Anyone here in 2024 reminiscing?

Can we all take a second to praise the boss man Maury Muehleisen. Holding down those melodic doublestops and sick harmonies... songs not the same without him.

To be frank, there are not many 29 year olds who could write let alone sing a song with such precision, poise, harmony, vocals and just plain talent.

He was just too pure. He didn't die young, he just got called home early.

I was born in 1971, so this song reminds me of being really small with my mom and dad crusing in the Plymouth deep in the woods of the Ozarks. It's incredibly peaceful like a security blanket. Mom isn't doing well. Dad died in 2017. But this song gives me peace of mind.

One of the most perfect songs ever written.

Two guitars no orchestra, the words were all that mattered.

This song describes perfectly what it feels like when you want to contact someone that you loved and still love, but they've moved on, and you want to want to wish them well, but you can't because it hurts to damn bad, so you don't even make the phone call.

It's sad to think about how much music we were robbed of when these two amazing men passed away so young... 😔

Wow. No drums. Nothing but strings and voice telling a sad and beautiful story. We are lucky to have this gorgeous music available to our tired souls.

Damn it. I'm 47, at work and there's something in my eyes.....

Remember when singers sounded the same live compared to their records?

Thank you for your time

"I think about the love that I thought would save me" This breaks me up inside every time I hear it. Ain't that the truth...

I was born in 74, and my Dad was a guitar playing music teacher (k-12) who loved Jim Croce. If I close my eyes and sit very still while I listen to these songs it makes me feel like Dad’s in the room with me.❤

This song came out when I was in high school. Now it's 2024 and I'm listening to it for the seventh time in a row now.

The sycronised guitar playing is unbelievable, what a masterpiece!

It should have been a crime for the camera not to get maury's fingerwork

2 guys + 2 guitars + 4 microphones = history. . So simple.

The guy was only 30 when he passed. He would have gone down in history as the best folk singer EVER. He wrote most of his hits in just a few weeks time. Amazing talent!

I don’t think I’m asking for a lot when I say I wish I could hear this song for the first time again.

Jim will live forever.

“My best old ex friend Ray…” The layers of information in each line tells so much of a story. Every word placed perfectly. I get lost in this song every time. I can’t think of a time I didn’t mist up hearing it.

The way his friend look at him. True feelings ❤❤❤

Rest in peace, Jim and Maury. 50 years ago today 😢

50 years today (20 September) Jim was taken so tragically and way too early. His music and voice still lives on after all these years. Legend 🙏🙏🙏

Dude in the back CRUSHING the lead licks during Croce's epic singing.

Almost 50 years ago now. Truly a timeless classic. RIP Jim and Maury.

Artificial intelligence may be able to create some mindless dance grooves, but it will never be able to write a song with this level of feeling, pathos, and understanding of what it means to love, and to lose. When you hear a song like this, you remember what it means to be human. Thank you for this wonderful music, Jim & Maury.

Musicians are some of the most underated contributors to society . The best ones like Jim Croce and Maury Muehleisen are irreplaceable in what they offer medicinally to people's spirit and souls .Two talented souls taken way too soon.

A treasure lost. "Time in a bottle" is my all-time favorite.

One of the most beautiful & original songs ever written. 😇

Jim Croce is so underrated

Maury Muehleisen was Jim's musical partner - writing, singing, and playing the lead guitar part in the studio and on stage. He died in the plane crash with Jim.

Jim left us with amazing tunes. But every time I listen, I can't help but think of what other gifts he would have left us with. RIP Jim

The beautiful guitar work was what first drew me to this song. But as I grew older, the depth of the lyrics is what really make it timeless. There is so much unstated backstory in them - and yet on the surface all it consists of is a one-sided conversation with a telephone operator. Operators don't exist anymore, nor do phone booths. Dimes are probably going to be around for a while, but they are mostly an irrelevancy in today's world. But this song will never grow old.

Jim is still so missed...rest in peace Jim & Maury..

“You can keep the dime…” This song is perfect…

Guy she knew well and sometimes hated has so much meaning to it. Such a good story teller

Jim’s backup partner, as I understand it, was a Julliard trained musician who hired Jim as a backup player and then recognized that Jim was a better artist and followed Jim’s lead. They both died together but nobody remembers this guy’s name, including myself. The way this guy looks at Jim, I don’t know if he’s studying Jim’s artistry or he’s in love, but either way I wish that someone looks at me that way someday and I hope these dudes enjoyed the time they had

It's so hard to believe that it's been nearly 50 years ago that we lost Jim. I would have loved to see how his career would have been. RIP Jim Croce

Still watching here in Ireland , 2022. A classic.

