Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads is a four-compact disc (or cassette) compilation box set of Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band's greatest hits, rarities, and previously unreleased songs. Released in 1992, the collection reached quadruple platinum.
Boats is the boat and sailing-themed disc. "Love and Luck" was previously unreleased on a Buffett album. "Take It Back," written for the US America's Cup yachting team, was previously available only as a single release. "Love and Luck" would later appear on the live album, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Beaches is the beach and ocean-themed disc. Of the 18 beach songs, notable songs are "Margaritaville," also known as the Buffett national anthem, and "Cheeseburger in Paradise". "Money Back Guarantee" was previously unreleased on a Buffett album. "Christmas in the Caribbean" was previously released on the 1985 country music Christmas compilation album Tennessee Christmas.
Bars is the drinking and party songs-themed disc. Beginning with "Fins", the album also includes "Why Don't We Get Drunk (And Screw)?" and "Pencil Thin Mustache." "Elvis Imitators," an attempt at an Elvis Presley rockabilly song, written by Steve Goodman and Mike Smith, and "Domino College" were both previously unreleased on a Buffett album. "Fins" and "Cuban Crime of Passion" were co-written with novelist Tom Corcoran.
Ballads is the ballads and love song-themed disc. The most notable songs are "Come Monday" and "He Went to Paris". This collection includes a remix of "I Heard I Was in Town", not the version that appears on Somewhere over China. "Middle of the Night" was previously unreleased on a Buffett album. "Everlasting Moon", was a live recording from Buffett's 1990 live album, Feeding Frenzy.