Was awesome checking out more Jim Croce! What should we hit next from him?! 🔥🙌🏻

The rating really doesn't matter. I guarantee that you will listen to that song for years and it will only become even more meaningful as they go by.

Shoutout to Croce's lead guitarist, the phenomenal Maury Muehleisen.

The thing about "Time in a Bottle" is the fact you never lose the feeling for the song. "Operator" is about romantic love, Time in a Bottle changes as you go through life. As people come and go the song will still bring you a strong emotional feeling. Young- romantic love, young adult-your children, older adult- family and it last when your old like me-all those that have gone on before 👵

This song takes on new meaning when you learn that Jim wrote the song in December of 1970 after his wife told him, she was pregnant. Less than 3 years later, Jim died in a plane crash at age 30. Those facts completely change this song from a sweet love song to a classic, tragic tear jerker. Just think about it: Time was the one thing that this master songwriter, husband and father didn't have.

Me watching at 3:20 "They're about to hear one of the best lyrics of the 70s" "If I had a box just for wishes, and dreams that'd never come true. The box would be empty except for the memory of how they were answered by you." Alex: "Dude goosebumps." Me: "Yup!"

This is one of the very few songs that can bring me to tears. If you know the back story about how he died young, leaving a wife and young child, it makes it that much more powerful for me.

To me, "Time In A Bottle" is more heartbreaking than "Operator". When you lose someone to death, whether it's a family member, friend, or pet, you wish you could have stopped time and keep living with them.

Jim Croce was just one of the many great singer/songwriters of the '70's, along with Harry Chapin, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Carole King, Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot, and Joni Mitchell. 👏👍✌️

re: "My heart didn't fully understand it, yet." Well, Andy, he wrote it for his child. Per Wikipedia, "Croce wrote the lyrics after his wife Ingrid told him she was pregnant, in December 1970. It appeared on his 1972 ABC debut album You Don't Mess Around with Jim and was featured in the 1973 ABC made-for-television movie She Lives!. ABC originally did not intend to release the song as a single; but when Croce was killed in a plane crash in September 1973, its lyrics, dealing with mortality and the wish to have more time, had additional resonance." The general aesthetic of the song is as "A+" or "S-Tier" as it gets. So, you're not wrong for giving it an "A+." When you know the rest of the story, I think it's S-Tier. Some day, when you become a parent, it will be beyond "S-Tier."

For fun and good songs try “Bad Bad LeRoy Brown” and “Don’t Mess Around With Jim”, both hits and well loved by fans! Another one more like this you’d love is “I’ve Got A Name”.

This song has great meaning to me. Back in 1997, my dad called me at work to tell me that my mother had passed away. I immediately left work to go home and make arrangements to fly back for her funeral and this was the first song that came on the radio in my car on the way home. About halfway into the song, I had to pull over because I was crying too hard to drive. I still go back to that day every time I hear this song.

This guy was just stellar. "I've Got A Name" and "Lover's Cross" are especially wonderful. Thanks for checking out this genre, guys!

Jim was part of the whole singer songwriter genre, that you definitely won't find today. This song is simply gorgeous.

Jim Croce was such a good song writer. His music can be divided into love songs, break up songs, and telling up beat music stories about characters who are on the seamier side of life. My favorite character song is "You don't mess around with Jim." A great break up song is Lover's Cross. Before you leave Jim Croce, I highly recommend those two songs

He wrote this song for his infant son AJ. He died not long afterward. The song hits so hard once you become a parent, believe me. Check out the cover that AJ Croce did of this song. Right in the feels.

Jim "Crow Chee" is how they pronounced it back in the day. "Don't mess around with Jim" and "Bad, bad Leroy Brown" have been mentioned and should be visited.......great storytelling in these two.

One Less Set of Footsteps, Lover's Cross, Photographs and Memories. Can't go wrong with anything you choose.

It doesn't matter how many times I hear this one, I still get teary eyed when I hear it. This time made no exception. My favorite Croce. And there are zero bad Croce's.

My head says “suggest one of his more upbeat songs, they’re fun!”, but my heart says “they need to hear I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song and New York’s Not My Home!”.

He wrote several “fun” songs that are worth checking out. Rapid Roy the Stock Car Boy, Roller Derby Queen, and one of my favorites Working at the Car Wash Blues.

Andy and Alex- spreading love and closing the generation gap one song at a time.

This song was released and topped the charts posthumously. He was killed in a plane crash after performing a makeup show for LSU and fulfilling a promise. You’re the best guys.

