Jim Croce Reaction - Operator

[@jamesfaulkner4022]

No lip sync, no auto tune, no room for error...incredible talent.

[@mikemaggio4979]

As a guitar player for over 20 years, I can assure you that playing this perfectly and singing @ the same time is very difficult! Not to mention it's live! SPOT ON!!! I was ten years old when this album came out and I listened to it with my sister and I am sure the grooves in the vinyl took a beating! Just a beautiful song all the way around!

[@johncollorafi3548]

Hearing this song again, after so many years, "there's something in my eyes-- you know it happens every time."

[@filoIII]

EVERYTHING Jim Croce did was GOLD. No TELLING how many #1 hits he woulda had if not for that fateful flight.

[@mamakittyluvsjesus]

When he wrote the song I heard that he had on his heart and mind all the dear john letters that service men received .

[@MichaelTrogdon1990]

Btw, I enjoyed the reaction. Jim Croce was a great musician. He lost his life way too soon. If you do more reactions from Croce, do "I Got a Name", "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", and "You Don't Mess Around with Jim". Thanks.

[@briancoffey4581]

Jim Croce was a great storyteller taken from us far too soon. Oh, Howdy Lady Max. Anyway Croce and Harry Chapin had that everyman quality to their story songs that were relatable and are cherished through generations.

[@ericanderson8886]

Croce one of those artist that poured everything out and then he died. Many great songs but such a sad ending.

[@mikerobertson4041]

Now that is music! A couple of acoustic guitars and a poet singing a simple song!

[@AJRabies]

Jim had so many great songs. Some were sad, some were kinda funny. But all told stories. Walkin' Back to Georgia, Workin' at the Car Wash Blues, Photographs & Memories, A Long Time Ago, Box #10, & New York's Not My Home.... to name just a few.

[@thebackyardbear]

REAL music from a time when REAL artists exposed their TRUE SELVES... put REAL LIFE to music... Jim Croce was one of the GREATEST.

[@randyhein7324]

He died at 30. Way too young. The song operator was played with a very good guitarist along with Jim. It was a song about Vietnam servicemen calling home about the dear John letter they just got in the mail.

[@mike_valenza]

This was always my favorite Jim Croce song.

[@thomaschristopher8593]

here's a quote from Jim i found with google:
(edit - this way before smart phones, that's for sure LOL)
"I got the idea for writing "Operator" by standing outside of the PX waiting to use one of the outdoor phones. There wasn't a phone booth; it was just stuck up on the side of the building and there were about 200 guys in each line waiting to make a phone call back home to see if their Dear John' letter was true, and with their raincoat over their heads covering the telephone and everything, and it really seemed that so many people were going through the same experience, going through the same kind of change, and to see this happen especially on something like the telephone and talking to a long-distance operator-this kinda registered. And when I got out of the Army I was working in a bar where there was a telephone directly behind where I was playing and I couldn't help but be disturbed by it all the time, and I noticed that the same kind of thing was goin' on. People checkin' up on somebody or finding out who was what was goin' on, but always talkin to the operator. And I decided that I would write a song about it. But I didn't really start getting the idea for the song itself, the real outline of it, until I was doing the construction work after I got out of the music business the first time, and I started carrying a cassette machine in the truck. I started Operator' on the way back, one afternoon, just singin' into a cassette machine. But it's one of those songs that kinda comes out of experiences that you watch for a long time, just to see if they're really valid. I kinda like to write songs about things that a lot of people have experience with, because it really makes the songs communicate."

[@AMERICANPRIDE1100]

Live no remix no overdubs no autotune

[@ncb1003]

For those who grew up with Jim Croce, not underrated at all. I was in high school when this came out, and could relate to the heartbreak he speaks to. I just learned this song on the guitar - both the lead and acoustic, and these guys made it look simple. It's not. He wrote and played some great songs the short time he was on this planet.

[@kelvinkloud]

you picked one of his all time great songs.... good job.... croce rose to his heights in the singer/songwriter era of the late 60's thru early 70's. to answer your question. woody guthrie, cash, h williams sr decades before laid down the blue print. dylan took it to another level in re to lyrical expansion and combining rock. by the time croce hit big, country was getting in vogue again. j wesley harding by dylan had a huge influence on where croce is. to his credit though, croce brought some new things to the table. he wrote in a style that was more straight forward and amer working class, yet just as deep. a mark twain type of story telling gift. very heartland. james taylor is similar and neil young could be (when acoustic) & they both influenced each other. I would say when dylan made a big comeback w/ blood on the tracks, he took in what croce was doing & dialed in his talents to shift some. but croce was a guy who more country listeners started picking up on listening wise. he could be deep and transcend w/o being politically divisive. cat stevens was heavily influenced by croce. chapin ditto. id say springsteen too. croce also had fun songs too wh/ brought in more listeners. So his influence carried there too. way too early and sad of a loss... I enjoy your all's tasteful picks & thoughtful takes. cool to see younger bright people give past great music their worthy listen.

