Complete List Of Jim Croce Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: ABC/Dunhill Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

James Joseph Croce’s journey from the streets of South Philadelphia to the heights of the music industry was fueled by determination, raw storytelling, and an unmistakable talent for crafting songs that resonated with everyday people. Born on January 10, 1943, Croce was raised in a working-class Italian-American family, absorbing a wide range of musical influences from folk to blues. He attended Villanova University, where he became deeply involved in campus music groups, forming bands and playing everything from rock to traditional folk. It was there that he met his future wife, Ingrid Jacobson, at a hootenanny contest, marking the beginning of both a personal and professional partnership that would shape his early career.

Croce’s first album, Facets, was independently released in 1966, financed with a wedding gift from his parents. Their hope was that he would abandon music after its inevitable failure, but the album sold out, proving his potential. He and Ingrid recorded Jim & Ingrid Croce in 1969 under Capitol Records, but despite relentless touring, commercial success remained elusive. Disillusioned, the couple moved to rural Pennsylvania, where Croce took odd jobs—truck driving, construction work, and even writing radio ads—to support his family while continuing to write songs. His music during this period was shaped by the people he encountered, giving birth to the colorful characters and blue-collar themes that would define his greatest work.

His fortunes changed in the early 1970s when he was introduced to guitarist Maury Muehleisen. Originally backing Muehleisen on guitar, Croce soon took center stage, with Muehleisen’s intricate fingerpicking style adding depth to his compositions. This collaboration led to a contract with ABC Records, and in 1972, Croce released You Don’t Mess Around with Jim. The album contained hit singles like the title track and “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels),” but it was the posthumous success of “Time in a Bottle” that cemented Croce’s legacy, soaring to number one following his untimely death. His next album, Life and Times, produced “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” a raucous tale of a larger-than-life figure that became his first number-one hit during his lifetime.

At the peak of his career, Croce’s relentless touring schedule kept him on the road for months at a time, leaving him increasingly exhausted and homesick. In September 1973, he completed his final studio album, I Got a Name, which was set for release later that year. Just one day before its lead single debuted, tragedy struck. On September 20, 1973, Croce, Muehleisen, and four others were killed in a plane crash in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He was only 30 years old. The music industry lost one of its most gifted storytellers, a songwriter whose words painted vivid portraits of life’s triumphs and struggles.

Despite his passing, Croce’s music continued to captivate audiences. His posthumous releases, including I Got a Name, Photographs & Memories, and The Faces I’ve Been, kept his voice alive on the airwaves. “Time in a Bottle,” with its haunting lyrics about fleeting time, became his second number-one single after his death. His songs have since been featured in countless films, television shows, and commercials, ensuring that new generations discover his work. In 1990, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a recognition of his lasting impact on American music.

Outside of music, Croce’s legacy has been carefully preserved by his family. His widow, Ingrid, published I Got a Name: The Jim Croce Story, giving fans a deeper look into his life and career. Their son, A.J. Croce, followed in his father’s footsteps, carving out his own path as a singer-songwriter. Ingrid also opened Croce’s Restaurant & Jazz Bar in San Diego, a tribute to her late husband’s passion for good music and good company. Even decades after his passing, his influence continues to ripple through the industry, proving that true artistry never fades.

What made Croce so beloved was his ability to turn life’s simplest moments into poetry. Whether singing about heartbreak, bar fights, or fleeting time, his songs carried an honesty that connected deeply with listeners. He had a gift for storytelling that transformed ordinary experiences into unforgettable narratives, ensuring that his music remains timeless. His impact extends beyond his chart success—his songs have become part of the fabric of American music, treasured by fans who find pieces of themselves in his words.

