American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett has issued a number of greatest hits compilation albums over the course of his music career and they are listed chronologically by date of release below. These collections have focused less on whether particular songs have been issued as singles or have been chart hits but instead have all tended to include a core of fan favorite songs that are popular at Buffett's live concerts. Buffett has also had collections featuring only the work of his first two albums from the Barnaby Records label which has been licensed for numerous releases. For these, see Down to Earth and High Cumberland Jubilee compilations.
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Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett's Greatest Hit(s) is Buffett's first greatest hits compilation and was released in 1985. However, it only features songs from 1973 to 1979 including all of "The Big 8" songs that Buffett has played at almost all of his concerts.
Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads is a four-compact disc box set of Buffett's greatest hits plus rarities and previously unreleased songs released in 1992. The songs are grouped thematically on four discs, one named for each of the four words in the title.
A Pirate's Treasure: 20 Jimmy Buffett Gems was released in Australia on MCA International MCAD 31213 in November 1993.
All the Great Hits was released in the United Kingdom on Prism Platinum PLATCD 4903 in 1993 or 1994.
The Great Jimmy Buffett is a compilation of songs from A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean and Living and Dying in 3/4 Time released in Portugal on Goldies (Intermusic) GLD 63166 in 1994.
Great American Summer Fun with Jimmy Buffett is a compilation EP that was released on MCA Special Products MSD-36031 in the summer of 1996 for sale only at the US Target Corporation stores.
Biloxi was originally released in Australia on Castle Communications Australia PCD10169 in June 1995. Unlike most other Buffett greatest hits compilations, the songs on this collection are digitally remastered.
Calaloo is a compilation EP released by Margaritaville Records in the summer of 1999 for sale only at the US Best Buy stores. In addition to the Buffett classics "Cheeseburger in Paradise" and "Come Monday," the album includes four other rarer tracks. Both "Kinja" and "Island Fever" are from the Buffett musical Don't Stop the Carnival but "Kinja" is a live concert version recorded in Orlando, Florida on 4 March 1999. "Stories From My Favorite Books" is a spoken-word track taken from a recording that originally aired on Radio Margaritaville of Buffett reading an excerpt of Mark Twain's travelogue, Following the Equator. "Cairo" is a live duet of Buffett and Nadirah Shakoor from Margaritaville Cafe: Late Night Live credited to Club Trini.
Meet Me in Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection is a two-compact disc greatest hits compilation released in 2003. It has 36 previously recorded songs, including all of the songs from Songs You Know by Heart except "Boat Drinks," plus two new cover songs. However, ten of the songs in the collection are remakes or live versions of the original songs (including three from Songs You Know by Heart). Unlike most other Buffett greatest hits compilations, the songs on Meet Me in Margaritaville are digitally remastered.