Mac McNally

Mac McNally

Jimmy Buffett introducing Mac

 

Lyman Corbitt "Mac" McAnally, Jr.  born July 15, 1957 is an American country music singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums and eight singles. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts. His ninth chart entry came in late 2008-early 2009 as a guest vocalist on Kenny Chesney's Number One cover of his 1990 single "Down the Road". He has also produced for Sawyer Brown and Restless Heart, written several singles for other artists, and is a member of Jimmy Buffett's backing band, The Coral Reefer Band.

McAnally was born July 15, 1957 in Red Bay, Alabama. He began playing piano and singing in church at the Belmont First Baptist Church in Belmont, Mississippi as a child, and by age fifteen, he had composed his first song. From there, he went on to become a session musician in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. During a session break, McAnally began to perform original material. The producers there encouraged him, and by 1977 he was signed to Ariola Records. His self-titled debut album produced the single "It's a Crazy World" which reached No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. A second album, No Problem Here, was issued a year later, followed in 1980 by Cuttin' Corners on RCA Records. These latter two albums produced no chart singles. However, he found success as a songwriter for Jimmy Buffett, in addition to co-writing Alabama's Number One hit "Old Flame".

McAnally continued to record even while writing for Buffett. Mac became the first artist to sign with Geffen Records during this period with two albums (Nothin' but the Truth, which included the single "Minimum Love" which reached No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Finish Lines) being issued in 1983 and 1988, respectively. He and Walt Aldridge co-wrote Ricky Van Shelton's 1987 single "Crime of Passion".

 



Jimmy Buffett- White sport coat and a pink crustacean

White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean

 

Normally I would not post Jimmy Buffett music to a country rock blog, but  a few of his CD s are an exception, great C. Rock Tunes on this one.

After recording two albums for the obscure Barnaby label, Jimmy Buffett made his major label debut with A White Sport Coat & A Pink Crustacean. The album's title shows the humor that courses throughout the album as it is a take off on the old Marty Robbins' hit A White Sport Coat & A Pink Carnation. Mr. Buffett is a pre-eminate storyteller and the songs on the album sound like you could be sitting at a bar listening to him hold court. The album starts off with the hilarious "Great Filling Station Holdup" which tells of a small-time robbery gone wrong. "Railroad Lady" is a great country song that has been covered by Lefty Drizzel & Willie Nelson. "He Went To Paris" is a beautifully sad song while "Grapefruit (Juicy Fruit)" is a fun and goofy song. "Cuban Crime Of Passion" is one of his first songs to incorporate the Caribbean sounds that would become his signature sound. "Why Don't We Get Drunk" has become a staple in his concerts and has become an audience singalong. "Peanut Butter Conspiracy" tells of a struggling musician who may or may not be Mr. Buffett himself. "They Don't Dance Like Carmen No More" is a slight song and the only weak link on the album. "I Have Found Me A Home" and "My Lovely Lady" are two nice ballads. "Death Of An Unpopular Poet" is one of his most underrated songs and a vivid tale of a poet and his dog. This was his first album that he recorded after he went to Key West for the first time and although it is mostly a country-folk album, there are glimpses of the sound he would become famous for.



Jimmy Buffett- Volcano

Volcano

Jimmy creates an album filled with some of his best songwriting that will never see the light of a greatest hits or live album. But that's the way it should be. I want to keep these gems for myself. OK, I'm going to get personal, but Chanson Pour Les Petits Enfants( Song for the Children) is one of the most beautiful songs Jimmy (or anyone) has ever written. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Stranded on a Sandbar is reason enough to by this album. I'm sure everyone's felt that way before. Dreamsicle is one of those little gems you find on evert Buffett album and ask yorself "why isn't this a hit?" OK, there are 3 tunes that are concert favorites, Fins, Volcano, and Boat Drinks but they're fun and don't bug me like Cheeseburger and Drunk do. Besides, Boat drinks is an anthem to anyone living north of Florida during the winter. Final note to all of you who sing along with Volcano. Jimmy yells out "Mr. Utley!" as in Michael, the keyboardest. Not "Mr. Ugly!" As I've heard before.5 stars.

Jimmy Buffett -Son of a son of a sailor

Son of a son of a sailor

After the success of "Margaritaville" took Jimmy Buffett into the mainstream, he followed that up with the best album of his career. Son Of A Son Of A Sailor combines all of Mr. Buffett's best elements: vivid songwriting; sharp humor; tropical rhythms; nothing but a good time attitude. The title track opens the album on a strong note. The song is autobiographical in nature and has an excellent vocal. "Fool Button" moves at a frenzied pace and tells of a night of going over the line while partying. "Last Line" has a funky beat reminiscent of Steely Dan's "Black Cow". "Livingston Saturday Night" takes Mr. Buffett back to his country roots and is a real country honky tonker. "Cheeseburger In Paradise" ranks right up there with "Margaritaville" in the Parrothead pantheon and is just plain fun. "Coast Of Marseilles" slows things down a bit while "Cowboy In The Jungle" may well be his most underrated song. It pretty much sums up Mr. Buffett's view on life, just roll with the punches, make the best of any situation and enjoy life because before you know it, it's gone. "Manana" is funny song that name checks everyone from Kiss to Anita Bryant and "African Friend" closes the album out on a quiet and touching note. Son Of A Son Of A Sailor was his first (and for 15 years, only) top ten album, peaking at number 10. If you even casually like Jimmy Buffett, this album should be in your collection.

