Was JIM CROCE the GREATEST singer-songwriter? - with examples

[@RobertCassard]

Where does Jim Croce appear on your list of Top Singer-Songwriters? Please leave a comment and tell me! Who else would you like me to feature in future videos? Thanks!

[@jimmybobsqusher5897]

#1! I absolutely love Jim Croce! I'm 19 and really started listening to him 2 years ago after my grandpa died. His songs were such a comfort. I have all of his songs on cd's. Was listening to the Facets album earlier today. I would totally recommend buying The Definitive Jim Croce Collection if you ever find it. The song "You Always Make Me Feel I Ain't Been Gone" is on the album and that song is nowhere on the internet.

[@RobertCassard]

@@jimmybobsqusher5897 Awesome tip, thank you! I hope you feel like I did Jim (and Maury) justice in this deep-dive video about him and his music.

[@acousticmike]

I’m still struggling to learn Jim’s part in Operator. Love that song. Well done Robert!

[@RobertCassard]

I watched a lot of live Jim and Maury videos in prep for making this. There are also some good lesson videos on KZbin. I have a similar habit to Jim in that I often play the same chord using different hand positions, just to shake things up and avoid hand fatigue.

[@NexusDL12]

Pete Hutlinger has to great videos on how to play Jim Croce. You can find them on homespun music in the DVD or digital download formats. There are about 14 songs between both videos transcribed note for note and includes tablature. Pete also has videos of Dan Fogelberg, John Denver and Gordon Lightfoot transcribed. All very accurate videos!

[@RobertCassard]

@@NexusDL12 Awesome suggestion! I found the Huttlinger-Croce Volume 1 DVD on Amazon. Volume 1: amzn.to/3BCdE7O Volume 2 is still being sold on Pete's own site.

[@michaelpaul7925]

Very enjoyable and well put together..👍🇨🇦👍

[@RobertCassard]

Thank you, Michael Paul. I hope you’ll dig deeper on my channel.

[@joedorseymusic]

Thanks for lifting up Jim. I wore out our family's "Don't Mess Around With Jim" tape as a 70s kid. One of my favorites is "Walking Back To Georgia." Keep writing and performing, Robert!

[@RobertCassard]

This was a fun episode for me too, Joe. I will definitely keep writing, singing and playing!

[@hailey0675]

Great video Robert, this is the best I’ve ever seen giving true honor and respect to Jim and Maury’s legacy. I too was an eighth grader in 1972, trying to learn guitar and of course Croce songs. Growing up in Philly at the time I felt a special inspiration and connection with Jim’s music.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks for watching and saying hello, Hailey. Diving deep on some of Jim’s songs and Maury’s accompaniments brought me back to the kid-in-a-candy-store enthusiasm I felt back in ‘73.

[@richardcassard]

Another great video Robert. Always great to get more background on our shared favorite artists! Thanks.

[@RobertCassard]

Glad you enjoyed it, Rick. I always learn a lot myself doing these videos, and I come to a much deeper appreciation of our favorite songwriters and their life experiences. Sadly, another viewer pointed out to me that Jim got shafted by his label and management and saw very little money from all of his million-selling music. He and Ingrid remained cash-strapped even after his "success." So Jim was a "struggling musician" for his entire career!

[@richardcassard]

That's a shame. He deserved much better.

[@bobbyhunt100]

An absolute master class in heartfelt and ballad prose. Jim Croce is absolutely one of my favorite artists and his storytelling is either without peer, or at least up there with the very best. R.I.P. my friend Jim, and thank you for your unforgettable contribution to, and some of the most poignant and significant ballads in the last century. What else may have been ahead can be only speculation, but so sad to see it cut so tragically short!! I was only 16 when he was so tragically taken and I'm now 67. How much did we miss out on?

[@RobertCassard]

How much did we miss out on is really the aching question, eh? That said, it’s amazing how much we got from him in light of how compressed his career as a star 🌟 actually was!

