Volcano (Jimmy Buffett song)
Encyclopedia
"Volcano" is a song performed by American
popular music singer-songwriter
Jimmy Buffett
. It was written by Jimmy Buffett, Keith Sykes, and Harry Dailey and released as a single
(b/w "Stranded On A Sandbar") on MCA
41161 in November 1979.
It was first released on his 1979
album Volcano
. It reached #66 on the Billboard Hot 100
and #43 on the Easy Listening
chart.
The song and album are named for the then-dormant Soufrière Hills
volcano
on the island of Montserrat
in the British West Indies
where Buffett recorded the album in May 1979 at AIR
Studios. The studio was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo
in 1989 and Soufrière Hills erupted again in 1995.
The bridge
before the final chorus
mentions a number of placenames, some important largely in the context of 1979:
"Volcano" is one of Buffett's more popular songs with fans, and is part of "The Big 8" that he has played at almost all of his concerts. Recorded live versions of the song appear on Feeding Frenzy
, Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
, and the video Live by the Bay
. The placenames in the final bridge are often altered in concert to reflect more recent news. The song was also re-recorded and released for Rock Band
on June 3, 2008, with the last two lines listed above changed to, "I want to be a couch potato / Just play Rock Band everyday."
Volcano was recorded in Montserrat and was played at the concert "Music for Montserrat" when Montserrat was struck by a volcano. The lyrics were changed to fit the context. For example, the phrase "We've got to help our friends in Montserrat" appeared in the song.
When performed at concerts, a video of the song on Rock Band
is shown.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
popular music singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
. It was written by Jimmy Buffett, Keith Sykes, and Harry Dailey and released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
(b/w "Stranded On A Sandbar") on MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
41161 in November 1979.
It was first released on his 1979
1979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
album Volcano
Volcano (Jimmy Buffett album)
Volcano is the 10th studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and is his 11th overall. It was released in May 1979 as MCA 5102 and was his first release on that label after its absorption of ABC Dunhill....
. It reached #66 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and #43 on the Easy Listening
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart.
The song and album are named for the then-dormant Soufrière Hills
Soufrière Hills
The Soufrière Hills volcano is an active complex stratovolcano with many lava domes forming its summit on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. After a long period of dormancy, it became active in 1995, and has continued to erupt ever since...
volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
on the island of Montserrat
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately long and wide, giving of coastline...
in the British West Indies
British West Indies
The British West Indies was a term used to describe the islands in and around the Caribbean that were part of the British Empire The term was sometimes used to include British Honduras and British Guiana, even though these territories are not geographically part of the Caribbean...
where Buffett recorded the album in May 1979 at AIR
Associated Independent Recording
Associated Independent Recording , an independent recording company, was founded in London in 1965 by Beatles producer George Martin and his partner John Burgess after their departure from EMI....
Studios. The studio was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
in 1989 and Soufrière Hills erupted again in 1995.
The bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
before the final chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
mentions a number of placenames, some important largely in the context of 1979:
"Volcano" is one of Buffett's more popular songs with fans, and is part of "The Big 8" that he has played at almost all of his concerts. Recorded live versions of the song appear on Feeding Frenzy
Feeding Frenzy: Jimmy Buffett Live!
Feeding Frenzy: Jimmy Buffett Live! is a live album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was initially released in October 1990 as MCA 10022...
, Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
Buffett Live - Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays is a live album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released on November 9, 1999. The album's material was culled from several concerts during the Don't Stop That Carnival Tour and Beach House on the Moon Tour ...
, and the video Live by the Bay
Live by the Bay
Live by the Bay is a live video by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was initially released in 1985 by MCA Entertainment. The 87-minute video was recorded from back to back concerts in Miami on August 16th and 17th 1985 at Miami Marine Stadium and is the first concert...
. The placenames in the final bridge are often altered in concert to reflect more recent news. The song was also re-recorded and released for Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
on June 3, 2008, with the last two lines listed above changed to, "I want to be a couch potato / Just play Rock Band everyday."
Volcano was recorded in Montserrat and was played at the concert "Music for Montserrat" when Montserrat was struck by a volcano. The lyrics were changed to fit the context. For example, the phrase "We've got to help our friends in Montserrat" appeared in the song.
When performed at concerts, a video of the song on Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
is shown.
Chart performance
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 66 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | 43 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks | 1 |