Jim Tucker

Since the bulk of Jim Croce's discography consists of compilations that shuffle "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," "Operator," "Time in a Bottle," and "I Got a Name" in a seemingly endless series of permutations, it's easy to be suspicious of another collection, particularly one bearing the nondescript title Classic Hits. But Classic Hits is from Rhino Records, not a budget label like Disky, and they have put together the first serious Croce hits compilation since 1992's double-disc The 50th Anniversary Collection. That collection, while comprehensive, had limited appeal since only hardcore fans need 49 Croce songs in one compilation, so this is the first noteworthy single-disc compilation since the first Croce hits album, the 1974 LP Photographs & Memories. Every one of the 14 songs on that album is here, but the "Classic Hits" billing doesn't mean all of his charting singles are here – posthumous minor hit "Chain Gang Medley" is absent.

Jim Croce - 24 karat Gold In A Bottle (1972-73) {DCC Compact Classics ‎GZS-1060 rel 1994}
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© 1972-73, 1994 Saja Music / DCC Compact Classics ‎| GZS-1060
Pop/Rock / Folk / Blues / Singer/Songwriter / Soft Rock / AM Pop / Contemporary Pop/Rock

These aren't exactly Jim Croce's greatest hits, although most of them–"Operator", "Time In a Bottle", "Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown," and "I'll Have to Say I Love You In a Song" among others–are here. More specifically, 24 CARAT includes the complete YOU DON'T MESS AROUND WITH JIM album, plus the best cuts from LIFE AND TIMES and I GOT A NAME. Better yet, everything's been beautifully remastered in typical DCC fashion, which means that the lower frequencies seem more burnished than ever. The overall clarity is remarkable, and particularly works to the advantage of Croce's signature sound of two finger-picked acoustic guitars playing harmony lines.

Jim Croce - The Studio Album Collection (1966-1973) {7 CD Box Set Limited Edition Edsel Records CROCEBOX01 rel 2015}
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© 1966-73, 2015 Lastrada / Edsel Records / Demon Music | CROCEBOX01
Folk Rock / Soft Rock / Folk / Blues / Singer/Songwriter / AM Pop

Edsel Records is delighted to present this box set spanning the entire career of Jim Croce and featuring all the studio recorded albums as well as a bonus disc of demo recordings. Singer-songwriter Jim Croce’s untimely death in an aeroplane crash (in September 1973, aged just 30) came at a point in his career when he seemed set for a lengthy and rewarding career. This box is the first time all the studio albums have ever been brought together in a single package, from the self-released debut ‘Facets’, recorded and released for just $500 – a wedding gift from Jim’s parents – to ‘I Got A Name’ which was released posthumously after his death whilst on tour promoting the previous album.

Though many remember only their 1967 hit, "Happy Together," the Turtles were one of the more enjoyable American pop groups of the '60s, moving from folk-rock inspired by the Byrds to a sparkling fusion of Zombies-inspired chamber pop and straight-ahead, good-time pop reminiscent of the Lovin' Spoonful, the whole infused with beautiful vocal harmonies courtesy of dual frontmen Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. Though they hit number one in 1967 with the infectious "Happy Together," the Turtles scored only three more Top Ten hits and broke up by the end of the '60s.

Though many remember only their 1967 hit, "Happy Together," the Turtles were one of the more enjoyable American pop groups of the '60s, moving from folk-rock inspired by the Byrds to a sparkling fusion of Zombies-inspired chamber pop and straight-ahead, good-time pop reminiscent of the Lovin' Spoonful, the whole infused with beautiful vocal harmonies courtesy of dual frontmen Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. Though they hit number one in 1967 with the infectious "Happy Together," the Turtles scored only three more Top Ten hits and broke up by the end of the '60s.

Released at the height of the singer-songwriter era, Life And Times put Jim Croce up there with the best of them.