[@DoctorYianni]

If you look carefully a gurl in the crowd is wiping tears away.

[@matthewpayne411]

This song, and time in a bottle always makes me cry

[@crashcorrigan9733]

So true. They did this LIVE. Not an easy song to play, synching two guys and lyrics the way they did it. God bless them both.

[@SIXX2772]

Great song....love Croce....good to see Lady Maxx

[@johnandrews3151]

Jim Croce/Working At The Car Wash Blues

[@travislyles5096]

angel of darkness

[@matsjakobsson1376]

So sad. Died in a plane crash 30 years old. As he finally had success with this song. Life ain't fair!

[@idesofmars]

just flawless live too. not many artists like that today

[@zackheru1017]

The Black county singer Charlie Pride has the some sound which I think Croce copied - for example : Burger and fries, such a beautiful song, look it up if you will.

[@Saturday288]

I couldn't find any specific artists that inspired Jim. He grew up listening to ragtime and country.

[@marcosberenstein4558]

Probably Peter, Paul & Mary.

[@xchiro1818]

This song was the reason I bought my first guitar.

[@john4rock5]

John Denver was probably the most similar: Country Roads, Annie's Song, Rocky Mountain High are his biggest hits

[@twwtjohns]

Jim (pronounced)Crow-Chee has many songs about relationship and they're all just as beautiful and poignant. He had a style all his own that range from Walking Back to Georgia to Working at the Car wash Blues.

[@jerrypetrillo2903]

A wonderful classic that doesn’t grow old and for many becomes more relevant with age
If you want to stay in a similar vibe : check out Harry Chapin , ‘Cat’s In the Cradle ‘ or ‘ Taxi’

[@rtwbikerider]

Taxi! Great suggestion. A well told story of a poignant encounter. I haven’t heard that one in ages.

[@SIXX2772]

You should turn the ladies on to some SRV.......Tin Pan Alley featuring Johnny Copeland

[@timlevis3630]

Whenever I hear this song,I picture him in a dark,dank bar in Upper Darby. Trying to place a long distance phone call to L.A.

[@tedregal2867]

This song was written by Pigpen from the Grateful Dead.

[@normamcgillis4983]

nope - it was written by Jim Croce

[@tedregal2867]

Norma McGillis check wikipedia

[@normamcgillis4983]

@@tedregal2867 I did - Jim's predates Pigpen's by several years

[@tedregal2867]

Norma McGillis really...people say it was Pigpen because Grateful dead also have the same song.

[@normamcgillis4983]

@@tedregal2867 Not the same song - Jim wrote this back in the 60's - there are apparently recordings of him singing this exact version back then - Pigpen's version is has a different melody and lyrics

[@byronmitchell3784]

I fear all those great story tellers. They have died and the music styles have gone with them. Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, John Denver, Janis Joplin. Come to mind. Those who are still alive their memories through those fantastic songs live on. Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Carley Simon, Roberta Flack, Cat Steven's,
and I'm sure I've let others out. Older yep, Forgotten never...

[@raygoto]

Love your reactions guys... Surprised you haven't done any Stevie Ray Vaughan. Can I suggest reacting to Stevie Ray Vaughn: "Voodoo Child" Live - Austin City Limits, 'One Night in Texas'
Thanks for the time you take to make these oldies but goodies great again! PEACE! 😎😎😎
'

[@randy8297]

I recommend putting the lamp between you two so that everything is in focus.

[@Zebred2001]

Whether or not you decide to do an official reaction I'd like you to check out a song called Leaving Eden by The Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Grand Ole Opry.

[@31Mike]

It's Crow-chee not Crow-she

[@goldeagle8905]

Hi , try reacting to James Taylor and Cat Stevens .

[@shroomhilda]

Bird reactions...lol!

[@PR3DITORz]

Hey mojo listen to Sweet Smoke - Baby Night 1970 you will really dig this tune man... it has some of The Doors Lyrics from the Soft Parade .Give it a listen . You’ll thank me later ✌️🎶✌️

[@porgyt7177]

Please listen to Joni Mitchell with the ladies.
Women of Heart and Mind
Or
Blue (the song)
Or ...

[@aaronlane8405]

Jim Croce could be compared to Gordon Lightfoot style.

[@jorgelopez-pr6dr]

Now that you know the song, pretty sad, isn't?

[@thoru4367]

Please react to The Smiths - Wonderful Woman

[@MichaelTrogdon1990]

You have "operator" spelled wrong in the title. I would like for you to make a return to Steely Dan. Thanks.

[@nikolatesla5553]

The audio on that clip is terrible.

[@maciel5049]

can u react to a song that's in Spanish?