If this song doesn't move you to tears, you don't have a soul. Jim wrote the song in 1970 when his wife told him she was pregnant. He died in a plane crash 3 years later. Vale, Jim.

This track was released posthumously. Talk about a bunch of hippies crying their eyes out the first few times hearing this. I miss him still. He has some really "playful" songs, too, much more upbeat. Like Rapid Roy (That Stock Car Boy), Roller Derby Queen, Five Short Minutes, One Less Set Of Footsteps, You Don't Mess Around With Jim, man I could go on and on, he has so many great songs, all written by him. And don't sleep on Maury Mulheisen , his partner who played acoustic Lead Guitar on all these great songs. Thanks for the great song, and yes, it's an S-tier song!

This was the quintessential wedding song for a while. It’s beautiful.

For me his song "Photographs & Memories" has always pulled hard at the heartstrings; even when I was a kid I realized there was something special and meaningful about those lyrics. Even though they are more in line with a relationship falling apart, the lyrics mean even more to me these days after having lost grandparents and parents, numerous friends over the years and as of last year losing my wife... the song is very poignant.

Andy would dig “I’ve got a name”. Alex will give it an S.

Friends, please shout-out the guitarist by name - MAURY MUEHLEISEN ("mule-high-zen"), he died in the same plane crash with Jim. They combination of their talent was just so transcendent - take a look at any of their live work together to see that amazing chemistry. For fun, you might want to listen to "Roller Derby Queen" or "Working at the Car Wash Blues," but all of his "heartbreaking" songs are brilliant. "New York's Not My Home," "Box #10," "Alabama Rain," "One Less Set of Footsteps." Also, "I've Got a Name."

He died just as this song came out..so freaky given the words! How does that impact Andy’s rating..that was the context of how we first heard it

“I’ve Got A Name” and "You Don’t Mess Around With Jim" are two more very personal Croce songs, the first a rumination and the second a brag. Pick one!

This dude is the only artist that died early that I'm confident would have created many many more hits. He's got like 20 great songs, and he only put out like 2 albums.

Jim's lookalike son AJ grew up to be a singer-songwriter too. He sounds a lot like his dad. It's especially touching to hear him sing Jim's song "I Got a Name."

2 things. 1, it was written for his son while he was on the raod. 2, My wife and I were married to this song 42 years ago. Great song , thanks.

The next storyteller needs to be Harry Chapin - Taxi.

My husband was one of the Vets who died on a VA waiting list. He was in a hospital bed in our room and out of it. This song and one other were two rock songs he'd tolerate. I put this on and about the last two lines I felt such overwhelming sense of loneliness. It took me a minute to realize he had died and it was the silence. Great song, had to pass on it. Hope you guys enjoyed it.

I just can't say enough about Jim Croce; his style, his guitar, his voice, his passion, and his humility. I'm 62 now but I loved him at 17 and it hasn't changed a bit since then. The picture of his baby boy was featured on an album that was released after he died. I wept. More than once. Just so good.

Thank you SO MUCH, guys, for playing this AMAZING song by the late, great Jim Croce ( Crow-chee). ETA: there are two other songs by Croce that were much loved by me when I was a kid, Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown (or maybe just Leroy Brown), and You Don't Mess Around With Jim. Check them out. They were both also very popular songs by Jim Croce.

Photographs & Memories. That’s the next one. It is amazing!!

"Jim Croce? Man, he was tuned into something that the rest of us just don't get to see." - Jerry Reed

What I love about this song is its timelessness; you could go back in time 500 years and sing it word-for=word and note-for-note and everybody would understand its meaning.

"Bad Bad Leroy Brown" is a must! Along with "I'll have to say I love you in a song" Both great songs

One of the best from the era of the singer songwriter.

Harry Chapin is another great singer songwriter from that era. “The Cat’s in the Cradle”, “Taxi” are wonderful: or, for a very funny story, “ 30,000 Pounds of Bananas”; are all must listens.

Not a deep cut, but not as chart hitting was “Walkin’ Back to Georgia”. Absolutely beautiful song in this same vein of sincere and meaningful songs.

I've ALWAYS loved this song since High School ('74 grad.) ❤ HUGE Croce (pronounced Crow-chee) fan; still mourn his passing...💔 This song was for and about his son, who has followed in his footsteps, but couldn't bring himself to do this song for a very long time...

Jim has several "fun" songs that are great, but his "love songs" are stellar S tier stuff. RIP the great Jim Croce.

Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, Harry Chapin…. Nothing but class.

