Photo: Public Domain
Our Top 10 Jim Croce Songs list takes a look at a singer-songwriter who enjoyed tremendous success in the early 70s. At a time when the genre of soft rock had become incredibly popular, Jim Croce landed multiple hit singles along with fellow artists such as James Taylor, Carole King, and Jackson Browne. The early 1970s saw an abundance of artists releasing songs in the soft rock genre that balanced the line between, country, pop, easy listening and rock overtones. It could be easily argued that Jim Croce was one of the pioneers of the soft rock movement.
Jim Croce’s talent for writing great grooves, strong melodies, and personal stories that fans fell in love with showcased an artist that seemed destined for a long and fruitful career. Jim Croce was born on January 10. 1943. He hailed from the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sadly, Jim Croce was killed in a plane crash on September 20, 1973, when he was only thirty years old. His guitarist Maury Muehleisen was also killed in the crash. At the point of his passing, Jim Croce was enjoying tremendous success on the charts and gained a reputation for composing songs of substance and commercial viability.
Most of Jim Croce’s hits were released on three albums that were issued in only a two-year period from 1971 to 1973. The albums You Don’t Mess Around with Jim
(1972), Life and Times
(1973) and I Got A Name
(1973) were brilliant records that defined one of the most promising talents of the classic rock era. Croce released his first album Facets
in 1966 and the follow-up Jim & Ingrid Croce
in 1969. However, it was the three albums released between 1972 and 1973 that secured Jim Croce’s status as a rock and roll legend.
# 10 – Speedball Tucker
Opening up our Top 10 Jim Croce Songs list is one of the most unfamiliar songs in the Jim Croce catalog. Maury Muehleisen’s guitar playing was often overshadowed by Jim Croce who was a powerful songwriter and singing skills. On the radio, you couldn’t see the band and even though Jim Croce played guitar, it was Maury Muehleisen who played all those great guitar riffs on the record. Just take a listen to the licks he played in “Speedball Tucker,” and you will hear how overlooked Maury Muehleisen’s playing was.
# 9 – One Less Set Of Footsteps
The great Jim Croce song “One Less Set of Footsteps” was released on Jim Croce’s Life and Times album in 1973. The song was the albums opening track. “One Less Set of Footsteps,” was also the first single released from the album. The song reached the Billboard Top 40 peaking at the number 37 position.
# 8 – Walking Back To Georgia
Another great Jim Croce song that displayed his great guitar playing, gift for melody and most of all the personal stories that we all fell in love with. “Walking Back To Georgia,” was never a hit, but it was a very special song to many of us who loved Jim Croce in the early 1970’s. Just listen to that chorus. The line, ” She’s the girl who said she loved me,” will just melt your heart.
# 7 – You Don’t Mess Around With Jim
The song “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” was the title track of Jim Croce’s third album You Don’t Mess Around With Jim.
The album was released in 1972. The song served as the opening track on the album. “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” was released as the album’s first single. The song “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” was a top 10 hit for Jim Croce peaking at Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.
It’s amazing how pop culture is a never-ending circle that can many times reintroduce songs back into the mainstream. Many young people in the 2020s first discovered the music of Jim Croce because the song “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” was used in multiple episodes of the Netflix hit series Stranger Things. It was showcased as everyone’s favorite character Jim Hopper’s favorite song, which made complete sense regarding the character he played.
# 6 – Bad Bad Leroy Brown
Out of all the Jim Croce songs on this list, the great recording of “Bad Bad Leroy Brown,” may be the most memorable. This was a very successful song for Jim Croce as it received multiple Grammy Award nominations. The song was released on the Jim Croce album Life and Times.
The record was issued in 1973. The song “Bad Bad Leroy Brown,” was a number 1 record reaching the number one position on the Billboard Top 100 in 1973. It was also one of the most popular songs of the years. Piano players loved the opening piano lick that was learned by millions of keyboardists both amateur and pro. Elton John got a run for his money on this one.
# 5 – Time In A Bottle
Rating the next batch of Jim Croce songs was nearly impossible. On any given day this order could change. In the end, all we really care about is celebrating these amazing Jim Croce songs one more time. “Time in A Bottle,” was released on the You Don’t Mess Around With Jim album in 1972. The song Time In A Bottle was written by Jim Croce. The song hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1973.
# 4 – Photographs And Memories
The song “Photographs and Memories,” was the B side to the single “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim. “ However the beauty of the song has just grown even more special after all these years. This is such a tender song. The guitar work is fabulous and the melody is just breathtaking. The title of the song was also used as the title to Jim Croce’s best-selling Greatest Hits
album.
# 3 – I Got A Name
As we start to wind down our Jim Croce Songs list, the last three songs define the sound of the early 1970s and the beauty of Jim Croce’s work. The song “I Got A Name,” was released on the I Got A Name LP. The I Got A Name album was the last official Jim Croce album released before all the greatest hits packages and compilations began to be issued by ABC Records. The album featured the last song Jim Croce ever wrote entitled “Salon and Saloon.”
# 2 – I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song
The beautiful and tender ballad “I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song,” was released on the final Jim Croce album I Got A Name. The song “I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song,” was released as the second single from the album after the album’s first single “I Got A Name.” It is one of the most covered Jim Croce songs in his catalog. The song reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974.
# 1 – Operator
Closing out our Top 10 Jim Croce songs list is the heartbreaking song “Operator.” Every time one hears the track, one can’t help but feel the pain of the disconnected number and the search for that one that got away. The song’s beauty and heartbreak is as bittersweet as it gets. Released on the You Don’t Mess Around with Jim album. It was the album’s second single. The song peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Jim Croce Songs that we also love.
“New York’s Not My Home”
“Lover’s Cross”
“Working At The Car Wash Blues”
“Five Short Minutes”
“Tomorrow’s Gonna Be a Brighter Day”
“Hard Time Losin’ Man”
“Another Day, Another Town”
UPDATED APRIL 11, 2023
Top 10 Jim Croce Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
He sure does make you want to write songs.
Great talent, lost all too soon.
Although I never met the man, he had this sense of congeniality, empathy for the common man, and displaying humor, while being cerebral.
Nor did I have the chance to see him perform in person, but the attributes above shine through, thanks to documentaries and preserving shows such as The Midnight Special.
Just want to take this opportunity, although this article addresses Jim Croce’s many classics, to especially thank Jim Croce for “I Got A Name” which chokes me up every time I hear it, as it fully reminds me of my deceased Father, who taught me to follow the road less traveled, and to make my own mark on the world, to the best of my ability.