Jim Croce
Jim Croce (Jan 10, 1943 ‒ Sept 20, 1973) was an American singer-songwriter … Read Full Bio ↴Jim Croce (Jan 10, 1943 ‒ Sept 20, 1973) was an American singer-songwriter from South Philadelphia whose biggest single "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" hit number 1 on the US charts in the summer of 1973. His influences included Ian & Sylvia, Gordon Lightfoot and Woody Guthrie. Sadly, Croce died in a small commercial plane crash one day before his third album, "I Got a Name" was to be released.

Early life

Croce was born in South Philadelphia. He graduated from Upper Darby High School in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania in 1960 where in 1976, he was the first former student to be added to the high school's Wall of Fame. Then, while attending Villanova University (1965 graduate), Croce became interested in becoming a professional musician and met his future wife, Ingrid, at a hootenanny at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, where he was a judge for the contest.

Early career

During the early 1960s, Croce formed a number of college bands and performed at coffee houses and universities, and later with his wife Ingrid as a duo in the mid-1960s to early 1970s. At first their performances included songs by Ian and Sylvia, Gordon Lightfoot, Joan Baez, and Woody Guthrie, but in time they began writing their own music, such as "Age", "Hey Tomorrow", and "Spin, Spin Spin" which later led to Croce's hit songs in the early seventies.

At the same time, Croce got his first long-term gig at a rural bar and steak house in Lima, Pennsylvania, called the Riddle Paddock. There, over the next few years, Croce developed a very engaging rapport with tough audiences and built his musical repertoire to over 3,000 songs. His set list included every genre from blues to country, rock 'n roll to folk, with tender love songs and traditional Bawdy Ballads, always introduced with a story and an impish grin.

In 1968, Jim and Ingrid Croce were encouraged to move to New York City to record their first album with Capitol Records. For the next two years, they drove over 300,000 miles playing small clubs and concerts on the college concert circuit promoting their album Jim & Ingrid Croce.

Then, disillusioned by the music business and New York City, Croce sold all but one guitar to pay the rent, and they returned to the Pennsylvania countryside where Croce got a job driving trucks and doing construction to pay the bills. He called this his "Character Development Period" and spent a lot of his time sitting in the cab of a truck, composing songs about his buddies and the folks he enjoyed meeting at the local bars and truck stops.

Success

In 1970, Croce met classically trained pianist/guitarist, singer-songwriter Maury Muehleisen from Trenton, New Jersey. Initially, Croce backed Muehleisen on guitar at his gigs. But in time, their musical strengths led them each to new heights. Muehleisen's ethereal and inspired guitar leads became the perfect accompaniment to Croce's down-to-earth music.

In 1972, Croce signed to a three record deal with ABC Records releasing You Don't Mess Around with Jim and Life & Times in the same year. The singles "You Don't Mess Around with Jim", "Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)" and "Time In A Bottle" (written for his newborn son, A. J. Croce) helped the former album reach #1 on the charts in 1974. Croce's biggest single "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", hit number 1 on the US charts in the summer of 1973, selling two million copies.

Sudden death

Croce, 30, and Muehleisen, 24, died in a small commercial plane crash on September 20, 1973 in Natchitoches, Louisiana one day before releasing his third ABC album, I Got a Name. The posthumous release included three hits, "I Got A Name", "Workin' At The Car Wash Blues" and "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song."

Musical legacy

In 1990, Croce was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In the late 1990s, Ingrid Croce, Croce's widow, and their son, A.J. Croce obtained the publishing rights for Croce's entire catalog of songs. Since then they have released Jim Croce Home Recordings, Facets, Jim Croce: Classic Hits, and the first-ever DVD of Jim's television performances on "Have You Heard – Jim Croce Live", with their most recent release in January 2006 of a CD of the same title. They also co-produced a PBS special, with archive footage from the Croce family collection, along with excerpts of their DVD Have You Heard – Jim Croce Live.

In 1985, Ingrid Croce opened "Croce's Restaurant & Jazz Bar", located in the historic Gaslamp District in San Diego, California, partially as a tribute to her late husband.

Quotes

His personal motto: "If you dig it, do it. If you really dig it, do it twice."

On his roots: "I never really thought of my neighborhood in South Philly as being a neighborhood, it was more a state of mind. For people who aren't familiar with those kind of places, it's a whole different thing. Like 42nd Street in New York City is a state of mind."
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Jim Croce Lyrics


A Good Time Man Like Me I was born to sing a good time song You know…
A Good Time Man Like Me Ain I was born to sing a good time song You know…
A Good Time Man Like Me Ain't Got No Business I was born to sing a good time song You know…
A Good Time Man Like Me Ain't Got No Business Singin The Blues I was born to sing a good time song You know…
A Long Time Ago Seems like such a long time ago I was walking on…
Age I've been up and down and 'round and 'round and…
Alabama Rain Lazy days in mid July Country Sunday mornin's Dusty haze on …
Bad Well the South side of Chicago Is the baddest part of…
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown Woah! Well 'ole south side of Chicago Is the baddest part o…
Ball of Kerrymuir Four-and-twenty virgins come down from Inverness, And when t…
Big bad leroy brown Well the South side of Chicago Is the baddest part of…
Big Fat Woman You big fat woman get your fat leg off of…
Big Wheel [Chorus] Big wheel, don't you roll Big diesel, don't you whi…



