Beautiful sad story... First time hearing JIM CROCE - OPERATOR REACTION

[@shannonbennett987]

When he died, we were all robbed of a good man, fantastic musician and storyteller. The good ones always leave too soon.

[@room22-1]

he was a good man.

[@drieuxkoeppel8152]

His son is a musician. A. J. Croce.

[@aaroncoffman88]

What do they say about the brightest candles burning twice as fast and lasting half as long. We lost a great one way too fast

[@garysteinert8040]

The accompanying guitar player also died in the crash. So sad.. another day the music died.

[@exitscreaming]

" She's living in L. A. with my best old ex-friend Ray, A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated "

[@TheScavenger71]

Harri, If you are wondering about the line "You can keep the dime" he is referring to the dime he had to put in a coin operated telephone to reach an operator. The dimes came back automatically when you reached an operator and for people like me who remember using pay telephones and recall that dimes were returned when reaching an operator, that line "You can keep the dime" speaks to me as a sign of acceptance and surrender to the situation because he is walking away and doesn't even want the money returned that he paid to reach his final conclusion and is a small act of kindness directed to the operator who helped him.

[@lisarainbow9703]

Exactly. That line is likely to be lost on anyone not old enough to remember 10 cent phone calls.....

[@joeblow9374]

@@lisarainbow9703 "10 cent phone calls" - not exactly in this case. 10 cents just gets you to the operator. when the destination is requested then the real cost is announced e.g.: "Please deposit $1.35"

[@cherinoelke]

I always interpreted the "you can keep the dime" as a thank you for listening to my story but there's nothing else you can do for me.. Either way he was deceptively simple with his lyrics, few words but they packed a huge emotional punch, funny or sad. I actually got married to a friend singing and playing Time in a Bottle. That's how much I love/loved him. What a great human being he was also. PEACE

[@TheScavenger71]

@@cherinoelke _I always interpreted the "you can keep the dime" as a thank you for listening to my story but there's nothing else you can do for me_ You are right Cheri, I just broke it down into more detail but essentially we said the same thing.

[@lokisan100]

Perfect.

[@j.jennings1722]

Jim Croce had a huge hit with "I Got A Name," which is beautiful, soaring and uplifting. Not sad. More than any other song of his, you should definitely react to "I Got A Name."

[@jhamler1]

I dunno why, but I gotta agree. I GOT A NAME is probably Jim Croce's bestest tune. To think he put out all that great music in such a short period, though... It's a bid sad that it took so long for him to get a record deal and then he was gone before he (and we) could even properly enjoy it.

[@sallyatticum]

I Got a Name is probably my favorite, as well. But I also really love Photographs and Memories.

[@thomastimlin1724]

Croce did NOT write I Got a Name, to correct any myth that he did. "I Got a Name" is a 1973 single recorded by Jim Croce with lyrics by Norman Gimbel and music by Charles Fox.

[@j.jennings1722]

@@thomastimlin1724 I never said he wrote the song.

[@amyk9175]

I love that song too. Not as much as Time in a Bottle, but love it very very much. It was on the cassette that came with a new Oldsmobile my parents bought. It will forever be engrained in my memory of a childhood family drive to the east coast “moving me down the highway.”

[@larrypellegrino8709]

Check out his song, "LOVER'S CROSS"....you'll love it. "Bridges are meant for burning...when the people and memories they join aren't the same." Yes, genius.

[@ednurge3848]

I agree, that lyric is pure genius!

[@tektoniks_architects]

Two other iconic Jim Croce songs I can recommend are: I'll Have To Say I Love You in A Song" and "Time In A Bottle." TY

[@tracyfrazier7440]

He reacted to Time in a Bottle.

[@Zofer-1920]

I’ve Got A Name is great as well as Photographs & Memories.

[@tjtampa214]

Great suggestions. 👍

[@barriekelley2241]

Anything off his greatest hits album is worth reviewing.

[@ronclark9724]

@@barriekelley2241 Not one bad song on that album...

[@brendamason238]

"... my best old ex-friend Ray." One of my all time favorite song lyrics. That just sums it right up, doesn't it.

