words just can't express how that must feel, to hold the instruments which projected the dreams and visions of two of the most prolific musicians to ever grace the planet. like holding heaven in your hands!
It was such a fun time for me shooting this video and getting to meet Tommy West,Jim Croce's producer, and playing some of Jim and Maury's guitars.The dream of a lifetime!
Wow! To hold the same guitars Jim and Maury played.what a special thing. Hope to hear more stories. Jim and Maury are the best ever. Mr west please tell us more! I will always remember!
RIP Tommy. So very sad. Thank you for the beautiful music you wrote, played and sang, as well as what you wrote and produced for others. Such a great talent and a kind person.
Thanks a lot for the info. When I hear Ovations I hear a tinny sound being produced and that's what I was picking up in a few of Jim's songs. Thanks again.
You're not the only person to think that about Ovation guitars. I've never understood why anyone would play one. To me, they all sound horrible. no matter who's playing and they always have. Even Glen Campbell couldn't get them to sound even half way decent. I really just don't get it.
Jim and Maury decided to use the Ovations for their touring just to save the wear and tear on the Martins. It was NOT because Ovations sounded or stayed in tune better. The only things Ovations did better than other guitars was withstand beatings.
That was Jim's and Maury's style. Lover's Cross shows that very well. Very intricate playing. Beautiful. We lost the chance to hear some beautiful songs. Croce music isn't dated. It could be from any era, and Jim's voice is great. He seems sometimes to have 2 voices. One he sings Rapid Roy and Five Short Minutes and the other he sings Time in A Bottle and These Dreams etc. Absolutely great. I've been listening to Jim and Maury since I was 15. I'm 60 now. Gingerbreadd was an excellent album by Maury. His sister Mary sent it to me. Sad how young he was.
@@gordiesings They were marketed and hyped like crazy during the early and mid-70's. When I was a kid my first full size acoustic was an Ovation, I still have it = junk.
Just watching this kinda made me nervous.. He handles the guitars so quick and matter of factually! Then it's handed straight over to play! I would have been freaked about banging the guitars into something!!! Nice to know their in good hands!!! :-D
I RECENTLY FOUND THAT MR WEST AND MAURY PLAYED THE GUITARS ON THE RECORDING OF!"I GOT A NAME"JIM DID NOT PLAY HE JUST SANG.AWESOME SONG AND ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
I few years back I was in contact with Maury's sister Mary on her website. Very nice person and informative. I asked her the question if Maury and Jim recorded with the Ovation guitars that they were often photographed with. She said that the recordings were never done with Ovations and that the Ovations were used on the road because they took a better beating. I found that interesting. My only problem is Photograph & Memories and New York's Not My Home still sound like Ovations. Any input?
@@wolfeyes9357 Ovations were more or less a new fad during that time. They spent a fortune on marketing and ads. An acoustic guitar with a plastic back - lol - very thin sounding and the tone was awful.
Thanks Ron. Thanks Tom. I have played forever, and had an Ovation Anniversary, which for those who remember, was above the Legends, supposedly. They charged accordingly. lol Was a good guitar, but only if mic'd right. They had NO bottom end! Had one of everything, and am happy with my 20th anniversary Taylor. Easily as good as my D-28, or Guild. Funny.Best playing, and almost as good of sound, was an inexpensive Washburn D-20. lol Name don't mean squat!
He seems a bit rough with those guitars....and why did he have them and not JIm's family? I know he's a piano player, but he sure can't play a guitar. I am sorry Tommy passed away.
Too bad Tommy took Jim and Muary to to the cleaners financially, paying them next to Nothing. Jim was still driving a Gravel truck to pay his bills 1970-73.
words just can't express how that must feel, to hold the instruments which projected the dreams and visions of two of the most prolific musicians to ever grace the planet. like holding heaven in your hands!
It was such a fun time for me shooting this video and getting to meet Tommy West,Jim Croce's producer, and playing some of Jim and Maury's guitars.The dream of a lifetime!
For sure! Gracious Tommy
I’m so jealous! How amazing.
Wow! To hold the same guitars Jim and Maury played.what a special thing. Hope to hear more stories. Jim and Maury are the best ever. Mr west please tell us more! I will always remember!
Right?! I would melt into a puddle of tears.
RIP Tommy. So very sad. Thank you for the beautiful music you wrote, played and sang, as well as what you wrote and produced for others. Such a great talent and a kind person.
wonderful stuff… Wonderful days… Photographs and memories
God Bless you Tommy. May God guide you home.
😥😥😥
thanks for producing the greatest acoustic duo of all times!
Love this !
