 Walker recorded the song a year earlier than Buffett and it was later further popularized by Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson.Although it was not very successful commercially at the time of its release, "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean" is generally considered one of Buffett's better albums and the beginning of his success.Johnny Loftus of AllMusic argues, "while it still lies much closer to Nashville than Key West," the album "does begin to delineate the blowsy, good-timin' Key West persona that would lead him to summer tour stardom" and is "highly recommended for Buffett completists and those interested in his more introspective side."