Riddles in the Sand
Riddles in the Sand | ||||
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Studio album by Jimmy Buffett | ||||
Released | September 1, 1984 | |||
Recorded | at Sound Stage Studio in Nashville, Tennessee | |||
Genre |
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Length | 33:25 | |||
Label | MCA MCA-5512 (US, 12") | |||
Producer | Jimmy Bowen | |||
Jimmy Buffett chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Riddles in the Sand is the thirteenth studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released in September 1984 as MCA 5512 and was produced by noted country music producer Jimmy Bowen and represented a concerted shift toward a more country sound by Buffett. He appeared on the album's cover in typical country singer garb and promoted the album at Fan Fair country music festival in Nashville, Tennessee. The album was originally to have been titled Gulf and Western Music[2][3] reflecting the fusion of musical styles seen in much of Buffett's music often called Gulf and Western music. In the album's liner notes, Jim Harrison says, "This album has a musical range expanding in an arc from Bob Wills to Bob Marley with the Gulf somehow always there."[4]
Songs
The album is the first of Buffett's not to contain a song written solely by him; he co-wrote all of the songs with Will Jennings and Michael Utley (one also with Josh Leo) except for a song by Mac McAnally and one by Rhonda Coullet. The album's final song, "La Vie Dansante," was later remade by Aaron Neville for his 1991 album Warm Your Heart. That version contained an added background chorus in French. Buffett recorded a new version of "Knees of My Heart" for his 2003 greatest hits collection Meet Me in Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection.
Chart performance
Riddles in the Sand reached No. 95 on the Billboard 200 album chart and No. 18 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The song "When the Wildlife Betrays Me" hit No. 42 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, "Who's the Blonde Stranger?" hit No. 37 Country, and "Bigger Than the Both of Us" hit No. 58 Country.
Chart (1984) | Peak position |
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U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 18 |
U.S. Billboard 200 | 95 |
Track listing
Side 1:
- "Who's the Blonde Stranger?" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley, Will Jennings, Josh Leo) – 3:44
- "When the Wildlife Betrays Me" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley, Will Jennings) – 2:51
- "Ragtop Day" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley, Will Jennings) – 3:03
- "She's Going Out of My Mind" (Mac McAnally) – 3:26
- "Bigger than the Both of Us" (Rhonda Coullet) – 3:57
Side 2:
- "Knees of My Heart" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley, Will Jennings) – 2:41
- "Come to the Moon" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley, Will Jennings) – 3:47
- "Love in Decline" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley, Will Jennings) – 2:42
- "Burn that Bridge" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley, Will Jennings) – 3:12
- "La Vie Dansante" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley, Will Jennings) – 4:02
Personnel
The Coral Reefer Band:
- Jimmy Buffett – guitar, vocals
- Matt Betton – drums, saxophone
- Sam Clayton – percussion
- Emory Gordy Jr. – bass
- Robert Greenidge – steel drums
- Greg "Fingers" Taylor – harmonica
- Mike Utley – keyboards
- Reggie Young – guitar
- John Barlow Jarvis – synthesizer, keyboards
- Billy Joe Walker Jr. – guitar
- Larry Lee, Wendy Waldman, Thomas Flora, Mac McAnally – background vocals
Singles
- "When the Wild Life Betrays Me" b/w "Ragtop Day" (Released on MCA 52438 in August 1984)
- "Bigger Than the Both of Us" b/w "Come to the Moon" (Released on MCA 52499 in November 1984)
- "Who's The Blonde Stranger" b/w "She's Going Out Of My Mind" (Released on MCA 52550 in March 1985)
Notes
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r2932
- ^ Riddles in the Sand at BuffettWorld.com
- ^ Gary Graff. "Buffett determined to outlast music trends." The Ledger. p. 17. July 9, 1984. "...'Gulf and Western,' the album Buffett just finished recording in Nashville that's due for a September release."
- ^ Riddles in the Sand liner notes at BuffettRemasters.com
- v
- t
- e
- Michael Utley
- Greg "Fingers" Taylor
- Mac McAnally
- Robert Greenidge
- Deborah McColl
- Jim Mayer
- Peter Mayer
- Roger Guth
- Ralph MacDonald
- Down to Earth
- High Cumberland Jubilee
- A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean
- Living and Dying in 3/4 Time
- A1A
- Havana Daydreamin'
- Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
- Son of a Son of a Sailor
- Volcano
- Coconut Telegraph
- Somewhere over China
- One Particular Harbour
- Riddles in the Sand
- Last Mango in Paris
- Floridays
- Hot Water
- Off to See the Lizard
- Fruitcakes
- Barometer Soup
- Banana Wind
- Beach House on the Moon
- Far Side of the World
- License to Chill
- Take the Weather with You
- Buffet Hotel
- Songs from St. Somewhere
- Life on the Flip Side
- Songs You Don't Know by Heart
- Equal Strain on All Parts
- You Had to Be There
- Feeding Frenzy
- Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
- Live at Texas Stadium
- encores
- Down to Earth/High Cumberland Jubilee compilations
- Greatest hits compilations: Songs You Know by Heart
- Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads (box set)
- A Pirate's Treasure
- All the Great Hits
- The Great Jimmy Buffett
- Biloxi
- Great American Summer Fun with Jimmy Buffett (EP)
- Calaloo (EP)
- Meet Me in Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection
and musical albums
- Rancho Deluxe soundtrack
- Christmas Island
- Don't Stop the Carnival (musical)
- 'Tis the SeaSon
- "Margaritaville"
- "Come Monday"
- "A Pirate Looks at Forty"
- "Volcano"
- "Fins"
- "Cheeseburger in Paradise"
- "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere"
- "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes"
- "One Particular Harbour"
- "Why Don't We Get Drunk"
- "Southern Cross"
- "Brown Eyed Girl"
- "Son of a Son of a Sailor"
- "God's Own Drunk"
- "Pencil Thin Mustache"
- "Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit"
- "Boat Drinks"
- "Gypsies in the Palace"
- "Jamaica Mistaica"
- "He Went to Paris"
- "Knee Deep"
- "The Great Filling Station Holdup"
- "Hey, Good Lookin'"
- "Surfing in a Hurricane"
- "Trip Around the Sun"
- "Math Suks"
- "Same Boat"
- Live by the Bay
- Music for Montserrat
- Live at Wrigley Field
- Live at Fenway Park
- Live in Anguilla
- Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
- Margaritaville merchandising
- Mailboat Records
- Cheeseburger in Paradise Restaurant
- Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant
- Land Shark Lager
- Jimmy Buffett discography
- Radio Margaritaville
- Hemisphere Dancer
- Savannah Buffett
- Save the Manatee Club
- Tonsil Trouble
- "Margaritaville" (South Park)
- Escape to Margaritaville