[@debbers]

I remember 10 cent phone calls from payphones, if you called locally it only cost you the 10 cents, but it could cost quite a bit calling long distance and most people were honest and paid it! If you tried to duck out on it the person you called was stuck with the bill and I don't know too many people that would do that to a friend! How many people remember payphones and phone booths?

[@deannacrownover3]

If you like this, you'll love "I Have a Name"..It's powerful in it's simplicity

[@mista2621]

Blind Boy Music's Phil Murphy does a great cover of that track

[@surlechapeau]

"I've Got A Name" is terrific

[@deannacrownover3]

@@mista2621 I'll check it out!

[@mzphillips53]

Back in the early seventies my husband and my best girlfriend ran off together. Hehehe! I laugh about it now but I loved this song because it made me feel like I wasn't the only idiot that happened to.

[@deannacrownover3]

@@mzphillips53 Oh mercy! Looks like you slipped TWO derelicts! Bless your heart that must have been horrible! These songs have kept a lot of us alive.

[@zebjohnson5118]

For something more uplifting can't get much better than " I've Got a Name " Rip Jim and Maury Muehleisen 🙏♥️

[@michaelasay6140]

Can u believe he died in 73!!

[@knowwhere3220]

Glad you mentioned Maury,,,,

[@thomasa.bradley6292]

JIm's death was a great loss to music. His work was so geared to the life of the common man.

[@johnmiller7682]

Jim Croce was an amazing talent. But the magic behind the guitar playing is actually Maury Muehleisen, who died in the same plane crash.

[@maryvallas772]

I can't hear this song without getting choked up. I am one of the misfortune ones who have lived through that ordeal, and if I'm perfectly honest, you never truly do overcome the blow, you just learn to live with it.

[@jeffreybarnes6965]

One of the best story telling singer song writers EVER!

[@carolynallen4795]

If you ever been stuck in a phone booth and run out of change you can relate to this! Love this song when it came out , still do. Jim was an awesome singer and song writer!

[@LesterMoore]

Such a grand balladeer. His wonderfully talented accompanist, Terry Mulheisen I believe was his name, was also on the small aircraft when it crashed. I don't recall ever taking the death of a singer so hard. His and Terry's music and Jim's lyrics so memorable, some fun and others heart rending, we lost one of America's finest musical artists. RIP Jim and Terry.

[@softshoes]

Maury. So right about losing him too, great musician.

[@tsbonner]

@@leonardshevlin7260 Maury...

[@johnnyjohn8195]

I walked around in a haze for over a week when they were both killed

[@tsbonner]

@@johnnyjohn8195 Yes, so sad!

[@joannevincent2035]

Jim's great hits were mostly duets with Maury Muehleisen, his talented music partner who died with him in the plane crash in 1973.

[@johnandrews3151]

Jim Croce/You Don't Mess Around With Jim.

[@stanleywiggins5047]

Thanks for exposing me to Jim Croce " Operator" I've never heard it before.. lovely song..

[@ronclark9724]

One of my favorites from the 70's...

[@Madminute1968]

The lead guitarist is outstanding.

[@topherwhite370]

He8s the thing. I grew up with this on 8track.

[@randallshuck2976]

He has another called "Don't mess around with Jim" and "Bad Bad Leroy Brown". He actually has a rather extensive songbook considering the shortness of his career. You got his name right and I like your reactions.

[@debbiechang5781]

His sudden, tragic death was a terrible loss to the world of music 🌺✌️

[@dimestorephilosopher3308]

One of the best heartbreak songs of all times. Just a man who wants to reconnect ... and he is kidding himself about why he's doing it.

[@surlechapeau]

Terrific singer/songwriter!! I remember when pay phones cost a dime! I must be getting old :(

[@kencray4453]

This guy was something special...like so many before him. But his way of story=telling in his songs was superb!

[@twoking10]

Two guitars. Croce and the other guitar part was done by Maury Muehleisen. Just outstanding. Maury was the one who prettied things up.

[@BST-lm4po]

Maury was young too. I think he was only 24 when he died in the plane crash with Jim Croce. An amazingly talented musician for such a young man.

