ^ a b c d e Browne, David (September 8, 2023). "Hear the New Jimmy Buffett Song Paul McCartney Says Is His Best Vocal Ever". Rolling Stone.
  10. ^ a b c d Alter, Rebecca (September 8, 2023). "Jimmy Buffett Has 3 Posthumous Singles Bubblin' Up". Vulture.
  11. ^ a b c Mayhem, Music (September 8, 2023). "Jimmy Buffett's Musical Legacy Lives On With Three New Songs And Posthumous Album, 'Equal Strain On All Parts'". Music Mayhem Magazine.
  12. ^ a b c "Listen to 3 New Songs Jimmy Buffett Recorded Shortly Before His Death". Pitchfork. September 8, 2023.
  13. ^ "Jimmy Buffett's Estate Announces Posthumous Album 'Equal Strain on All Parts,' Shares Three Songs | Exclaim!".
  14. ^ "4 Things to Know About Jimmy Buffett's Final Album 'Equal Strain on All Parts'". 30 October 2023.
  15. ^ a b Rapp, Allison (September 8, 2023). "Posthumous Jimmy Buffett Album Set to Arrive This Fall". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  16. ^ Tenreyro, Tatiana (September 8, 2023). "New Jimmy Buffett Song Released a Week After His Death". Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays.
  17. ^ "Jimmy Buffett Announces Posthumous Album with New Single "Bubbles Up"". September 8, 2023.
  18. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  19. ^ "Jimmy Buffett Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  20. ^ "Jimmy Buffett Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  21. ^ "Jimmy Buffett Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  22. ^ "Jimmy Buffett Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
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