Father and son: A.J. Croce performs Jim Croce's music

This is a good interview of Jim Croce's son, A.J. Croce. If your from an older generation you may remember Tham man who died just before his best album hit the charts. He was climbing and not quite there yet, but then he died in a plane crash. I was big fan of his. He only had a few songs that were hit, but nothing big yet. I was 17, stationed in Germany awaiting his next album when I heard he died in a plane crash. Cut down at the very dawn of his career. I still listen to his album from time to time, like yesterday while working on a project in my shop.

My favorite song? "Operator", and "Time in a Bottle", and of course "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown". His music is timeless, and I know that had he survived he would have been one of the all time best. If you have a CD by him, pop it in and relax to some great music.

(below is an excerpt I edited as bit)

In this video you will see an interview of the singer-songwriter who lost his dad in a plane crash before he turned two. He temporarily lost his sight when he was 4 because his stepfather beat him silly. (probably jealous). Years later he would lose his wife to a heart condition. Now 50, he is himself a musician and songwriter. A.J., is turning to the music that his father, Jim Croce, had made famous, and in the process is embracing his father's legacy – and his own.

Operator became my favorite of his songs in the early "80"s when I learned my wife left me for a friend while I was in Texas working a job to move the family.

The lyrics just before the ones you posted were a killer to me, and still to this day there is a ting of hurt as I hear the song, but it nailed it so well I am always moved by it.Operator, well could you help me place this call
See, the number on the match book is old and faded
She's living in L.A
With my best old ex-friend Ray
A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated

Another favorite song, but not by Croce, is "American Pie" by Don McLean, In the lyrics there is a line that goes,

But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step

I was 15, and out with a few friends, a girl and another guy. We went bowling and stayed till the lanes closed after midnight. I had a huge crush on the girl, Karen, but she was my friends girl. We rode the bus home, and usually I would get off at their stop and walk with them to walk with them, then walk back to my homes. But it was Late on a Saturday night, and I had to deliver papers early in the morning. Sunday morning were always huge because my number of customers almost tripled, so I had 250 papers to deliver. So I decided to get off a few blocks early and go home to bed.

I remember my sister waking me up to see if I wanted to walk over with her to a car wreck she said took place. I told her no, because I needed to get cup early for my paper route. I got up at 5:00 am, and as usual I sat at the corner with my bundles and read the headlines before I headed out. My dog prance by my side as usual. If I was late, she would be there waiting as she guarded them.

It was cold that morning, and I was all bundled up as usual because it was January. As I unfolded the paper, just under the folded part at the bottom of the front page was a story of the car accident may sister asked if I wanted to check out with her. I was shocked, and started to cry as I read the article. A drunk came down the road and swerved onto the sidewalk and hit them both.

Karen died instantly, Jim ended up in the hospital for 6 Months with a broken hip, busted leg, collapsed lung, and other things I am sure he has to deal with. It took me a long while to collect myself to deliver the papers, I did not want to do it. I wanted to leave, run, and never deliver them. But I collected myself and started one house at a time. Took 4 hours to deliver a route that even on a Sunday I finished usually in an hour and a half.

The number one song on the charts at the time was "American Pie". We all loved the song, and would sing it as we enjoyed having fun at Jim's house. His mom had an awesome stereo system, and she had the album. We would get crazy when he plated the song. I remember talking about the meaning of the song, and all. As I delivered the papers, the lyrics of delivering papers as I read about his widowed bride devestatedly played in my head.

Not sure Why I shared that, but words of songs have always moved me in ways to the words, especially the songs of the "70"s. I feel that way towards country music also.

One of my childhood idols and one of the greatest storytelling songwriters ever. At one time I had memorized words to every song he had recorded. Saw him play at out local high schools gym when I was very young.

I was at the bus stop heading to school when I heard the news on Sept 20 1973 and I ran home and skipped school that day I was so sad. Jim was going to get his own 60 minute variety show on ABC in 1974. The show was given to Jim Stafford a year later.

Jim was ‘victimized’ (I know bad word) but had become very disenchanted with the business end of the music industry and really just wanted to play for the joy of it.

"Photographs And Memories"

Photographs and memories
Christmas cards you sent to me
All that I have are these to remember you
Memories that come at night
Take me to another time
Back to a happier day, when I called you mine

But we sure had a good time
When we started way back when
Morning walks and bedroom talks
Oh, how I loved you then

Summer skies and lullabies
Nights we couldn't say goodbye
And of all of the things that we knew
Not a dream survived

Photographs and memories
All the love you gave to me
Somehow it just can't be true
It's all I've left of you

But we sure had a good time
When we started way back when
Morning walks and bedroom talks
Oh, how I loved you then...

Photographs and Memories - Jim Croce

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