One of my favorite songs to sing in karaoke even though he died before I was born. Amazing singer-songwriter

Sadly, just when both of these artists were starting to experience great success with hit songs they died in the same plane crash on September 20, 1973. I like to imagine that Jim is looking down from Heaven and getting some joy out of the fact that millions of people are still listening to his music 50 years later. Jim would be 80 years old if he were still alive.

Fortunately Jim lived to see his success take off (for about 14 months) and saw four hit singles and two hit albums on the charts before that fateful night in Sept, 1973. His guitarist with him, Maury Muehleisen was also killed in the crash. No lip synching here, we see Jimmy as he was. From what I've heard Jim liked small venues so he could be close to his fans. You don't hear much of that from performers now days.

My uncle used to play this on his guitar for me when I was a boy. He rests in Heaven with Jim & Maury now. God bless them.

"She's livin' in LA with my best old ex friend Ray." I just love the way Jim played with words and meaning in his songs. He was more than a musician and song writer. He was an old fashioned Bard. Jim, you are my favorite artist ever. I still miss you!❤❤❤

Here it is 2023 and 50 years have passed since we lost these two amazing people. ‘72 I just graduated and was going to get my draft card and heard this song playing on the car radio. I was struck by the words and music. On my way home I stopped at the music store and found the 45. I wore it out trying to learn the song. Impossible to duplicate at my young age, so the next day I went and bought the song book with the cords and sheet music. I’m looking at it right now and playing along and wondering what they would have done next…. My heart breaks every time I hear their songs, but I’m thankful and blessed that their music lives on 🫶🙏 Thank you Jim, Thank you Maury. Rest in peace 💙

The harmonies, the little lead lines, these two were a great team. Haven't heard many live performances that clean

All these years later, Jim Croce still makes me cry: "I've overcome the blow. I've learned to take it well."

Jim. Lived and died at a time when America was much much different than we lived in today. !

these days, and beyond, no one will know what an operator was, besides us older people, keeping these songs alive

Young people here are 3 things to help you understand this song: 1) an Operator was a real person who would help you find and connect to whoever you wanted to call. I doubt in the history of them any were ever named Siri. But there was once a great one named Sara. 2) it used to cost a dime for Operator assistance. A dime is a coin, a value of US currency worth ten cents. Not a gift card, or a Venmo, or in a wallet app on your iPhone. 3) and MOST importantly….THIS is REAL music.

This is simply one of the best live performances ever created. RIP Jim & Maury.

Jim was in the national guard and listened to soldiers on the phone while he waited his turn. Then he wrote a song.

Here in Canada we just lost Gordon Lightfoot, a man who i always felt was Jims spiritual brother, RIP to you both and thank you for blessing us with your beautiful music

This man wrote some of the most beautiful and haunting songs of all time

Perhaps the greatest song ever written. It’s a guided emotional journey.

When Jim Croce died, the world became just a little bit darker. He was a light that shinned in the darkness.

RIP Maury Muehleisen

Music from back in a time when the world made sense.

The industry won't let this happen again

Young kings if you've made it here you'll live forever! Rest easy..

Jim and Maury, we've been missing you now for 50 years this year it was September I believe of 1973 when we heard you crashed in Mississippi.....

I remember going to his wifes restaurant in San Diego on 5th. Classy place that really kept his spirit. Live music on Valentine's Day with my girl dressed in red. Truly the meaning of time in a bottle.

When these two passed away Maury was laid to rest in the cemetery I grew up living across the street from. Such a tragic loss. Rest in Peace guys. 🙏

Many lost a girlfriend to a friend and have taken a girl from a friend. Bittersweet song.

My first memory of music is this song, thee entire album. My birth year. My mom loved Jim Croce!! And so do I!! ❤❤❤

Stunning performance, beautiful story telling!

Old enough to remember when this song came out. I wonder how many listening today have no idea what, "You can keep the dime" means? 😊

This was my "gateway" song into the wonderful music of this man. I got a tear in my eye the first time I heard it - 40yrs on and my eyes still do the same.

Musical magic. Operators, matchbooks. Lost a few of you huh. Wonderful lyrics. And there's a tear in my eye.

