The Definitive Collection [Import]

Jim Croce | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 21, 1998)
• Original Release Date: April 21, 1998
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Recall Records UK
• ASIN: B000006CC6
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,635 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #27 in Music > Indie Music > Pop > Singer-Songwriters
  • #28 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Folk Rock

Track Listings

1. You Don't Mess Around With Jim

2. Photographs And Memories

3. New York's Not My Home

4. Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)

5. Time In A Bottle

6. Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy)

7. Hey Tomorrow

8. These Dreams

9. Speedball Tucker

10. It Doesn't Have To Be That Way

11. I Got A Name

12. One Less Set Of Footsteps

13. Roller Derby Queen

14. Alabama Rain

15. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

16. I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song

17. Salon And Saloon

18. Chain Gang Melody

19. "Spin, Spin, Spin

20. Tomorrow's Gonna Be A Bright New Day

See all 39 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Digitally mastered 1997 retrospective on the Recall label featuring 39 tracks, including the original versions of all his top 40 hits: the #1 smashes 'Time In A Bottle' & 'Bad, Bady Leroy Brown', plus 'You Don't Mess Around With Jim', 'Operator', 'One Less Set Of Footsteps', 'I Got A Name', 'Working At The Car Wash Blues' & 'I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song'. Double slimline jewel case. The full title is'Bad Boy Leroy Brown: The Definitive Collection'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good compilation from a 70's legend, November 25, 2005

By 

Breyel (MALAYSIA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

"The Definitive Collection" showcases Jim Croce's talent as a wordsmith and musician. It features both hits and radio-friendly tunes from the first album with his wife Ingrid and his three solo albums. Croce's tender, thoughtful and humourous songs, along with guitarist Murray Mueleisen's classical fretwork, aptly demonstrate his prowess as a singer/songwriter.

Any doubt about his talent can easily be dispelled after listening to his stirring love songs "Time In A Bottle", "Operator", "Have To Say I Love You In A Song", "Lover's Cross", "A Long Time Ago" and "Spin Spin Spin". For comic relief "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," "Working At The Carwash Blues," "Don't Mess Around With Jim", "Five Short Minutes" and "Roller Derby Queen" will tickle and pick you up.

All in all, "The Definitive Collection" is an excellent choice over most of the Jim Croce anthologies, whether you're a fan or a newcomer to his music. Those compilation albums with additional tracks are probably just as good, but rather than purchase these it might be better to consider obtaining the entire Croce catalogue, including the early recordings with his wife. Otherwise, go with "The Definitive Collection". It contains most of his best material.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 30 Years Later, Croce's music is still a masterpiece, March 5, 2003

By 

Don McNay "www.donmcnay.com" (Richmond, Ky USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

The words touch your soul and the simple but effective music is wonderful. Croce can be sweet, he can be extremely funny (roller derby queen), ironic (working at the car music) and romantic. (Had to say I love you in a song.) There is no such thing as a bad Jim Croce song and I am surprised more artists have not recorded his albums.

This has most of what you need to understand why Croce was a master.

Don McNay...

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Collection Of Jim Croce Favorites!, July 20, 2003

By 

Barron Laycock "Labradorman" (Temple, New Hampshire United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

For those of us who watched the incredible rise of pop folk and country singer Jim Croce, this album of all his greatest hits, helps to summarize his brilliant, if foreshortened career, and encapsulates his all too brief living of the life of his dreams. Sadly, he was cut down just as his career was reaching its pinnacle, and he left us to sing and perform in other, more ethereal venues. I'm sure he has the angels snapping their fingers and tapping their toes. With the songs that are included here Jim sang his way into our living rooms, automobiles, and our hearts. He was a true original, another of the incredible group of singer songwriters who not only performed so brilliantly, but also wrote the lyrics and composed the music as well.

Here we have every thing from "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song" to "Photographs and Memories", from "Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown" to "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", from "One Less Set Of Footsteps" to "Operator". This is a wonderful album, one filled with all the thoughts and ideas and emotions he evoked so well in his lyrics and his songs. Those of us who came to appreciate his talent and his art were saddened by his death, but are yet thankful he left behind such wonderful photographs and memories, such priceless and timeless reminders of the good times he gave us. That why I wanted to weigh in with this review; I just had to say I loved him in a song... Enjoy!