Complete List Of Jim Croce Songs From A to Z

(And) I Remember Her – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
(The) Migrant Worker (featuring Ingrid Croce) – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
A Good Time Man Like Me Ain’t Got No Business (Singin’ the Blues) – Life and Times – 1973
A Long Time Ago – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
A Rose And A Baby Ruth – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Age – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
Age – I Got a Name – 1973
Alabama Rain – Life and Times – 1973
Another Day, Another Town – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown – Life and Times – 1973
Big Fat Woman – Facets – 1966
Big Fat Woman – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Big Wheel – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
Box No. 10 – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
Can’t Wait (featuring Ingrid Croce) – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
Careful Man – Life and Times – 1973
Carnival of Pride (featuring Ingrid Croce) – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
Chain Gang Medley – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 1) – 2006
Chain Gang Medley – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Charlie Green Play That Slide Trombone – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Charley Green, Play That Slide Trombone – Facets – 1966
Child of Midnight – Facets (2004 reissue) – 2004
Child of Midnight – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
Cigarettes, Whiskey and Wild Wild Women – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
Circle of Style (featuring Ingrid Croce) – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
Coal Tattoo – Facets – 1966
Cotton Mouth River – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
Country Girl – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 1) – 2006
Country Girl – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Dreamin’ Again – Life and Times – 1973
Five Short Minutes – I Got a Name – 1973
Greenback Dollar – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Gunga Din – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah) – Facets – 1966
Hard Time Losin’ Man – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
Hard Times Be Over – Facets (2004 reissue) – 2004
Hey Tomorrow – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
I Am Who I Am – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
I Got a Name – I Got a Name – 1973
I Got Mine – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
I Remember Mary – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song – I Got a Name – 1973
If the Back Door Could Talk – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
In the Jailhouse Now – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way – Life and Times – 1973
It’s All Over, Mary Ann – Facets (2004 reissue) – 2004
Just Another Day – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
King’s Song – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 1) – 2006
King’s Song – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Living with the Blues – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
Lover’s Cross – I Got a Name – 1973
Mama Tried – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
Maybe Tomorrow – Facets (2004 reissue) – 2004
Maybe Tomorrow – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
Maybe Tomorrow – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Mississippi Lady – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 1) – 2006
Mississippi Lady – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Mom and Dad’s Waltz – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
More Than That Tomorrow – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
New York’s Not My Home – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
Next Time, This Time – Life and Times – 1973
Nobody Loves a Fat Girl – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Nobody Loves a Fat Girl – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
Old Man River – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Ol’ Man River – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 1) – 2006
One Less Set of Footsteps – Life and Times – 1973
Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels) – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
Pa (Song for a Grandfather) – Facets (2004 reissue) – 2004
Photographs and Memories – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
Pig’s Song – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Railroad Song – Facets (2004 reissue) – 2004
Railroad Song – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Railroad Song (featuring Ingrid Croce) – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
Railroads And Riverboats – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Railroads and Riverboats – Facets (2004 reissue) – 2004
Railroads and Riverboats – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy) – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
Recently – I Got a Name – 1973
Roller Derby Queen – Life and Times – 1973
Running Maggie – Facets – 1966
Sadie Green (The Vamp of New Orleans) – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
Salon And Saloon – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Salon and Saloon – I Got a Name – 1973
Six Days on the Road – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
Speedball Tucker – Life and Times – 1973
Spin, Spin, Spin – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
Steel Rail Blues – Facets – 1966
Stone Walls – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
Stone Walls – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Sun Come Up – Facets – 1966
Sun Come Up – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Texas Rodeo – Facets – 1966
The Army – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
The Ballad of Gunga Din – Facets – 1966
The Blizzard – Facets – 1966
The Edges Of Your Day – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
The Hard Way Every Time – I Got a Name – 1973
The Man That Is Me – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
The Next Man That I Marry – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
The Wall – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
The Way We Used To Be – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
The Way We Used to Be – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
These Dreams – Life and Times – 1973
Things ‘Bout Goin’ My Way – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
This Land Is Your Land – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Thursday – I Got a Name – 1973
Time in a Bottle – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
Tomorrow’s Gonna Be a Brighter Day – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
Top Hat Bar and Grille – I Got a Name – 1973
Until It’s Time for Me to Go – Facets – 1966
Vespers – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
Walkin’ Back to Georgia – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
Wear Out The Turnpike – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Wear Out the Turnpike (featuring Ingrid Croce) – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 2) – 2006
What Do People Do – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
What the Hell – Jim & Ingrid Croce – 1969
Which Way Are You Goin’ – The Faces I’ve Been – 1975
Which Way Are You Going’ – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition – Disc 1) – 2006
Who Will Buy the Wine – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003
Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues – I Got a Name – 1973
You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – 1972
You Oughta See Pickles Now – Home Recordings: Americana – 2003

Albums Included:

Facets (1966) – 11 songs
- Facets (2004 reissue) – Additional 7 songs
Jim & Ingrid Croce (1969) – 11 songs
You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (1972) – 12 songs
- You Don’t Mess Around with Jim (2006 edition) – Additional 20 songs (6 on Disc 1, 14 on Disc 2)
Life and Times (1973) – 11 songs
I Got a Name (1973) – 11 songs
The Faces I’ve Been (1975) – 24 songs (including some previously released songs and new versions)
Home Recordings: Americana (2003) – 15 songs