[@krisfox3537]

This song was written back in the day when you had to go through an operator to place a call on a pay phone. Long time ago. I'm old enough to remember it. Lol.

[@ronclark9724]

Back in the days when you called customer service there was a real person on the other end of the line, not some bot... For the young generation that don't understand, watch some of Ernestine comedy sketches of Laugh In.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHqTo5msa6iqZ68

[@rickjend6667]

"Photographs and Memories" and "New York's Not My Home" are two other songs similar to "Operator" by Jim Croce. Beautifully written and emotional as well.

[@coolerking7427]

He wrote this song when he was in the Army for two years. Back then everyone man was drafted for two years of military service. He was in line waiting for the payphone when he thought of this song.

[@TomGorham]

In those days, we could actually call the operator "0" and ask for help reaching a number. A payphone cost a dime and later a quarter.

[@kemarieblack3730]

Jim Croce was amazing. Operator has to be one of my favorites!

[@tillymalone5322]

I have to say I love you in a song - one of my favourite of Jim Croce

[@DougHinVA]

He was the real thing ... a true singing songwriter who was tops

[@donwayne1357]

Lover's Cross and One Less Set Of Footsteps by Jim Croce really deserve a listern.

[@Rollin_L]

@Don Wayne - Two of my favorites. Excellent suggestion.

[@denicesanders4586]

Do they even have payphones anymore?

[@Jalahr77]

@@denicesanders4586 AT&T officially stopped supporting pay phones in July, 2009. As of 2018, there were still about 100,000 pay phones in the US, a fifth of them in New York. (from Payphone Wikipedia)

[@lokisan100]

Absolutely, lovers cross is one of my favorites.

[@melliehobson8299]

I don't have to say the something in his eyes are tears. Touches me.

[@randolphphillips3104]

Grew up on Jim Croce, as Mom was a big fan. When this album came out after he died, we were living on Guam. Way before you could overnight things worldwide. It was 3-4 weeks of just shipping things, and Mom couldn't get it. My Dad, meanwhile, wanted to by a big console TV (big for the time, with a built in stereo.) Mom told the sales guy no. After some long discussion she said, only if you also include this album. Done. The TV showed up without the album, and Mom wouldn't let them unload it, and the delivery guys refused to take it back to the store. That truck sat in front of our house for a couple of weeks before the sales guy found a copy of the album and showed up at our house. Funniest story of my entire childhood.

[@DanoSeer]

Just a masterful piece. "My best old ex-friend Ray." Loved Jim. Died way too young.

[@kennethohnemus4750]

Definitely give a listen to Dr.Hook and the Medicine show

[@elizabeths50]

Time In A Bottle is iconic. Beautiful and touching. And I think this song would be right up your alley

[@wearinganapron]

Harri, you should react to Dr Hook's "Sylvia's Mother." Another beautiful, sad, story song.

[@sonia4641]

Yes! I was listening to 'Sylvia's Mother' here on You Tube only last night! A single I bought when it was a hit, and I was a teenager ... It led on to watching other videos, and I gave to say I'd forgotten just how many OTHER great songs they had, such as 'Bit more like the movies' . Rather like Jim, they wer very versatile: upbeat rock AND heart-rending ballads, quirky meaningful ones AND frivoluos fun ones. As with Jim, one song doesn't show the breadth of their repertoire. Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show.

[@wearinganapron]

@@sonia4641 "Sylvia's Mother" gripped me as a teen, and "Cover of the Rolling Stone" . . . I have several of his CDs, and play them while I cook or clean (takes my mind off my misery -- lol!). Do you know "Cookie and Leila?" "Gertrude the Groupie"? So many gems. I was not as fond of his smoother disco era hits, but prefer the quirky. Most of them written by Shel Silverstein. Good stuff.

[@pinky2245]

Yes, that is a great Dr. Hook song!

[@susanfigueroa872]

This is Sue's husband, Cliff! Hi Harri! Just a note to say , love your channel! I had only been out of the military about a month after four years of service during the Vietnam war. I'll never forget hearing this song and in a few weeks, on my way home from work after my second shift was over and as I was driving hope listening to this on the radio an announcement came over saying that Jim Croce had been killed in an accident! I was stunned to say the least and it just made me like it more, as sad as it is!!

