Listening to Jim Croce's second album on ABC/Dunhill, Life And Times, one is immediately struck with the personal portraits that the singer/songwriter has created. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," "Speedball Tucker" Ð Croce's cast of characters is as unique as it is prolific. Where does he get his inspiration? They're people I've met, all of them are real people from the Army, -from jobs I've worked, all over," answers Jim.
When he mentions "the jobs I've worked, all over," Croce is talking about the incredible spectrum of experience that has been condensed into the thirty years of his life and times. Those three decades have included jobs ranging from a long distance truck driver to a superstar singer. They've encompassed traveling throughout the world, joining the Army, and finally settling down on an 18th century farm in Pennsylvania with his wife and baby son.
His wide range of lifestyles and employments is the mark of a man who is growing all the time but, after two extremely successful albums to his credit, it might be questionable just how much more Jim could grow as a musician. On closer examination Jim Croce proves to be an artist whose capacity for growth seems endless-this is obviously just the beginning.
Jim was born in South Philadelphia on January 10, 1943, to a manufacturer's representative. He was brought up on Ragtime, Country and Western and Dixieland music and, at age six he, like every other kid in the City of Brotherly Love, received an accordion. Although he came up with a masterly version of "Lady of Spain," it wasn't until he enrolled at Villanova University that he really became involved in music and began to put together his own groups. He played the college fraternity circuit, adopting the "give 'em what they want to hear" philosophy and achieving a modest degree of success.
During Jim's junior year his musical talents were recognized by the U.S. of A. and they sent him via the U.S. Embassy to the Baltic States, the Middle East, and the African Nations as a Goodwill Troubadour. Jim was struck with the idea that "music is the international language," and he began formulating concepts in his own music that would help it to bridge language and cultural barriers.
After his graduation from college Jim waned to continue with music but the closest he could come was as a salesman for a black soul radio station. Jim had his routine down well-he would ask businesses to buy an ad on the station, record the spot himself, and use it on the air. Success followed but Jim was soon convinced that composing jive jingles was not his calling. So, having some time to kill-no pun intended-he headed off to the National Guard. After his discharge Jim married a lovely woman named Ingrid and he once again took up his musical career by singing and playing in bars.
Jim and Ingrid were both involved in the arts and, during the summer of 1966, they both worked at an arts camp, Jim instructing on the guitar and Ingrid teaching ceramics. Jim found that he had a natural ability in teaching and he continued his work with children, in a school for the emotionally disturbed. He introduced a new concept in education-called 'learning can be fun'-but the principal of the school objected to this unorthodox method and dismissed him
Jim's firing coincided well with Ingrid's plan as she had received a grant to study traditional pottery in Mexico. Jim followed her across the border. While at the school, Jim contacted an old college friend, Tommy West, who encouraged him to come to New York City and work the coffeehouse circuit. Jim took Tommy up on the proposition and he soon found himself gigging at the famous cafes up and down Bleeker and McDougal Streets. His success led to a college tour, some studio session work, and finally a recording contract with Capitol that produced his first LP, "Approaching."
The record failed to catch fire so Jim and Ingrid headed back to NYC and Jim found a job with an excavating contractor. The work was hard and eventually he moved to a job as a truck driver. Deciding that a life on the road was not the best possible life for a married man, Jim moved with Ingrid to the wilds of Pennsylvania, settling on an 18th century farm. Jim did most of the manual labor on the farm while Ingrid baked bread and canned fruit and vegetables. Their first child arrived in September of 1971-a boy who they named Adrian James.
After weathering a cold, hard winter, Jim once again hit the music trail, finally getting a recording contract and a hit record-"You Don't Mess Around With Jim."
Two successful albums followed, along with several hit singles, TV performances, national tours, and potential film offers. But, after living a reasonable portion of his life as a low-rider, Jim has acquired a level-headed attitude towards his recent thrust into singing superstardom. He knows where he's coming from and where he's going-and he should be around for a long time to come.
(Writer Unknown, © 1973, ABC Records, Inc.)
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