Search - Jim Croce :: Classic Hits of Jim Croce

Almost perfect single disc Croce collection

David Kenner | Fort Worth, Texas United States | 03/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For a long time, the "Photographs and Memories" album was the best Croce collection to own and that was topped by the Dunhill gold disc "24 Karat Gold in a Bottle" that contained so many more important Croce tracks than "P&M". But "24 Karat" was pricey and is now out of print. Rhino comes to the rescue with a near perfect 20 track compilation. The perfection of Croce classics like "Photographs and Memories", "Time in a Bottle", "Lover's Cross", "These Dreams" and "I'll Have To Say I Love You in a Song" have remained unmatched in pop music for over 30 years. Upbeat tracks like "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", "Rapid Roy", and "Workin' at the Car Wash Blues" show that Croce was more than a gifted composer of love songs and sad ballads but also equally adept at constructing story songs that were injected with humor. Two of the best tracks he recorded during his brief career at ABC records, "Roller Derby Queen" and "One Less Set of Footsteps" are even more evidence of his versatility. The hauntingly somber piano ballad, "Salon and Saloon", composed by Croce's guitarist who also perished in the plane crash that claimed Croce's life is a great addition to this collection. If I could add anything to this compilation it would be "Speedball Tucker" and "Box #10" but this is still the very best single disc Croce collection available.

I'm sure that these amazingly moving and very original recordings will be winning new fans for as long as music goes on."

Sing Along with Jim!

Lisa Shea | 10/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Greatest Hits album could be called Sing Along with Jim Croce - the songs are just so foot-tapping that it's hard to resist!



You've got Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, who's meaner than a junkyard dog. I love this song, the imagery is right there and quite fun too. It falls into the "Mack the Knife" category :)



Then you've got "Operator", another classic story telling of a guy who is trying to get over the pain of his girlfriend running off with his best friend. You can hear him trying to get through all of the emotions and finally just saying to forget about it.



If you were still wanting an uppity song about bad guys, there is "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" - which has a great twist to it!



Just about everybody who has seen a Hallmark Movie has heard "Time in a Bottle" - it seems this song is always used for poignant love scenes. It's the clsasic song of wanting to catch a moment in time and tuck it away forever.



For the shy, there's the "I'll Have to say I Love You in a Song". I wonder how many lovers have used this ploy - playing the tape - to reveal their true feelings to their partner?



There are a number of other great songs on here too - the "Working at the Car Wash Blues" gets your toes a tappin!



Highly recommended!"

Another Of The Late Great Jim Croce's Greatest Hits Plus!

highway_star | Hallandale, Florida United States | 02/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Classic Hits Of Jim Croce" is yet another collection from the late great folksinger Jim Croce. Croce, who died in the early seventy's was one that decade's most gifted singer/songwriters. This collection contains his most memorable songs such as "Time In A Bottle", "Operator", "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", "I Got A Name", "Lover's Cross", "Photograph's & Memories", "One Less Set Of Footsteps", "Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy)", "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" plus many more. The only difference between this collection and the "Photographs & Memories His Greatest Hits" cd is that there are seven more songs on this latest compilation. The sound quality is superb due to remastering, Jim Croce certainly never sounded better. If you enjoy listening to artists such as Seals & Crofts, James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens and Paul Simon then this collection is a must have."