[@HarriBestReactions]

Ive only just found him and it made me sad like it was yesterday..So i can imagine how you felt..So sad

[@mista2621]

@@HarriBestReactions I'm 50 and I still get sad Knowing Jims time was so short , And we were all robbed of a great story teller

[@czechraiser]

I have to and will visit next time I am in Southern California. Jim Croce was a truly special soul.

[@atlanticantiquesltd7372]

Thank you for your service

[@tomatolady11]

I loved Jim Croce...love the way this song flows. Doesn't he just look like someone you would like to know.

[@famat161]

Another song as wonderfully sad as "Operator" is "Diary" by the group Bread. Viciously sad yet an example of true love, all in one song.

[@lindacarlton3154]

"Diary" by Bread is an excellent suggestion! Bread had several songs ("If" being one of them) that are just beautiful.

[@jerickson725]

I agree. Bread has so many fantastic songs - I also love Aubrey, Every Thing I Own, I Want To Make It With You, etc. They are all so good!

[@denicesanders4586]

At one time I possessed all of Bread's albums.

[@jerickson725]

@@denicesanders4586 Yay Denise! I had a variety - albums, 8 Tracks, then the cassette tape of their Greatest Hits! I recently downloaded many of their songs to my phone 😁.

[@denicesanders4586]

@@jerickson725 Ah, my brother from another mother! Unfortunately, I lost the albums. I have saved to my tablet many of their songs. I was madly in love with David Gates. He didn't ever hear about it though. I also had an Irish Setter that I named Aubrey, Aubrey the slobbery dog. I was so weird.

[@bjspeck4337]

My husband and I listened to all his work/art. His guitar is beautiful and easy to know it's him.

[@gregoryalbanst.bernard6193]

The melody sounds like a test run for his song I'll Have To Say I love You In A Song.

[@keithetherington4824]

I've Got A Name by Jim Croce is a great song by this artist. He was taken away far to soon, he was one of my first idols I looked up to.

[@george217]

His son A.J. is a great pianist who used to play backup for Ray Charles.

[@bobpat56]

"Photographs and Memories" is a very sentimental side of Jim Croce.

[@johnthegreek5836]

What a great songwriter and singer he was, lost him too young

[@cathyortiz1280]

We have "Croce's restaurant" here in San Diego, CA run by his widow. Often has live music.

[@gypsygirl3255]

I remember meeting Ingrid. She recorded a Christmas album and donated the proceeds to charity. Class act

[@ronbrown912]

Ahhhhhh, yesssss....my favorite Croce song.

[@keithetherington4824]

I lived this song 5 years ago when my wife of 20 years took up with my best friend and pushed me out of her life. So it's not so easy to move on. Trust me I know.

[@denicesanders4586]

That is terribly sad Keith. I hope you have or will find love again.

[@kenneth9874]

That's rough, try to stay strong and work on yourself and your situation, maybe greater happiness is in the future

[@oldladylovesBruno]

Please listen to "Time in a Bottle". One of the most beautiful songs ever. I saw Jim Croce's son in a show he did locally. Amazing piano skills! After his father died, his mother remarried and the step dad was physically abuse to Jim's son. He ended up blind in one eye, and almost totally blind in the other from the abuse. It's very sad. His music is a bit different than his father's, but he sang a few of Jim's most famous songs, including "Time in a Bottle" which people waited all night to hear. Please react to that song. It's so so good.

[@safespacebear]

Jim Croce was a gift from above and it's such a shame he was taken before his time. All the music we were all robbed of...very sad

[@Marcus-Oh-really-yes]

You might also enjoy Jim's song "I Got a Name." Sadly, his accompanying guitar player on this tour, Maury Muehleisen, also died in the same plane crash after departing a concert in Louisiana and heading to another gig in Texas. Muehleisen was only 24.

[@terrisue4059]

While watching it came to me... Thank God he recorded so many great songs before his premature death. I was about 12 when he died. I was crushed.

[@ericblair54]

The 70's had two troubadours who both died tragic deaths: Jim Croce and Harry Chapin.