His eyes show a pained soul but his voice shows a beautiful soulful passion

True Story: Croce opened for Zappa at a concert in Albuquerque in the 70's. Strangest double bill in history, and maybe the best. Croce was absolutely hysterical in concert, told filthy, funny jokes. Zappa played lead guitar as well as anyone ever has, I was genuinely surprised. Those were good days. I read one time Croce would have been the great talk show host of rock culture had he lived...I believe it.

Might be the best song of all time

My Dad and I listened to some country folk songs from an old DVD which they're popularized. When I first heard this original song, it became one of my favorites and I really love it. Jim Croce and Maury Muehleisen did it well. ❤

Still listen to the original vinyl album at 66 years. His music goes straight to the heart. Living in the beautiful Ozarks and thankful to be here. Prayers for you.

'...think about her love that I thought would save me...' That's such a great line. I saw him open for Cheech & Chong. The audience LOVED him. It was no more than a week later 'til 'Operator' hit the air waves. I often wonder how many great songs he would have penned had he not died so young.

Jim love You man. Left too soon. 😢❤

I'm 65 years old and I remember when this song was released and I thought wow he's cool. Then in the late 70s, 80s and 90s, I thought he wasn't cool. Then in the 2000s he was okay. Now, once again, he's the coolest cat ever again. Ain't that the way it goes.

Maury was a genius pucking notes to all those songs!

Drinking a beer with my son listening to some of the best music ever written

So I was playing 70s music for my grandson who is now in his 20s and I told him about Jim Croce… Played operator for him and he didn’t know what an operator was, or a matchbook… I explained it to him but wow there really is a generational divide lol

I was introduced to Jim Croce when Space Ghost told Tenacious D that he wanted to hear "anything by Jim Croce". He became one of the most important musical influences in my life after I grabbed an album at Amoeba on a whim and discovered his music. Thanks Space Ghost.

Maury Meuhleisen, the musical genius behind the amazing storytelling by Jim Croce

Two guitars and so much music

To any kind person still out there in USA because my passport expired. I thank Mrs Jim Croce for releasing time in a bottle and I am hurting for her and her and family thank you Mrs Jim Croce for releasing his love song to you .....if could find time in a bottle.. Mrs. The whole world knows he lived you. And may god bless you forever

I've watched this video before, I'm watching it today, I will watch it tomorrow, , , , & I will watch the succeeding days, , , ..

No one really talks about Maury Muehleisen in the same breathe of Jim Croce....he died in the same accident and he was a genius in his own right.....

So perfectly executed! The only disappointment is that you can’t see the extraordinary 2nd guitar fretwork!

It's been 50 years ago, Sept. 30, 1973. He was only 30. Think of all the great songs he was going to write that never happened. Such a pity.

At the tender, young age of 9 years old, the ways of the 🌎 slapped me in the face when I heard on the radio that this man died in a 🛩️ crash! I remember my brother saying the same thing happened to Otis Redding, the Big Booper and Ritchie Valens . . . but I didn't really like their music! I remember being really sad about Jim though, since at that age, no one had ever really died in my life that I cared about! I still get that feeling right now sharing this post! #stillsad #😓

I’ll never stop missing this man, hearing his words in my head. I can’t even begin to imagine what more he could have given, taught, us with more time.

I can't get through any of his music without a tear after I seen his "Behind The Music" Documentary. He was a rare angle on earth and people took advantage of that then dying early... With that said, I'm kinda glad he didn't get the chance to see how this world turned out. It's a real mess...

I was born in Chicago, moved to CA when i was 8 and spent most of my life there..aside from 2 years in Pittsburgh for grad school. While i was there, WVA was al2ays being put down by my Northeastern classmates. Years later, i took my kids to Harpers Ferry, WVA and it was breathtakingly beautiful, charming, and historic. While we were there a car full of young women came through the town with this song blaring and them singing at the top of their lungs. The timing was epic and memory so unforgettable…that trip to one town in WVA will forever bring a smile to my face….my kids too. With respect to this song,…if you don’t sing along, i don’t want to know you.

All without looking at his guitar. True legends gone too soon.

Both of them so talented. Such a tragic loss, but they have never been forgotten.

Only discovered Jim Croce recently thanks to a Spotify radio and this has been the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard. Cannot stop listening to Jim

61 here. Love this Tune ...

He passed away when I was 16. Such a wonderful person. Also a tremendous song writer. It hurt a lot when he had to leave us. All around great man. 😢