[@bwashburn1972b7]

I was born in 72 and always loved Jim's music...but dang! I didn't know that about Maury taking a back seat and before that Jim taking a back seat standing in the shadows. Crazy! Two of the best upstanding musicians with no ego....just whatever worked...👍😎 Cool

[@RobertCassard]

The magic of an ego-less collaboration, right? The prominence of Maury's lead guitar on all of Jim's best songs and recordings is one of the key things that elevate Jim's music to the highest level. Cat Stevens and Alun Davies have had a similar relationship for 50 years now. I get into their dual-guitar collaboration in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mInGl6h8p8ykoJI

[@bwashburn1972b7]

@RobertCassard right on! Thx Robert. I dig these deep dives 👍😎

[@RobertCassard]

@@bwashburn1972b7 Thanks for the positive feedback!

[@JayFullerton2U]

Great job love this Jim Croce the best ❤ his music

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks so much, Jay! Listening to these LPs again for the first time in years really lit 🔥 me up again. Such inspiring guitar work.

[@JayFullerton2U]

@@RobertCassard your great guitarist , have you listened to Travis Meadows he singer songwriter.

[@RobertCassard]

@@JayFullerton2U I haven't (yet). Thanks for the recommendation!

[@RobertCassard]

@JayFullerton2U Just checked out Travis. Good stuff! On the list of criminally underrated singer-songwriters. Check out Chuck Cannon. I particularly love the song Outta This Town. Here's a version I captured with my iPhone at an intimate venue in Berkeley. Chuck singing unplugged with Shawm Mullins: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIfRnamtfLOXhck Here's the polished-up and released version: open.spotify.com/track/3GVR6q4IngEPo7kbHdwtFB?si=8573f35fd2224c1d

[@ibmaxwell4192]

Another great presentation. Really enjoy your guitar playing. Inspiring. for me anyway

[@RobertCassard]

Thank you kindly, IB! I hope the inspiration sticks…

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

Great video, again! Great playing too!

[@RobertCassard]

Thank you, King of Marigoldman!

[@georgescannelli3814]

That operator opening Was great. Love how you did both Jim’s and Maury’s parts together. ..great history / bio about Jim. Never knew some of these things! You are always a great storyteller.so interesting based on who he met, who he ran in to, or introduced to, got great breaks. One of the best lines ever: “if I had a box just for wishes, and dreams that would never come true, the box would be empty except for the memories of how they were answered by you” BTW, great Martin. Is that a custom shop guitar? Really nice! Great job Robert.

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks so much, George. I'm lucky it worked out to combine Jim and Maury's parts on those two songs. Cuz I was just playing freely with no click track. But when I laid 'em on top of each other... bingo! Regarding the Martin, it's the "holy grail" dreadnought I've been searching for. It's a an HD-40MK from 2002. Basically a souped-up HD-28, Mark Knopfler signature model. I did a fun video about how I came across it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4nMkoBjpayVr6c

[@PR-BEACHBOY]

His guitar on “Operator” is so tasty that unless someone like you isolates it, a person can miss out on it.

[@RobertCassard]

It’s true. His and Maury’s guitar parts are so intricate but effortless that they just flow by!

[@stevenrichard5510]

Wow, that was excellent! I really enjoyed learning about something I knew nothing about how talented the duo was and how they played guitar together.

[@RobertCassard]

Glad you enjoyed it, Steve! Here's my Greatest Singer-Songwriters Playlist, if you'd like to check out my videos about what I learned from James Taylor, Cat Stevens, JImmy Buffett and others: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmqWaJqvo9F7iaM&pp=gAQBiAQB

[@NexusDL12]

This was a great listen! You’re quite talented yourself. I would like to hear you cover Dan Fogelberg. Another greatly talented artist whose gone way to soon! Thanks for all you do Robert, love your channel!

[@RobertCassard]

Ah! Thanks for the compliments. I actually knew Dan and had multiple chances to jam with him. He’s definitely on the list for a future episode.

[@NexusDL12]

@@RobertCassard That’s awesome that you knew him and jammed with him. I happy to hear your going to cover him . Can’t wait!! Thanks!

[@RobertCassard]

@@NexusDL12 I appreciate your patience!!