[@jeromemilne561]

And neither get any respect from the rock n roll so called hall of fame

[@ericblair54]

@@jeromemilne561 IKR.

[@danielvolk237]

John Denver, Bobby Darin, Janis Joplin,Ricky Nelson, John Lennon, Jim Morrison,Karen Carpenter, Terry Kath, Benjamin Orr, Jimi Hendrix,Mama Cass, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and on and on. ☹️🕊️💟

[@southernwanderer7912]

Jim Croce was not just a singer/songwriter but a monumental story teller who made you stop and think. We lost a great artist when he died. Not all of his songs were sad though. But his story telling can, in effect, change a person's life if the person pays attention to the message.

[@brainsareus]

A lovely, anachronistic little gem; back in the day of dial tones, operators, and payphones.

[@ronclark9724]

And all you needed to make a phone call from a pay phone booth was a dime.... And get this, if no one answered the call, the dime was refunded, even by the operator... Back in the days when customer service meant customer service with a real person on the other end of the line, not some bot...

[@Stroudtucson]

Thank you for reviewing this song, HarriB. It's one of my all-time favorite songs by one of the best songwriters of all time. So sad that he left us so soon, but he left some amazing music for us.

[@ChuckHackney]

Such a short lived run of musical genius but hey we still have the songs. RIP JIM

[@billieyoung497]

what was soooo good about his music was always that acoustic guitar,it was just beuatiful...soooo dang good

[@billieyoung497]

my brother,I literally lost wife to best friend......all I can say about this is,I really do miss HIM.......we wasnt doing good if honest...I miss him...been over 28 years ago...did happen

[@lavonnacasey5724]

Jim Croce was really great and died at the highth of his life. R.I.P. Jim Croce you are remembered❣️

[@oldbroad797]

I lived in a great time (graduated high school in 1967). Such a super time for music! We lost a few good musicians, but their music lives on.

[@montymontano8618]

I saw him a year before he died. I don't know who played on the records but in concert he had a side-man who played the guitar parts to perfection. Probably one of the best written story songs of the last century.

[@djprideone1]

there is a live performance of this song where its all acoustic with him and another backing guitarist/vocalist ... so good !!

[@cwasatko5601]

All his stuff is great.

[@ronpotter9810]

His lead guitar player was a guy named Maury Muehleisen, he was also on the plane & lost his life at the age of 24. Two greats gone in one awful day.

[@terryfirestone6342]

Also, Time in a Bottle.

[@NmDPlm31]

The beauty of all of Jim’s songs is that they were stories that every single person could relate to. Maybe you didn’t have an ex leave you for your best friend but you could understand the pain of that and so the song worked. But when he does have a song that encompasses one of your life events it hits even harder. He was a true entertainer and some of his songs are done right hilarious (Workin At The Carwash Blues, Speedball Tucker, Rapid Roy That Stock Car Boy, Roller Derby Queen).

[@sonia4641]

There's no one quite like Jim for capturing our communication, miscommunication and missed communications in relationships. I particularly love Lover's Cross (beautiful, and escaping a negative situation) and Thursday (quirky and upbeat, while lamenting mis-matched expectations).

[@Stormheart911]

"Lover's Cross" and "I've Got a Name" are two more wonderful songs by Jim that I highly recommend.

[@stebstebanesier6205]

“‘Operator’ was born out of the ‘Dear John’ experiences Jim had witnessed in basic training at Fort Jackson, listening to the soldiers in line at the pay phones.

[@gregorywright2798]

You got His Name Right! Perfect!

[@brianmasinelli9694]

' I got a name ' is a Jim Croce masterpiece that I believe you will enjoy thoroughly

[@hedonista7593]

His acoustic guitar skills are phenomenal. Great musician.

[@BST-lm4po]

Jim Croce's band mate Maurice T. Muehleisen plays the more intricate parts of the song. I think Jim was the one who wrote the basic chord structure and lyrics,.. and Maury filled in with the amazing acoustic guitar work.

[@anthonygriffin9275]

His main accompanist , guitar player and co-writer Maury Muehleisen died in the crash as well. Very tragic. Grateful for the music Jim gave us though.

