Jim Croce’s tragic death in an airplane accident at the age of 30 years old tragically cut short the life of one of folk music’s most interesting artists. I’ve always felt that the swag Croce brought to his melodies, lyrics, and arrangements separated himself from his early 70’s folk contemporaries in a really unique way. Croce is folk music through and through, but he’s just cool in a way that folk music really never was.
You Don’t Mess Around With Jim is stuffed full with gorgeous melodies, down-tempo heart tuggers, and up-tempo barnburners. It’s the perfect example of what folk music is capable of when its placed in the hand of artists who has the chutzpah to push it forward.
Standout Songs: “Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)”, “Photographs & Memories”, “Time in a Bottle”