[@jerrylancaster69]

Loved Croce!❤ Wish I had a clue about his finger picking technique. Thanks for reminding me. Back to the woodshed!😅

[@RobertCassard]

Hey Jerry. In the video description, I included a link to a used (vintage/out-of-print) book of Jim's Greatest Hits with remarkably accurate guitar tabs. It's a little pricey, but if you're serious about learning his songs, it's a good way to do it!

[@DavesCoverSongs]

Excellent video AND playing. I noticed you’re using a Black Mountain thumb pick. Just started using those recently and found them to be game changing.

[@RobertCassard]

I love Black Mountain thumb picks. For folks who haven’t discovered them, they have a spring that gently grips your thumb, leaving the pick more flexible when you want to flat pick. Here’s a link: amzn.to/3XPwjEG

[@NiecieB65]

I LOVE his music. I was devastated when he left us. ❤

[@RobertCassard]

I here you, Niecie. That plane crash was the first time I recall one of my favorite artists unexpectedly passing away. It seemed a weird and violent death for two artists as sensitive as Jim and Maury.

[@mpeer11]

This video was incredible. Jim Croce is my favorite artist all time and love how you pointed out a lot of things I love about Jim and Maury. 👏👏👏 with that said he appears at #1 on my list of top singer-songwriters

[@RobertCassard]

Thank you, @mpeer11. I'm glad my presentation earned the respect and approval of such an ardent Croce fan!

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

I'm a student of rock/pop history. I was completely unaware of the details in the Maury M/Croce backstory.

[@RobertCassard]

I know what you mean. This is one of those "deep histories," that many people might have become aware of if JIm and Maury's careers had gone on another decade or two. But they out three brilliant LPs so quickly. Even with all of that beautiful MM guitar work (that people can sing along with), Maury is still a (relatively) unsung guitar hero.

[@tonyhunt4250]

Loved this!

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks, Tony. Here's my Great Singer-Songwriters Playlist, if you'd like to check out other videos about what I learned from James Taylor, Cat Stevens, JImmy Buffett and others: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmqWaJqvo9F7iaM&pp=gAQBiAQB Cheers!

[@acousticmike]

Another great storyteller, Harry Chapin. I’m trying to learn taxi!

[@RobertCassard]

Harry was really important to me, so he’ll be featured at some point. I played in a high school madrigal group that performed in elder care facilities. When I did my solo version of Chapin’s epic song “Corey’s Comin’” there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Sometimes I had a hard time getting through it myself!

[@SKOVDEPETE]

Thank You so much. I really liked Your Presentation. I had several albums early on with JC in the 70’s. I’m a household amateur player, entertained a few groups on stage. The only recording I have with Myself is singing JC’s I Have to Say I Love You in A Song… 🙏❤️❤️❤️

[@RobertCassard]

Thank you! If you’re gonna have one recording of yourself, it might as well be a beautiful Jim Croce 🎶 song!

[@lw216316]

Robert, this is your fault - I was only going to listen to a few minutes and then go to bed at my usual time and watch the rest of it tomorrow. Well that didn't happen! Great coverage, thank you. I saw a documentary about Jim and Maury. They interviewed Jim's wife. According to her they got very little of the money they should have when Jim became successful. I was hoping you would address that in the video.

[@RobertCassard]

Sorry to keep you up at night, but thanks for watching all the way through. Sadly, there's rarely justice or fairness in the economics of the music business. My own research for this was extensive, but not thorough enough, apparently. Since reading what you wrote, I dug a bit and see that you're right. Jim and Ingrid continued to struggle financially even after his LPs were selling in the millions. It's unconscionable and infuriating, but it may also be one reason why Jim was SO prolific during those final two years. Probably chasing after advances on each new album.

[@r54070]

Excellent video! I've been a big fan of Jim Croce for a long time so thanks Robert. It sounds like we're about the same age and thinking back on what we used to play on our acoustic guitars back then, Kenny Loggins...or, Loggins and Messina...comes to mind. Songs like House on Pooh Corner, Danny's Song, Celebrate Me Home, etc., etc.

