Down to Earth (Jimmy Buffett album)

1970 studio album by Jimmy Buffett

Down to Earth

Studio album by

Jimmy Buffett

Released| August 11, 1970
Recorded| 1970
Genre|

* Folk rock
* country rock

Length| 39:22[1]
Label| Barnaby
Producer| Travis Turk
Jimmy Buffett chronology
|  | Down to Earth
(1970)  | High Cumberland Jubilee
(1971)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Allmusic| [2]

Down to Earth is the debut studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was produced by Travis Turk and was released on August 11, 1970 on Andy Williams's Barnaby Records label as Z 30093. A compact disc was released by Varèse Sarabande in June 1998.

## Songs

[edit]

All of the songs on Down to Earth were written or co-written by Buffett. "The Captain and the Kid" was re-recorded thrice by Buffett: Havaña Daydreamin', Meet Me in Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection and Songs You Don't Know by Heart.

The folk-rock style of music and lyrics on Down to Earth and High Cumberland Jubilee differ greatly from Buffett's subsequent output. There is less of the country music feel and little of the Gulf and Western, Key-West-influenced sound and themes that have defined his musical career. Allmusic reviewer William Ruhlmann notes that "this is not the freewheeling Jimmy Buffett of 'Margaritaville,' but rather a thoughtful folk-rock singer/songwriter of the early '70s, earnestly strumming an acoustic guitar over a rhythm section and singing lyrics of social consciousness with sly references to drugs".[3]

The material on this album has been included on numerous compilations of Buffett's early material.

An alternate take of "Captain America" was released as the third single from the album.

## Alternate versions

[edit]

The 1998 re-release of the album contained an additional track, "Richard Frost," which was recorded during sessions for the album and released as the B-side of "The Christian?" single.

## Track listings

[edit]

All tracks composed by Jimmy Buffett except where indicated

### Original release

[edit]

Side A:

1. "The Christian?" (Milton Brown, Jimmy Buffett) 3:54
2. "Ellis Dee (He Ain't Free)" (Buffett, Buzz Cason) 2:50
3. "The Missionary" 3:33
4. "A Mile High in Denver" 3:07
5. "The Captain and the Kid" 3:18

Side B:

1. "Captain America" 3:28
2. "Ain't He a Genius" 2:43
3. "Turnabout" 4:20
4. "There's Nothin' Soft About Hard Times" 3:23
5. "I Can't Be Your Hero Today" 2:58
6. "Truckstop Salvation" 5:48

### 1998 re-release

[edit]

1. "The Christian?" (Brown, Buffett) 3:54
2. "Ellis Dee (He Ain't Free)" (Buffett, Cason) 2:50
3. "Richard Frost" 3:29
4. 'The Missionary" 3:33
5. "A Mile High in Denver" 3:07
6. "The Captain and the Kid" 3:18
7. "Captain America" 3:28
8. "Ain't He a Genius" 2:43
9. "Turnabout" 4:20
10. "There's Nothin' Soft about Hard Times" 3:23
11. "I Can't Be Your Hero Today" 2:58
12. "Truckstop Salvation" 5:48

## Personnel

[edit]

* Jimmy Buffett – lead and backing vocals, guitar, kazoo
* Lanny Fiel – guitar, piano
* Bob Cook – guitar, bass, harmonica
* Dave Haney – bass
* Carl Himmel – drums
* Paul Tabet – drums
* Travis Turk – drums, kazoo
* Buzz Cason – backing vocals

Technical

* Travis Turk – producer, engineer

## Singles

[edit]

* "The Christian?" b/w "Richard Frost" (Released on Barnaby ZS7-2013 circa May 1970)
* "Ellis Dee (He Ain't Free)" b/w "There's Nothing Soft about Hard Times" (Released on Barnaby ZS7-2019 circa September 1970)
* "Captain America" b/w "Truckstop Salvation" (Released on Barnaby ZS7-2023 in January 1971)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Varèse Sarabande compact disc time is 42:05
2. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r31836
3. ^ William Ruhlmann. Allmusic Review of  There's Nothing Soft About Hard Times.

* v
* t
* e

Jimmy Buffett

Coral Reefer Band|

* Michael Utley
* Greg "Fingers" Taylor
* Mac McAnally
* Robert Greenidge
* Deborah McColl
* Jim Mayer
* Peter Mayer
* Roger Guth
* Ralph MacDonald

Studio albums|

* 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

Live albums|

* You Had to Be There
* Feeding Frenzy
* Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
* Live at Texas Stadium
* encores

Sound board live albums|

* Live in Auburn, WA
* Live in Las Vegas, NV
* Live in Mansfield, MA
* Live in Cincinnati, OH
* Live in Hawaii
* Live at Fenway Park
* Live in Anguilla

Compilation albums|

* 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

Soundtrack, Christmas,
and musical albums|

* Rancho Deluxe soundtrack
* Christmas Island
* Don't Stop the Carnival (musical)
* 'Tis the SeaSon

Songs|

* "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"

Videos|

* Live by the Bay
* Music for Montserrat
* Live at Wrigley Field
* Live at Fenway Park
* Live in Anguilla

Books|

* The Jolly Mon
* Tales from Margaritaville
* Where Is Joe Merchant? A Novel Tale
* A Pirate Looks at Fifty
* A Salty Piece of Land

Commercial endeavors|

* Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
* Margaritaville merchandising
* Mailboat Records
* Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant
* Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant
* Land Shark Lager

Related articles|

* Jimmy Buffett discography
* Radio Margaritaville
* Hemisphere Dancer
* Savannah Buffett
* Save the Manatee Club
* Tonsil Trouble
* "Margaritaville" (South Park)
* Escape to Margaritaville

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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