Box Well, out of Southern Illinois come a down home country…
Careful Man I don't gamble, I don't fight I don't be hangin' in…
Careful Man Dialogue I don't gamble, I don't fight I don't be hangin' in…
Chain Gang Chain Gang - Written by - Sam Cooke He Don't Love…
Chain Gang Medley That's the sound of the men working on the chain…
Chain Gang Medley-Chain Gang-He Don't Love Chain Gang - Written by - Sam Cooke He Don't Love…
Charley Green Play That Slide Trombone I know a fool who blows a horn He comes from…
Charley Green, Play That Slide Trombone I know a fool who blows a horn, He comes from…
Charlie Green Play That Slide Trambone I know a fool who blows a horn He comes from…
Child Of Midnight She stood by the window and let down her hair Asked…
Cigarettes Whiskey & Wild Wild Women Cigareets and whuskey and wild wild women They'll drive you …
Cigarettes Whiskey and Wild Wild Women Cigarettes, whiskey and wild, wild women They′ll drive you c…
Cigarettes Whiskey Wild Wild Women Cigareets and whuskey and wild wild women They'll drive you …
Cigarettes, Whiskey and Wild Wild Women Cigarettes, whiskey and wild, wild women They'll drive you c…
Coal Tattoo Travelin' down that coal town road, Listen to my rubber tir…
Cotton Mouth River Well, I know that I shouldn't have done it I know…
Country Girl She was just a country girl Didn't have those New York…
Don't Mess Around With Jim Uptown got it's hustlers The bowery got it's bums 42nd stree…
Dreamin Again Don't you know I had a dream last night That you…
Epilogue: Time In A Bottle If I could save time in a bottle The first thing…
Five Short Minutes Well, she was standing by my dressing room after the…
Good Time Man Like Me Ain't Got No Business I was born to sing a good time song You know…
Greatest Love Songs Well, I know it's kind of late I hope I didn't…
Greenback Dollar Some people say I'm a no 'count Others say I'm no…
Gunga Din You may talk of gin and beer When you're stationed way…
Hard Hearted Hannah They call her Hard Hearted Hannah The vamp of Savannah the…
Hard Time Losin Man [Chorus] And you think you've seen trouble Well you're looki…
Hard Time Losing Man [Chorus] And you think you've seen trouble Well you're loo…
Hard Times Be Over Mr baker used to be a big executive Now he's selling…
He Don't Love You Chain Gang - Written by - Sam Cooke He Don't Love…
Hey Tommorow Hey tomorrow, where are you goin' Do you have some room…
I Well, I know it's kind of late I hope I didn't…
I Am Who I Am Perhaps I'll never show this world All I could be i…
I Got a Name Like the pine trees linin' the windin' road I've got a…
I Have To Say I Love You In A Song Well, I know it's kind of late I hope I didn't…
I Remember Her Met her in the summer She was selling flowers In…
I Remember Mary I remember Mary, she was so hard to find Or was…
I' Ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song Well, I know it's kind of late I hope I didn't…
I'll Have To Say I Love You Well, I know it's kind of late I hope I didn't…
I'll Have To Say I Love You In Well, I know it's kind of late I hope I didn't…
I've Got a Name Like the pine trees lining the winding roads I've got a…
If the Backdoor Could Talk If I could save time in a bottle The first thing…
Ill Have to Say I Love You in a Song Well, I know it's kind of late I hope I didn't…
Introduction to "Rapid Boy" Oh rapid Roy that stock car boy He too much too…
Introduction To Workin' At The Car Wash Blues Well, I had just got out from the county prison Doin'…
It Doesn Snowy nights and Christmas lights Icy window panes Make me…
It Doesn't Have To Snowy nights and Christmas lights Icy window panes Make me w…
It's All Over Mary Ann You′ll know you're a man when you meet Mary Ann If…
Ive Got a Name Like the pine trees linin' the windin' road I've got a…
I\xE2\x80\x99ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song Well, I know it's kind of late I hope I didn't…
King He struggled so hard to be king Working night and day Dreami…
King's Song He struggled so hard to be king Working night and day Drea…
La Bamba Para bailar la bamba Para bailar la bamba se necesita Una po…
Leroy Brown Well the South side of Chicago Is the baddest part of…
Long Time Ago Seems like such a long time ago I was walking on…
Lover Guess that it was bound to happen Was just a matter…
Mama Tried The first thing I remember knowing, Was a lonesome whistle b…
Maybe Tomorrow Smoke another cigarette, have another drink or two Sit by th…
Message In a Bottle If I could save time in a bottle The first thing…
Migrant Worker Pickin' wasn't easy Kept you brown and thin Been a child for…
Mississippi Lady With just a sleeping bag and an old guitar I left…
More Than That Tom Hey love don't be afraid to stay until tomorrow Lover's daw…
New York Well, things were spinning round me And all my thoughts were…
Next Time This Time If you get to feelin' all alone When your good time…
Nobody Loves a Fat Girl Nobody loves a fat girl But oh how a fat girl…
Ol' Man River Ol' man river, that ol' man river He must know something,…