[@RobertCassard]

Glad you enjoyed it, Cary! The early Loggins stuff (with Messina) was definitely a favorite, back in the day. I loved that mellow Kenny stuff - even bought a nylon string guitar to sound more like him. And come to think of it, Your Mama Don't Dance was about equally popular as Bad Bad Leroy Brown at those Jazz-Rock trio gigs!

[@MarkRobinsonMusic]

Great stuff, Robert. I have to throw John Denver's name into this list!

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks, Mark. Oh, for 👍 sure. John D is on my shortlist!

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

John Denver was a fine singer and guitarist, but does not belong on the same list as legitimate singer/songwriters like Stevens, Taylor, Croce, etc. His best songs were cowritten or not written by him at all. He was all image. He could not land a recording contract in the last ten years of his life. There were reasons for that.

[@RobertCassard]

@@BeatlesCentricUniverse Interesting to hear that opinion. I stopped listening to John in his later career because he got more saccharine (similar to Dan Fogelberg). I'd agree that he lost track of what made him special as a songwriter and artist in his early years, and his popularity suffered as a result. But I went back and looked at the credits for his early LPs and the man wrote many beautiful songs and monster hits, some alone and some with a handful of co-writers. It's hard to argue that Leavin' on a Jet Plane; Poems, Prayers and Promises; Sunshine on My Shoulders, Rocky Mountain High, and Country Roads aren't singer-songwriter classics..

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

@RobertCassard Yeah, they were big hits, but they were very superficial to me, with light lyrics. He doesn't belong on the same list with the aforementioned singer/songwriters.

[@RobertCassard]

@@BeatlesCentricUniverse You're obviously entitled to that opinion, and this is the last I'll say to defend Mr. Deutchendorf. The quality and depth of lyrics are in the ear of the beholder. From my perspective, JD quite a few lines I wish I'd written. A couple examples: “Talk of poems and prayers and promises and things that we believe in. How sweet it is to love someone, how right it is to care. How long it’s been since yesterday, what about tomorrow? What about our dreams and all the memories we share?” "Now his life is full of wonder but his heart still knows some fear of a simple thing he cannot comprehend. Why they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more, more people, more scars upon the land." Cheers!

[@JimAndyAllyn]

That guy that played guitar with him was damned good, too!

[@RobertCassard]

Couldn’t agree more, Jim Andy. His name was Maury Meuhleisen, and he’s one of main reasons I wanted to make this video. His lead guitar work was a huge part of Jim’s sound and success!

[@JimAndyAllyn]

@@RobertCassard Back when that stuff came out, I played guitar a little but not sophisticated enough to know second guitar parts: fills, counter melodies, accents, etc. I just knew I liked the stuff. Now I get that stuff, and Maury was absolutely brilliant!

[@RobertCassard]

@JimAndyAllyn yes! Maury created SO MANY memorable guitar parts on those 3 LPs.

[@weslewis8748]

Thank you ..great video on a great artist that has been a favorite of mine since starting to play guitar in 1972...9th grade....Jim...Gordon Lightfoot, Cat, John Denver, James Taylor, Seals & Croft....I still play out of their songbooks I bought back then!

[@RobertCassard]

I love it, Wes. It seems like you and I had all the same influences back in the day. Here's my Greatest Singer-Songwriters Playlist, if you'd like to check out my other videos about what I learned from James Taylor, Cat Stevens, JImmy Buffett and others: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmqWaJqvo9F7iaM&pp=gAQBiAQB You might also enjoy my Beatles series, too: What the Beatles Taught Me - Complete Playlist plus bonus videos kzbin.info/aero/PLJUm5NcjSm4h46M-IlNy7xudjxDz8rCZT Have fun and keep playing!

[@sarahmutchler4117]

Thank you!:)

[@RobertCassard]

You're so welcome, Sarah! I'm happy you found my channel. 😀

[@chemmii]

Please don't forget Loggins&Messina, who were also short lived (as a duo) but incredibly influential with their musical duo venture.!! I was horn in 1947, and run a similar musical taste as you, only was more influenced by Gordon Lightfoot, as to musical style.

