One Particular Harbour^[1] is the twelfth studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was released in September 1983 as MCA 5447 and was produced by Buffett and Michael Utley. It was Buffett's first involvement producing an album. Stars On The Water was written by and a minor hit for country music songsmith Rodney Crowell and also covered by Texan country music singer George Strait on his 2001 album, The Road Less Traveled.

Songs

In addition to songs written or co-written by Buffett (including one with J.D. Souther and Josh Leo), the album includes four cover songs: "Stars on the Water" by country songwriter Rodney Crowell, "California Promises" by Steve Goodman, "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison, and "Why You Wanna Hurt My Heart?" written by the Neville Brothers' Art Neville. Buffett's version of "Stars on the Water" also appeared on the soundtrack to the 1993 movie The Firm.

Chart performance

One Particular Harbour reached #59 on the Billboard 200 album chart and #35 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The song "One Particular Harbour" hit #22 Adult Contemporary and "Brown Eyed Girl" made it to #13 Adult Contemporary.

Critical reception

Allmusic reviewer William Ruhlmann says One Particular Harbour was something like a comeback, with Buffett's best batch of songs since Son of a Son of a Sailor in 1978"^[3] and the title single, "One Particular Harbour," is a fan favorite, and is sometimes considered part of "The Big 8" that Buffett has played at almost all of his concerts.

Track listing

Side 1:

1. "Stars on the Water" (Rodney Crowell) – 3:16
2. "I Used to Have Money One Time" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley) – 3:25
3. "Livin' It Up" (Jimmy Buffett, Josh Leo, J.D. Souther) – 2:59
4. "California Promises" (Steve Goodman) – 3:42
5. "One Particular Harbour" (Jimmy Buffett, Bobby Holcomb) – 5:44

Side 2:

1. "Why You Wanna Hurt My Heart?" (Arthur Neville) – 2:42
2. "Honey Do" (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Utley) – 4:32
3. "We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us About" (Jimmy Buffett) – 3:21
4. "Twelve Volt Man" (Jimmy Buffett) – 4:00
5. "Brown Eyed Girl" (Van Morrison) – 3:55
6. "Distantly In Love" (Jimmy Buffett) – 2:53

Personnel

• Jimmy Buffett - acoustic guitar
• Michael Utley - piano, organ, synthesizer, arrangements
• Josh Leo - electric Guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin
• Sam Clayton - congas, percussion
• Bob Glaub - bass
• Russell Kunkel - drums
• Robert Greenidge - steel drums
• Errol "Crusher" Bennett - percussion, congas
• Matt Betton - drums, saxophone
• Danny Burns - bass
• Alan Estes - percussion
• David Jackson - upright bass
• Earl Klugh - gut-string guitar
• Vince Melamed - synthesizer
• Thom Mooney - drums
• Frank Bama, Bonnie Bramlett, Danny Burns, Sam Clayton, Rita Coolidge, David Lasley, Josh Leo, Debra McColl, Arnold McCuller, Vince Melamed, Timothy B. Schmit, The Chorale Epherona - background vocals

Singles

• "One Particular Harbour" b/w "Distantly in Love" (Released on MCA 52298 in October 1983)
• "Brown Eyed Girl" b/w "Twelve Volt Man" (Released on MCA 52333 in January 1984)

Notes