Love Jim Croce as apparently it’s shared by you both. Died much to young. I will continue to promote Dan Folgeberg, who also passed away in his prime. Folgeberg is an awesome storyteller with songs like Leader of the Band (tribute to his father) and Same Ol Lang Syne (about running into an old lover on Christmas Eve). Also Harry Nillson has been mentioned (Without You). I know I have promoted these artists in the past and will continue.As they say, persistence pays off.

Croce was an amazing storyteller. You've done 2 of his best 3 songs. You need to react to Bad Bad Leroy Brown, his most popular song.

Try something from him a little more upbeat and fun. “Don’t Mess Around with Jim” or “Bad Bad Leroy Brown”

This became our song when it came out way back when! It will be 49 years February 14 th !

I think Operator has a tragic/sad drama feel about it. They are both exceptional songs but strike different heartstrings.

Brilliance. Let the happy tears flow. I do love this song, but understand the differing rating. It's all how it hits you through life and what you're going through, yes? Keep this song in your playlist, you'll need it one day. :) Have a great Wednesday. Catch ya later! 💖✌️😊

I sang this song to my cat as he died, very young, due to cancer. He was a cool little buddy, and I wish we had more time together. He was a stray I found injured and broken from an animal attack, doctor said fox or raccoon, and nursed him back to health, even saving his leg. We couldn't beat cancer though. Even the doctor cried. She said he fought so hard and never was grumpy about it. Great song by Croce, but it makes me sad.

I'm not going to spread this love on any particular comment - rather, I'll just say that I love how the A&A community is POSITIVE no matter if they agree or disagree. This is a beautiful place and, fellas, you guys are the best. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to A&A and all of the A&A'ers.

You gotta do "One Less Set of Footsteps". BEST break-up song ever, with some of my favorite lyrics.. You've been talking in silence Well if it's silence you adore There will be one less set of footsteps on your floor Come the morning. Kinda the opposite of "Operator", but IMO just as good. Really, really incredible lyrics. Great guitar work too.

I have loved Jim Croce since 1972. I enjoy watching you guys love it too. I got my goosebumps right before Alex said he got his. So cool. I did get a smile about the rating argument, only this kind of song can solicit the comment that A+ is not enough. Enjoy guys

The next Croce song should be "I'll have to say I Love you in a Song"

If you watched the video of him singing this ,while holding and playing with his young son A.J,. knowing he would die soon thereafter at 30yrs old, you would really CRY!

There is no wrong way to go from here, everything in his catalog is gold!

I tell you this with absolute LOVE and AFFECTION: Even with my two favorite bobble-heads bobbing along, this beautiful song still reduces me to tears streaming down my face! Happy Holidays!⏳🕰♥🎧🎁🎄🎆🎅💝😏

Here's a song that always got to me. I remember when I was in the military and I'm from AZ and stationed in NY; this song came on and it always hit me like a ton of bricks: "New York's not my Home".

As a toddler (50 years ago), I would cry every time it came on the radio. It’s just such a touching song, you don’t even even have to understand the lyrics to feel its impact.

Jim was in the army, a truck driver and special education teacher before making it big. I guess that's why his songs resonate with the everyday man.

Not surprised at Andy's reaction to "Time in a Bottle"; I have never been that crazy about it. I'm going to immediately go listen to "Don't Mess Around With Jim" as a palate cleanser.

I love guitar harmonics, so I always have a soft spot for songs that use it. This song is on that list.

A great breakup song "One Less Set Of Footsteps" Not having the words to express yourself "Have to say I love you in a song"

He wrote this song for his unborn son, and later had an untimely death. I've listened to this song my whole life, and always liked it but didn't think much past assuming it was a romantic love song. Then, I had two sons of my own. I fear for them, celebrate them, worry about them, feel pride in them, and give them my all. This song is how I feel when I realize they're now becoming men, and I can't have the innocence and joy of their "little years" back. My little boys are gone. Then, I learned the story being this song, and now can't hear it without tearing-up. S-tier, for sure, but it came to me over time.

GOOOOOOOD MORNING A&A FAMILY!! ☮️❤️♾️

“Photographs and Memories” is a beautiful song.

Closing your eyes and waving your heads like that is absolutely the correct way to listen to this song. Not many people can nail it like on their first try, you guys seem to know what you're doing here.