[@RobertCassard]

Cool idea. I truly loved Loggins & Messina, and they were everywhere for those few short years. I’ve added ‘em to the list, but please be patient with me!

[@acousticmike]

I second that , Gordon Lightfoot

[@RobertCassard]

@@acousticmike I’m keeping track of votes!

[@davidflint12]

Time in a Bottle my favorite.

[@RobertCassard]

Right on, David. I think it's a lot of people's favorite and a well-deserved #1 hit.

[@davidflint12]

@@RobertCassard those were the great days of radio. His music was everywhere. So was Gordon Lightfoot.

[@RobertCassard]

@@davidflint12 It sure was!

[@stevenhanson6057]

Not even close, but he was exceptional.

[@RobertCassard]

I'm taking votes, Steven. Who are your top 5 singer-songwriters?

[@pm8278]

Gordon Lightfoot ?

[@RobertCassard]

Absolutely 👍 Gordon’s on my shortlist

[@752brickie]

I see you are using the Black Mountain thumb picks ??? They are the best picks I have ever used. Not that I am a great guitar player ?? Which model Martin are you playing ??

[@RobertCassard]

Thanks, Thom. Black Mountain picks are a little pricey, but well worth it if you're a strum-fingerstyle hybrid player like me. Great feel and accuracy. My Martin dreadnought is a 2002 HD-40MK (Mark Knopfler signature edition). It's a pre-war-style HD-28, souped-up with an Italian alpine spruce top. I did a fun video about how and why I bought it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4nMkoBjpayVr6c I play it quite a lot on my channel, like on this tribute song to a friend who recently passed away - with a capo at the 8th fret! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqrTg6aemL6beac

[@PR-BEACHBOY]

With all due respect Jim and his wife could pass for brother and sister.

[@RobertCassard]

I hadn’t thought about it but I can see what you mean…

[@PR-BEACHBOY]

Is Hugh related to Phil McCrackin?

[@RobertCassard]

You mean Phil the artist? I don’t think there’s any connection.

[@chagadelica]

Yes, he was. There - I could’ve saved everyone 27 minutes! 😜

[@RobertCassard]

LOL. 23 minutes, but who's counting?!

[@jimbol6847]

Neil diamond, Don McLean Karla Bonoff, Carly Simon.... looks like you just got a new hobby, lol😊

[@RobertCassard]

Great ones, all! Yeah, I'm already pretty deep in this hobby. Now if only KZbin would spread the word about my videos, I'd have more time to work on 'em!

[@Michael-mm3fm]

Neil Young

[@RobertCassard]

Right on, Michael, thanks.

[@paulpulati9613]

No……….

[@RobertCassard]

Okay, then Paul. Who’s at the top of your singer-songwriter list?

[@paulpulati9613]

@@RobertCassard If you think Croce is, that's fine. I like Croce. But I think the question is actually silly....... Is music a competition?......

[@RobertCassard]

@@paulpulati9613 I'm not arguing that Croce IS the best, and I agree the question is silly. But posing silly questions like this is the ONLY way KZbin will expose the videos I spend so much time crafting to more people. ALL of my most-viewed videos pose questions like this in the title and thumbnail. When I avoid the silly questions, I get a tiny fraction of the viewership. It's counter-productive for a small channel like mine. Sad but true!

[@paulpulati9613]

@@RobertCassard OK, but is it the only way? .... how about "Who is your favourite songwriter?"........ I get what you're saying, and I wish you luck in your venture. I love KZbin, it's better than TV. But the silliness and the negativity is very annoying. I do get that the U.S. is going through a huge amount of both currently. Witness the current election campaign or the ridiculousness surrounding Caitlin Clark. I was born and raised in California and it's sad to see this development and experience -- as a citizen living in London -- how people view the U.S. now. But continued good luck with your 'channel.'

[@paulpulati9613]

PS. Nice playing, by the way...... PPS. You do a very good job with you video explanations, research and playing. Well done........