It’s Tuesday so that means it’s time for another debut album, although this one comes with a caveat. Technically, You Don’t Mess Around With Jim was not Jim Croce’s actual debut album. He had released a self published album in 1966 (only 500 copies were issued), and three years later, he and his wife Sylvia released a joint venture that was, for the most part, ignored by the public.
After being rejected by up to 40 record labels, ABC signed him in 1972, and he released what is widely considered to be his actual mainstream debut album. It could easily pass for a greatest hits album, featuring unforgettable songs such as the title song, Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels), Tomorrow’s Gonna Be A Brighter Day, Photographs And Memories, New York’s Not My Home, A Long Time Ago, the sadly ironic Hey Tomorrow, the classic Time In A Bottle, plus others that revealed a singer/songwriter who managed to successfully cultivate his story telling, humor and heartfelt thoughts and heartbreak into some of the most memorable songs and melodies ever recorded.
You Don’t Mess Around With Jim spent 93 weeks on the charts, and five of those weeks saw it ranked #1. Tragically, 14 months after the album was released, Croce died in an airplane crash, his life cut short at the age of 30, way before his prime.
Drawing from his personal experience and unique observations of life, Jim Croce left behind a rich legacy of music. His songs celebrated the life of the common man; songs that are as relevant today as the day he wrote them.
Enjoy his “debut” album … in its entirety.
Play button is on the left … Volume slider is on the right
Jim Croce’s Debut Album
You Don’t Mess Around With Jim (J. Croce)
Tomorrow’s Gonna Be A Brighter Day (J. Croce)
New York’s Not My Home (J. Croce)
Hard Time Losin’ Man (J. Croce)
Photographs And Memories (J. Croce)
Walkin’ Back To Georgia (J. Croce)
Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels) (J. Croce)
Time In A Bottle (J. Croce)
Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy) (J. Croce)
Box #10 (J. Croce)
A Long Time Ago (J. Croce)
Hey Tomorrow (J. Croce)