Jimmy Buffett- Barometer Soup

Picking up a new Jimmy Buffett album is like going to a favorite restaurant or hitting a nice vacation spot. Though the quality may vary, you're pretty sure what to expect. And when you find a good one it's something you remember and return to for a while. This time Jimmy and friends also decided to turn to some of their favorite authors for inspiration; in among the usual sun-and-surf lines there are shades of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain and Carl Hiaasen among others.

Musically Barometer Soup won't be a huge surprise to.. well, anyone. You've heard this stuff before. Steel drums, tropical melodies, motifs that conjure pictures of beaches, boats and fruity drinks with those annoyingly cute little umbrellas in them. Read any of the other Buffett reviews on the site and you'll see all the same things. So then, no big changes.. and of course there are some silly moments. The seven-deadly-sins bridge in "Bank of Bad Habits." The chorus of "Don-Chu Know." "Jimmy Dreams" can't help seeming a little self-indulgent, but it can be charming in its own way. Ah, but there are some great highlights as well: the wistful "Barefoot Children," the singalong title track, and especially the kicking cover of "Mexico" (check the reworked intro, which is simply marvelous). It's these moments that raise this album a little above the level of, say, Fruitcakes. For a consistently strong album you can try one of the live releases (if you don't mind still more versons of "Volcano" and "Margaritaville.") Among Jimmy's 'regular' albums, close to 40 strong by now, there are a few that stand out from the others: Changes in Latitudes, One Particular Harbour.. and make sure not to miss Barometer Soup.

Jimmy Buffett- Havana DayDreamin'

Havana Daydreamin'

This is Buffett when he was still making up his mind if he was a rocker, a folkie, a country balladeer, or a beach bum guitar player (of course, we now know he turned out to be all 4, which is why parrotheads love their leader so much). I'll admit I bought the cd mostly to get my hands on a copy of "This Hotel Room," which ranks right up there in terms of the kind of Buffett song his critics hate and his fans love. I'm incredibly thrilled with the rest of it, though, especially the beautiful, lyrical, eccentric first track, "Woman Goin Crazy on Caroline Street." Buy this cd.

Jimmy Buffett- A1A

A1A

"A1A" features some mighty fine classic Jimmy Buffett-styled songwriting with a little bit of that ol' Buffett humor interspersed throughout each and every track. A prime example is "Door Number Three" - a song about the long lost game show "Let's Make A Deal". Gee, I hope Monty Hall's all right, after Jimmy got through with him! Of the few less humorous songs on "A1A", "A Pirate Looks At Forty" is probably the most prospective, and is a companion song both musically and lyrically to "The Captain And The Kid, from "Havana Daydreamin'". "Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season" has its wonderfully tense moments, as the citizens of the island of Kaua'i have been in the same situation with Iniki in '92. With "A1A", Buffett still finds himself in his country phase, and the rest of the songs here are fine compositions as well. Pretty much from this point forward, Buffett would delve into more Caribbean influences in further developing his sound, which would net him a new "flock" of fans known as "ParrotHeads". If you're unable to make it down to Key West, just play "A1A" on your stereo, fill a "Tin Cup Chalice" with good red wine, or fire up some lime daiquiris in the ol' blender, whichever you prefer, chew on some honeysuckle, and you'll think you're in paradise, on the beach, away from your hectic and hurry world. With "A1A", you'll never have to worry about this "Buffett" filling you up. You can come back for more...and more... and more... Once you're in paradise, you'll never want to leave. Take that trip down "A1A" real soon! Can't you just feel the wind at your back, with the sun in your eyes?

Jimmy Buffett-Living and dying in 3/4 time

Living and dying in 3/4 time

It's still great, and maybe his best work -- although I think A-1-A is a cut better. The great part about this album was the great mix of tunes and like I've mentioned in other reviews, you really couldn't figure out this guy's music other than it was great! Was it country? Well, hell, you could say so -- with all those great Nashville studio musicians backing him up, complete with steel guitar. Not only that, there wasn't any Key West in this album. After the guerrilla beach bum first album, this element was absent -- instead we get some tunes with some Montana or western references("Ringling," Livingston's Gone to Texas," and "Brahama Fear.").
There's that great uptempo tune "The Wino and I Know," about his busking days in New Orleans. "Saxophones," is another uptempo number with some Memphis/Muscle Shoals-style horns. Then there was the real Nashville-flavored stuff -- "Come Monday," which was a minor hit and "West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown," about a girl Jimmy picked up hitchhiking escaping her past and the spoof "Brand New Country Star." The last two tunes, "Ballad of Spider John" and Lord Buckley's "God's Own Drunk," (a concert staple in the early days until legal action by Buckley's estate prevented him from performing it), didn't seem to fit into the general album concept, but they worked really well -- because at the time, his music was all over the map. "Spider John," is a real sleeper. I don't think he ever plays it anymore, but it's one of the reasons why this album is so damned good. Finally, the opening tune "Pencil Thin Mustache," is a nostalgic look back at his growing up years in the 50s.
In short, Buffett was more than living up to the promise that "White Sport Coat," had shown and his songwriting, while still laced with humor and irony, also showed that he had a serious, pensive side. Perfect for a balladeer, no?
I started listening to Buffett in the real early days and was fortunate to see him perform live in those years. He was lean and hungry and ambitious and was a damned good entertainer. He added the Coral Reefer band and the rest is history. If you're new to Jimmy Buffett, buy all the 70s albums -- get 'em in vinyl if you're into that sort of thing because the album artwork is phenomenal -- especially on this album, A-1-A, Changes in Latitudes and Havana Daydreamin'.