Life and Times is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Jim Croce, released in January 1973.[5][6] The album contains the No. 1 Billboard chart hit "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown".[7] Croce was nominated for two 1973 Grammy awards in the "Pop Male Vocalist" and "Record of the Year" categories for the song "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown".[8] It was Croce's final album to be released during his lifetime.
| Life and Times | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January, 1973[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1972 | |||
| Studio | Hit Factory, New York City | |||
| Genre | Folk rock | |||
| Length | 28:48 | |||
| Label | ABC (USA)[2] Vertigo (UK) | |||
| Producer | Terry Cashman, Tommy West | |||
| Jim Croce chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Life and Times | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [2] |
| The New Rolling Stone Record Guide | [4] |
Production edit
The album was produced by Tommy West and Terry Cashman.[4]
Critical reception edit
The New Rolling Stone Record Guide wrote: "Croce's nostalgic side began to take over and he started to produce strikingly impersonal experiments in the craft of sentiment. It fits him well."[4]
Track listing edit
All tracks are written by Jim Croce
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "One Less Set of Footsteps" | 2:46 |
| 2. | "Roller Derby Queen" | 3:28 |
| 3. | "Dreamin' Again" | 2:38 |
| 4. | "Careful Man" | 2:22 |
| 5. | "Alabama Rain" | 2:14 |
| 6. | "A Good Time Man Like Me Ain't Got No Business (Singin' the Blues)" | 2:05 |
| 7. | "Next Time, This Time" | 2:55 |
| 8. | "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" | 3:02 |
| 9. | "These Dreams" | 3:12 |
| 10. | "Speedball Tucker" | 2:26 |
| 11. | "It Doesn't Have to Be That Way" | 2:31 |
Personnel edit
- Jim Croce – rhythm guitar, vocals
- Kenny Ascher – organ on "A Good Time Man Like Me Ain't Got No Business (Singin' the Blues)"
- Terry Cashman – backing vocals
- Gary Chester – drums
- Ellie Greenwich – backing vocals
- Michael Kamen – oboe on "Next Time, This Time"
- David Spinozza – electric guitar on "Roller Derby Queen" and "Alabama Rain"
- Joe Macho – bass
- Maury Muehleisen – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Alan Rolnick – electric guitar on "One Less Set of Footsteps"
- Tasha Thomas – backing vocals
- Eric Weissberg – fiddle on "Careful Man"
- Tommy West – bass, piano, backing vocals
- Willie "Slim" McCoy – backing vocals on "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"
- Peter Dino – string arrangement on "These Dreams"
Production edit
- Producers: Terry Cashman, Tommy West
- Engineer: Bruce Tergesen
Chart positions edit
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Canadian RPM 100 | 1 |
| 1973 | US Billboard 200 | 7[9] |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "One Less Set of Footsteps" | Billboard Hot 100 | 37 |
| 1973 | "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" | Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| 1973 | "It Doesn't Have to Be That Way" | Billboard Hot 100 | 64 |
Certifications edit
| Country | Certifications |
|---|---|
| United States | Gold |
References edit
- ^ Strong, Martin Charles & John Peel Great Rock Discography
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 626.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ a b c The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1983. p. 123.
- ^ "Jim Croce | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Edmondson, Jacqueline (October 3, 2013). Music in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories that Shaped our Culture [4 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories That Shaped Our Culture. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313393488 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Jim Croce, Five Others Die in Plane Crash". Rolling Stone. October 25, 1973.
- ^ "Awards". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Jim Croce". Billboard.