[@BV-nx6vq]

Jim Croce left us some absolutely stunning songwriting that still resonates powerfully today - almost 50 years later...& i think always will....

[@micheledash7269]

There is an acoustic version of this. Just him and his accompaniment of Maury. Maury also died in that crash. So beautiful with the two of them

[@jackbauer408]

By your head rocks you clearly were into this song! Which I don’t blame you! The operator part is a bit outdated but the rest of the song is just beautiful! Jim was one of the people that sounds the way he does on stage with only an acoustic guitar and Maury. I’m literally 24 and I feel pain from this man’s death… it was 24 years before I was even born! Every time I listen to his albums I will eventually shed a tear because his music was so beautiful and his folk voice was angelic… plus I’m a fellow Chicago man lol

[@tec52]

You should check out "I Got a Name", "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", "Walkin' Back to Georgia", "One Less Set of Footsteps" and "These Dreams".

[@jamessceeles4397]

Johnny Rivers "Memphis Tennessee" and "Sylvia's Mother" by Dr. Hook have the theme of a phone call; anything by Jim Croce was memorable I Got a Name is among my favorites.

[@ponchoknox1431]

One of his most fun and playful songs was "Workin' at the Carwash Blues". The man was phenomenal. He is sorely missed. Peace...

[@An_Cat_Dubh]

A beautiful song. For some reason it always reminds me of Johnny Rivers' "Memphis". The mood is different, but it's also about trying to connect on the telephone from a phone booth.

[@garyechols9458]

October 1978, stationed in Japan. A phone call home was half a month's pay so I was in line at the MARS station. MARS was volunteer radio operators that used shortwave to make your call a local call. So many Marines walking away with "Something in their eye"

[@cmnslcf]

I was a huge fan. As a junior in high school in 1974, I wrote my English term paper on Jim Croce. I got an A. I still remember the final line of my paper: "Croce died in prime."

[@sarleywinkle]

Rapid Roy(that stock car boy) and Roller Derby Queen are completely folk, Americana perfection through story-telling and the catchiest of tunes and instrumentation!

[@celiagorleski2716]

You got a winner here. In his short life, he never had a song I didn't like. Wish prople would listen more to You Don't Mess Around With Jim. It's the first song I ever remember hearing from him. People forgot all about Jim when Leroy Brown came on. They're similar in content. He died when I was in college. What a sad day.

[@clarkcraig6959]

Dont mess around with Jim....Another great song

[@theodoreritola9758]

This was a 70s SMASH HIT,, We sure had a lot of good song writers in the 70s GREAT YEARS

[@roberttompkins6489]

I remember hearing the news of his death. He was at the top of the charts at that time with so many great songs. What a loss.

[@jeffmorse645]

I was a kid, but I remember his widow accepting his Grammy award that year. Really touching.

[@wesleywalker5436]

Croce was supposed to play a small college but it got cancelled and he promised he’d come back to play the following year. In the meantime he blew up as an artist and was one of the most popular musicians at the time. He was playing a big concert tour and lived up to his promise and made a special trip to this same small college. Unfortunately after the show his plane went down shortly after takeoff. He didn’t have to go back and play that show but he was a honorable man.

[@cathyortiz1280]

"I Have to say I Love You in a song," & "Lover's Cross" next. Melanie also has a great version on the later.

[@The5thGen]

A great American singer/songwriter.

[@dredgewalker]

Everytime I hear his music I tear up cause I know that we lost a good artist and human being. We were robbed of what wonderful songs he could have written if he was still alive today.

[@dreamcruzer4743]

RIP Jim

[@stephanieo2509]

You Don't Mess Around With Jim is more in the "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" vein.

[@mikeconnolly9933]

When I was younger I was a huge fan one of my favorites, ham with Bad Bad Leroy Brown

[@jayc9184]

The song in a literal sense is as you say. The song in a universal sense is that he is beyond help either because the operator can't or won't help him; it is a sob story, generally, because he won't move on. Croce's genius is that he is a bee explaining to flies why honey is better than shit while getting paid for it. He was crucified by the establishment, in the fashion Stevie Ray Von was. Let him who has eyes to see and ears to hear and (also a intelligence and/or the will) to understand comprehend.