If you're still listening in 2024 you're cool :)

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.

More talent on that stage between those 2 wonderful musicians than there is is 90% of the music industry today.

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

I'm 28 and have discovered JC relatively recently and i have to say that it brings me to tears that this man's life and talent was cut short in the way that it was. Maybe this comment will live beyond my lifetime like Croce's music does. This man's talent has inspired me in tremendous ways. RIP Jim Croce.

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.

Anyone here in 2024 reminiscing?

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... 😔

"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 11 in August of 72 when that song hit the airwaves in Cleveland, Ohio. Still hits me the same as it did back in 72! LEGENDS !!💯

One of the most perfect songs ever written.

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.

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

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

The sycronised guitar playing is unbelievable, what a masterpiece!

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.

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.

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

Jim will live forever.

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 like these live versions more than the studio a lot of times now as I get older. More passions and feeling in them.

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.❤

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

RIP Maury Muehleisen

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.

“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.

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

Jim Croce is so underrated

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

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

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 🙏🙏🙏

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

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

Thank you for your time

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

That guitar he is playing is HUGE! Maybe it’s the camera angle but that is one of the biggest dreadnaught guitar bodies I have ever seen.

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.

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

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

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

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

Still watching here in Ireland , 2022. A classic.

Some of my wife and I favorite songs, sadly I lost her this spring to cancer

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

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

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.

What a splendid lyricist he was and a great storyteller! That was a whole soap opera!

"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!❤❤❤

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

You can keep the dime..........the absence of the next line gets me every time.

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.

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

“Love can sometimes be magic. But magic can sometimes... just be an illusion.” ― Javan

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.

Stunning performance, beautiful story telling!

She´s living in LA with my old ex friend Ray......Oh my God 😪that line breaks my heart 💔 Truck driver. bricklayer, great human being ,A TRUE POET..... One of us . Thanks for everything Jim❤🙏

In the summer of 1973 I was living in Falmouth Mass (Cape Cod) and Hung-out @ the Brothers -4 Pub and this song played a lot..What a great summer it was ! Jim, was a sad loss that year ! RIP Jim

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.

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.

We miss you Jim. I remember listening to you for the first time back in 2013. How times have changed. Even since your days friend.

Best song of all time imo

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

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.

Do you know how to know he was a great songwriter? In the summer of '76, I was a Braille Institute volunteer. There was a talent show at the end of summer, and a young lady who had a child with a visual impairment, and who really played guitar like a pro, chose this song to perform. Really the only other song that impressed everyone there at the Institute was "Dancing Queen" by Abba playing on the radio. Jim Croce's music never gets old because he 'had to say he loves you in a song'.

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.....

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.

Such a timeless song... RIP 🙏🏼🕯️🙏🏼 Jim and Maury.

Continuing to tour, Muehleisen and Croce left New York for the southeastern United States. On Thursday, September 20, 1973, they were in Natchitoches, Louisiana, at Northwestern State University. Their entourage- Robert N. Elliot the pilot, Muehleisen, Croce, comedian George Stevens who was the opening act, Croce's road manager Dennis Rast, manager and booking agent Kenneth D. Cortose, all arrived by a small chartered plane. Less than an hour after the concert, the plane crashed at 10:45 pm as it was taking off for the next concert in Sherman, Texas. Everyone on board the plane was killed instantly. Muehleisen was 24 years old. -wiki

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

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

Maybe we're relatives. Our ancestors came from Salerno, Italy, and looks like Croce. Italy, land of art and beautiful people, like Croce family

My dad saw him once in concert. Said he was so down to earth. No pomp or conceit like many of these pop stars today. He was just an everyday guy like the rest of us and taken from us far too soon.

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

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? 😊

So much good music in such a short life. Still listen to his songs.

I wonder if the people in the audience knew that they were really seeing something special...i wish we could've received the full potential of Jim...

The industry won't let this happen again

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

Oh, man grew up on this. You can't get it back.

I can’t understand why people say they don’t listen to the lyrics of a song don’t they know what they’re missing

Maury was a genius pucking notes to all those songs!

Two guitars and so much music

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. ❤

The studio recording is great. This is greater!

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