He earns his first leader since 2006.
Jimmy Buffett’s Life on the Flip Side blasts onto Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart dated June 13 at No. 1 with 75,000 first-week equivalent album units, with almost all (74,000) from album sales, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.
The album, Buffett’s first non-holiday studio effort since Songs From St. Somewhere in 2013, marks his third Top Country Albums No. 1, and third No. 1 debut, after License to Chill in July 2004 and Take the Weather With You in October 2006. The new LP is Buffett’s 16th top 10 on the tally.
The new album’s sales were helped by a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer tied to upcoming Buffett shows. The bundle offer was originally attached to a string of dates meant to run from May 16 through Oct. 15, 2020. Some of those shows were ultimately canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, while the remaining dates were postponed and rescheduled to July 10 through Sept. 2, 2021. Only the postponed and rescheduled shows are part of the ticket bundle offer that contributes to the new set’s chart total.
On the all-genre Billboard 200, Life on the Flip Side starts at No. 2, marking Buffett’s best rank since License to Chill became his first No. 1 in 2004. He banks his 12th top 10 among 40 entries dating to his first, Living and Dying in 3/4 Time, in March 1974.
Beyond charts, Buffett’s Billboard career stretches back even further: He served as Nashville correspondent in 1969-70.
