http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003804704

Jim Croce Albums Earmarked For Reissue

May 16, 2008, 1:55 PM ET
Greg Prato, N.Y.

In tribute to the 35th anniversary of singer/songwriter Jim Croce's death, the artist's three studio albums will be reissued on CD in September via Rhino.

1972's "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" and the following year's "Life and Times" have never been available in that format, while 1973's "I Got a Name" was issued on CD, but has been out of print for the better part of the decade.

"For eight years, I've been trying to get the permission to re-release my dad's three albums on ABC Records," Croce's son AJ tells Billboard.com. "And just last week, I got the OK. So in September, they're going to be available for the first time on CD, and then also in their original form, on vinyl."

These three releases spawned Jim Croce's best-known songs, including the hits "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)," "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," "Photographs and Memories," "Time in a Bottle," and "I Got A Name," among others. "I Got a Name" was released the day after he died in a Sept. 20, 1973, plane crash at the age of 30.

In addition, there are a couple of Jim Croce-related film projects on the horizon. "One of them is underway -- we're working with [producer] Warren Zide on a project that he approached us about, making a movie around the character Leroy Brown," AJ says. "It's sort of an action/comedy thing. The other one is much more serious, and could be a really nice movie. It's a bio."

The younger Croce has new music in the works as well. His seventh studio album, "Cage of Muses," is due later this year on his own Seedling label. The set was recorded in the Dust Brothers' studio, the Boat, in Silverlake, Calif. "It had been a long time since I recorded an album live in the studio. And because I had a tight budget, I decided that I would do it live," he says. "As far as the songs were concerned, they were all of these pieces that I had for different periods of time, and I kept coming back to these songs for one reason or another. They're songs that I didn't give up on."

Croce plans on supporting the album with live dates. "I'm going to be touring the U.S. and Europe," he says. "I don't tour as much as I used to, but I'm hoping to do 50 shows this year. It will be through the fall, winter and spring."

The guy only had three studio albums and only one was ever available on CD?? And yet, like many artists who've departed, there are a gazillion compilations.

Glad Croce is finally getting his original albums out on CD so that his fans can hear 'em.

While it may be technically unreleased, the DCC gold CD 24 Karat Gold in a Bottle includes the entire You Don't Mess Around With Jim album, and even features the album cover on the booklet. Also appends 12 bonus tracks from his other ABC albums, and, truth be told, it sounds incredible.

Great point Jimbo, shame that its price has gotten out of control as it is a beautiful sounding CD. Is there also a Readers Digest set that is highly rated??

Interesting that there finally might be a bio film on him. Years ago Edward James Olmos had said he was readying a film based on Jim's life with him in the lead, Too much time had passed as it got hung up along the way, and Olmos decided he was too old at that point to play Jim anymore. Then nothing was said after that.

Jeff

I was fortunate to get a used copy of this as well as the other DCC gold disc compilation Words And Music for a grand total of $35. Jimbo can confirm this, as it happened on a Jimbo Lunch three summers ago.

If you can get either of these for a reasonable (whatever you're willing to pay) price, get 'em. The sound is astonishing.

I can attest to the DCC Gold disc as well. It is one of my most beloved CDs in my entire collection. I would have been game to pick up the threee reissues if there were bonus tracks of outtakes, unreleased or unreleased live material added to them. BTW, one that I let slip by, I wish the Columbia live CD that was out ages ago would get reissued.

I'm getting all three and I'm also seriously tempted by that DCC Gold.

If you can find it at a price you can live with, get it. Both discs are good, but the 24 Karat Gold In A Bottle is sonic heaven. Listened to it on the way home from my Jimbo Lunch on a beautiful summer day and it was the perfect soundtrack.

Gold in a Bottle is one of the best DEE CEE CEE tiles period. Worda and Music is still selling for a cheap price but the Gold in a Bottle usually commands $50 and up. Definitely grab it if you see it for a good price.

Pretty much all of Croce's recordings have appeared in some form or another on CD (and most mastered by Steve Hoffman) with the exception of some songs included on the post-death release from 1975 titled Faces I've Been. I'd love to see this turn up on CD, but expect my album is the only way I'll ever get to hear most of those tracks...

Last time I was in LA (earlier this year) Amoeba Records had at least a couple of the Words and Music DCC CD in their used CD stacks very affordably. The Readers Digest 2 CD collection, also mastered by Hoffman, can still be bought from the Croce family website, at least that was true last year.

[quote="Dr. Chris Evil"]The guy only had three studio albums and only [i]one[/i] was ever available on CD?? .[/quote]

That's blurb for ya. Besides what's already mentioned, "Life and Times" has been issued on CD on the Dutch BR Music label (BO 7016-2) with Mississippi Lady as a bonus track.

Good move Chris, I have both mentioned as well and they are some of the best recordings that I own. Hoffman did a fantastic job here. I have the Readers Digest set as well, practically got that for nothing at my local indie.

Rick A.

I have the 2 cd 50th Anniversary collection which collects most if not all the ABC recordings plus a host of early stuff...all mastered
by Hoffman....sounds perfect....what more would anyone need??

I have that one, too. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned in the Billboard article.



See Todd's post above:

Being the completist I am, I'd like to see the rest of those songs released on CD as well.

Does anyone know if these re-issued CDs had any extra tracks etc ?