RIP 🙏🏼🕯️🙏🏼 Tommy, Jim and Maury.🎸
REST in PEACE TOMMY.
✝️🙏🏼🛐
Thank you for posting this, it brought back some good memories. God bless you!
I knew Phil Petillo. He did excellent work on my Gibson and Martin guitars. Not only an excellent luthier but a tremendous person, too.
Thanks a lot for the info. When I hear Ovations I hear a tinny sound being produced and that's what I was picking up in a few of Jim's songs. Thanks again.
You're not the only person to think that about Ovation guitars.
I've never understood why anyone would play one.
To me, they all sound horrible. no matter who's playing and they always have.
Even Glen Campbell couldn't get them to sound even half way decent.
I really just don't get it.
Jim and Maury decided to use the Ovations for their touring just to save the wear and tear on the Martins. It was NOT because Ovations sounded or stayed in tune better. The only things Ovations did better than other guitars was withstand beatings.
That was Jim's and Maury's style. Lover's Cross shows that very well. Very intricate playing. Beautiful. We lost the chance to hear some beautiful songs. Croce music isn't dated. It could be from any era, and Jim's voice is great. He seems sometimes to have 2 voices. One he sings Rapid Roy and Five Short Minutes and the other he sings Time in A Bottle and These Dreams etc. Absolutely great. I've been listening to Jim and Maury since I was 15. I'm 60 now. Gingerbreadd was an excellent album by Maury. His sister Mary sent it to me. Sad how young he was.
@@gordiesings They were marketed and hyped like crazy during the early and mid-70's. When I was a kid my first full size acoustic was an Ovation, I still have it = junk.
According to Tommy, they used these guitars on all of the tracks, and he should know as he was there recording them.
WOW!! very cool,some the best music every made was made on those guitars ,you luck lucky fellows.
This was one of the few songs that Jim didn't write himself. The song was written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox.
That's right. Tommy told me that too.
Just watching this kinda made me nervous.. He handles the guitars so quick and matter of factually! Then it's handed straight over to play! I would have been freaked about banging the guitars into something!!! Nice to know their in good hands!!! :-D
then he did the NFL hand off to somebody who could actually play
The case lid falling down almost nailed the top of that one guitar.
I RECENTLY FOUND THAT MR WEST AND MAURY PLAYED THE GUITARS ON THE RECORDING OF!"I GOT A NAME"JIM DID NOT PLAY HE JUST SANG.AWESOME SONG AND ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
It is also one of the few song that Jim didn't write. The song was written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox.
Tommy played Piano on'Bad Bad Leroy Brown 'didn't he?
How did you get in touch with Tommy?
I few years back I was in contact with Maury's sister Mary on her website. Very nice person and informative. I asked her the question if Maury and Jim recorded with the Ovation guitars that they were often photographed with. She said that the recordings were never done with Ovations and that the Ovations were used on the road because they took a better beating. I found that interesting. My only problem is Photograph & Memories and New York's Not My Home still sound like Ovations. Any input?
Those two songs were recorded before they got the Ovations. They got there ovations in April 72 I believe.
@@crispychip360 Thanks for the info.
Ovations were thin sounding. Martin's and Gibson's are much better sounding guitars and higher quality.
If Mary M said the songs were not recorded on Ovations, you can believe they were not.
@@wolfeyes9357 Ovations were more or less a new fad during that time. They spent a fortune on marketing and ads. An acoustic guitar with a plastic back - lol - very thin sounding and the tone was awful.
Are they Martins? I know Jim played an Ovation also.
what about his martins?
Thanks Ron. Thanks Tom. I have played forever, and had an Ovation Anniversary, which for those who remember, was above the Legends, supposedly. They charged accordingly. lol Was a good guitar, but only if mic'd right. They had NO bottom end! Had one of everything, and am happy with my 20th anniversary Taylor. Easily as good as my D-28, or Guild. Funny.Best playing, and almost as good of sound, was an inexpensive Washburn D-20. lol Name don't mean squat!
Tommy ! Genuine GOODNESS.
RIP Mr picardo
Missed my point. Like the Martins better than the "helicopter" guitars.
To hold those guitars 😢😢 oh man.
I agree with buddyhoot... I know it's not a vatican holy relic, but still... it's not a storebought beater either!
Not a Vatican relic but as close as musical instruments can come.
He seems a bit rough with those guitars....and why did he have them and not JIm's family? I know he's a piano player, but he sure can't play a guitar. I am sorry Tommy passed away.
Too bad Tommy took Jim and Muary to to the cleaners financially, paying them next to Nothing. Jim was still driving a Gravel truck to pay his bills 1970-73.