OK, time to check out Croce's other side. Bad Bad Leroy Brown, Don't Mess Around with Jim, Working At the Carwash Blues, Roller Derby Queen

Jim Croce is "S".... I also love "Operator" better but this song, of course, we have to give props ...it is wonderful. But I seriously enjoy "Operator." In that song, he has kind of dealt with it and is coping. Lyrics from "Operator" ...I've overcome the blow, I've learned to take it well I only wish my words could just convince myself that it just wasn't real but that's not the way it feels. Whew! Powerful! ❤

My favorite song by Croce is not one that a lot of people talk about - "Walkin' Back to Georgia." So full of hope, longing, sadness, and determination. Makes me tear every time. I feel like I've been walking back to Georgia for fifteen years now. I wonder if I'll ever get there?

Dan Fogelberg's "Same Old Lang Syne" is the perfect New Years Eve song!

Song always bring a tear to my eye, great song by a legend; Can't wait till they do a upbeat Croce song......Roller Derby Queen for instance.

Jim Croce was a national treasure. He a lot of S tier level songs, especially for someone who did relatively young. "Have to Say I love You in a Song" and "I've Got a Name" would be good next listens, but like I said he has quite the catalog.

"I've Got A Name". Don't sit on this one gentlemen. Fun to see Andy press so hard for the big "S" for one of my favorite all time songs!

The Croce's lived just around the corner from my buddy in the 80's in Pt. Loma, a really nice community here in San Diego. I believe his wife still lives in the same house. Growing up in the era that I did we could go from deep purple to david bowie to jim croce to queen to pink floyd to otis reding etc....., it didn't matter. Good music was good music and we had a ton of good music. Songs that are still relevant today and will be in another 40-50 years. It was an awesome time to be alive.

The look on Alex's face when Andy dropped the A plus rating. I was waiting for a WWE moment where Alex went with a chair shot to the head or a stone cold stunner. Lol

First!!!!! Love love love Croce!!! When you guys gonna tap Harry Chapin’s LIVE catalogue ???

He wrote the song for his pregnant wife. It was release 2 weeks after his death which occurred days before his sons 2nd Birthday. TRAGIC

He is such an underrated artist, Working at the car wash blues, I have to say I love you in a song, One less set of footsteps( my fav)..

Car wash blues,You don,t mess around with Jim ,,Bad bad Leroy Brown,,Speed ball Tucker,Rapid Roy,,Best ballad in my opinion is Lovers Cross ,,definitely some of the best guitar work by Jim and Maury!!!

Both songs you've listened to are from his "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" album. This was his first album that wasn't a collaboration with his wife, Ingrid. The first single off of it was the title song. While nothing at all like "Operator" or "Time In A Bottle", it's still a very cool story song, just more upbeat. There's not a weak song on the entire album.

A masterpiece that’s rarely been equalled. Love Croce. Jim had all that time that he treasured, with his love, taken away,. Such an injustice.

JIm Croce was so acoustically brilliant in the simplicity he brought to his music. I just realized SO many great artists have died from plane crashes....just so sad but his memory will always live on! thx for sharing Andy & Alex :)

Alex's defense of his S rating was excellent, but I was surprised you guys didn't really touch on the heartbreak of the chorus "There never seems to be enough time..." Oddly, the happy verses are in a minor key and the heartbreak of wasted time switches to major.

I never realized how much he sounds like a young Gordon Lightfoot. You definitely lead to listen to more "Jim," and early Lightfoot, like "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" and the first version of "Song for a Winter's Night." Canada's greatest songwriter.

Andy needs a slap! Unplug your ears and open your heart! This song is a beautiful classic love song. One of the most beautiful songs ever written ❤️

Sobbing! Every time I hear this song, I think of all the people I have loved that are now gone from this world. Including Jim Croce.

Jim Croce Harry Chapin James Taylor Gordon Lightfoot John Denver Pick a card, any card...

This song was written when Croce found out his wife was pregnant. Turns out the boy, A.J. Croce, is also a musician.

All I can say that this particular song is absolutely superb. Jim Croce singing/songwriter was sensational singing this song not long before he died in the airoplane crash - 1973 R.I.P. Jim xx

He's gonna break our hearts... Yes, and heal them too. His voice = love.

If you can, you must LEARN this song on guitar. You’ll appreciate this song even more. You’ll notice that there are two acoustic parts and one small electric guitar part. In general, this song is such a joy to listen, sing, and play.

Awesome artist. Do Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin.

I remember listening to the radio when the I heard the news (1973)Jim was killed in a plane crash during take off. So shocking and sad. He just started to make it big and his life was cut short. RIP Jim Croce

This song never gets old. My favorite Jim Croce songs , I got a Name, Photographs and Memories and You Don't Mess Around with Jim