Top Ten Songs by Jim Croce
After graduation, Jim did construction work, welding and teaching special education in a Philadelphia high school to support himself and his wife while still pursuing his musical career. He performed wherever and whenever he could. He became frustrated with his blue collar employment and in 1969 moved to New York with Ingrid and an old friend from college, Tommy West. They began playing in clubs and coffeehouses for more than a year. It was there that they recorded their first album. The record was not a success and they grew tired of life in the city. The Croce’s then decided to move to Lyndell, PA where their only child was born, Adrian James Croce. They lived a much simpler life, but money was short and Jim began selling the guitars he collected while living in New York. He worked construction jobs again and for studios in New York doing background vocals for radio commercials.
Jim was eventually heard and signed by ABC/Dunhill record label in 1972 and released his second album, “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim.” His bluesy-rock style along with his soulful ballads became popular with the American radio stations. This album gave Jim the success he had dreamed of. The title track, “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” became a top ten hit. The second song from that album, “Operator (That’s Not the Way it Feels)” was receiving substantial radio air-time and was quickly making Jim Croce a household name. His down-to-earth style and the poetic lyrics made it easy to relate to Jim and he was finally on his way to the top!
The third album titled ” Life and Times” released in 1973 and was an even bigger success than the first. “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” was a chart topping single that reached #one and eventually went Gold. Jim Croce was now traveling all over the country doing concerts and making television appearances. One of my favorite songs, “Time in a Bottle” was used as theme song on a television movie titled “She Lives,” in early September of that year. It was after being heard on national television that this now legendary song became a radio success.
Jim Croce was on a tour to promote his ” Life and Times” album and was planning on taking a break from touring afterwards to spend time with Ingrid and their baby son. Jim never got to finish that tour. Only two months after “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” went to the top of the charts, he was killed in a plane crash. Jim had finished what would be his last concert at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. His small charter airplane took off in bad weather and crashed into a tree right after take off, killing Jim, his lead guitarist Maury Muehleisen and the airplanes crew.
After his death, Jim Croce’s music continued to grow in popularity. He will always be known as one of the most talented singer, songwriter and musicians that we were blessed to have for such a short time. There is no way of knowing just where Jim’s career would have taken him if he had not died so tragically just when his dreams were becoming realities. People who knew Jim Croce spoke of what a genuine, kind and easy-going man he was. His music was so easy for everyone to relate to. Jim Croce is buried at Haym Salomon Memorial Park in Frazer, Pennsylvania. An album titled, “Photographs and Memories” was released in 1974 as his greatest hits package.
Ingrid opened a restaurant called “Croce’s” in San Diego that is dedicated to Jim. Their son A.J. is now following in his father’s footsteps. The following is a list of Jim Croce’s top ten songs:
1. “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim”
2. “Operator (That’s Not the Way it Feels)”
3. “Time in a Bottle”
4. “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”
5. “One Less Set of Footsteps”
6. “It Doesn’t Have to be That Way”
7. “Roller Derby Queen”
8. “I Got a Name”
9. “I’ll Have to Say I Love You In a Song”
10. “Lover’s Cross”