One Less Set of Footprints We been runnin' away from Somethin' we both know We've long …
One Less Set Of Fotsteps We been runnin' away from Somethin' we both know We've lon…
Operator Operator, well could you help me place this call? See, the…
Operatör Operator, well, could you help me place this call? See, the…
Operator (That Operator, well could you help me place this call? See, the…
Operator (That's Not The Way I Operator, well could you help me place this call? See, the…
Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels) Operator, well could you help me place this call See, the…
Operator That's Not The Way It Feels Operator, well could you help me place this call? See, the…
Pa You face is worn by harder times Your eyes have lost…
Photographs & Memories Photographs and memories Christmas cards you sent to me All …
Pig's Song It was early last September As near as I can remember Whil…
Railroad Song When I was a boy in the days of the…
Railroads and Riverboats The railroads and the riverboats That bred the mighty men Th…
Rapid Boy Oh rapid Roy that stock car boy He too much too…
Recently Used to be that I could see A reason to be…
Roller Derby Queen Gonna tell you a story that you won't believe But I…
Salon Sometimes I think about Our good old high school days You wo…
Searchin' Chain Gang - Written by - Sam Cooke He Don't Love…
Speedball I drive a broke down rig on "may-pop" tires Forty foot…
Spin Spin Spin Spin, spin, spin Spin around, spin around The harlequin dan…
Steel Rail Blues Well I got my mail late last night A letter from…
Stone Walls It's been too many years inside this prison Too many years…
Sun Come Up Sun come up in the morning Blues round my head I've got…
Texas Rodeo Hear the bells ring six o'clock In three more hours i…
The Ballad of Gunga Din You may talk of gin and beer When you're stationed way…
The Hard Way Every Time Yeah, I've had my share of broken dreams And more than…
The Hard Way Every Time /Live Yeah, I've had my share of broken dreams And more than…
The Migrant Worker Pickin' wasn't easy Kept you brown and thin Been a child f…
The Wall It's been too many years inside this prison Too many years…
The Way We Used To How come we can't talk the way we used to…
These Dreams Once we were lovers But somehow things have changed Now we'r…
Things 'bout Goin' My Way I came to tell you How it all began Nothing seems to…
This Land Is Your Land This land is your land This land is my land From Californi…
Thursday Well it started out just like a dream And like a…
Time in a Bottle If I could save time in a bottle The first thing…
Tommorow's Gonna be a Brighter Day Well, I'm sorry for the things that I told you But…
Top Hat Bar & Grill Well if you're lookin' for a good time Look hard as…
Until It's Time For Me to Go You're not a dream You're not an angel You're a woman I'm no…
Vespers I'd like to think about her And the way she used…
Walkin Mm-mm I'm walkin' back to Georgia And I hope she will…
Walkin Back To Georgia Mmm, mmm Walkin' back to Georgia And I hope she will…
Walkin%E2%80%99 Back To Georgia Mm-mm I'm walkin' back to Georgia And I hope she will…
Way We Used To How come we can't talk the way we used to…
Wear Out the Turnpike There's ice and snow on the northern roads And the Jersey…
What Do People Do Tell me, what do people do When there ain't nothin' to…
Which Way Are You Going Which way are you going, which side will you be…
Which Way Are You Goin' [Chorus] Which way are you goin' Which side will you be on W…
Which Way Are You Goin'? Which way are you going, which side will you be…
Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate Went to a dance with my sister Kate; Everybody there say…
Workin At The Car Wash Blues Well, I had just got out from the county prison Doin'…
Working at the Carwash Blues Well, I had just got out from the county prison Doin'…
Workin` At The Car Wash Blues Well, I had just got out from the county prison Doin'…
You Dont Mess around with jim Uptown got it's hustlers The bowery got it's bums 42nd stree…
You Don%E2%80%99t Mess Around With Jim Uptown got its hustlers The Bowery got its bums 42nd Street …
You Don't Mess Around Wit Jim Uptown got it's hustlers The bowery got it's bums 42nd stree…
You Don't Mess Around With Jim Uptown got its hustlers The Bowery got its bums 42nd Street …
You don?t mess around with Jim Uptown got it's hustlers The bowery got it's bums 42nd stree…
You Don\xE2\x80\x99t Mess Around With Jim Uptown got its hustlers The Bowery got its bums 42nd Street …
You Don´t Mess Around With Jim Uptown got it's hustlers The bowery got it's bums 42nd stree…
You Don’t Mess Around With Jim Uptown got its hustlers The Bowery got its bums 42nd Street …
You Oughta See Pickles Now You Oughta See Pickles Now Recorded by Tommy Collins Now whe…
[Careful Man (dialogue)] I don't gamble, I don't fight I don't be hangin' in…
[Roller Derby Queen (dialogue)] Gonna tell you a story that you won't believe But I…


John Cuenca


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