The beautiful "Time in a Bottle" is his best ballad, but it is followed closely by "Operator" and the introspective "I Got a Name." All three of these touching songs are included in this collection.

There are a number of lesser hits here, including the title cut, but the above-mentioned five are the headliners.

Jim Croce had two distinct musical styles, both of which are well represented in this compilation. Photographs and Memories is a must-have for any collection of the great singer-songwriters of our time.


Fine Inrtoduction To A Too-Short Folk/Rock Career   June 1, 2000
 14 out of 15 found this review helpful

Would've been nice to have the sort-of Christmas song, "It Doesn't Have To Be That Way," on this set. But otherwise, "Photographs and Memories" is a brief, full collection of Jim Croce's early 70s hits. Its capturing of a time and musical era allows it to hold the same esteem as best-ofs from James Taylor, Seals & Crofts, Gordon Lightfoot, and other folk/rock performers.

During his too-brief recording career, Croce avoided the political stridency or overly sensitive navel-gazing of most singer/songwriters. Instead, he relied on imagery (growing up in the same general Philadelphia area Croce did, you saw enough roller derby queens, stock car boys, and mean junkyard dogs to know what he sang about), and even a sense of irony and humor to get his character and gentle love songs over. ("Time In A Bottle" with its haunting guitar intro, is the best of these despite inclusion in the sappy, ironically-titled TV movie "She Lives.")

This is all the Croce casual fans will need; otherwise, seek out original albums like "Life and Times," "I Got A Name," and "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" and even the posthumous LP "The Faces I've Been."


A Scrapbook of emotions   September 11, 1998
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Jim Croce's "Photographs and Memories" is a collection of work worth whatever investment it may be. You'll stroll down the street of heartache, identity crisis, and painful memories. All of the songs are well written and vintage Croce material. You have the interesting melodies of "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" juxtaposed with "Time in A Bottle" and "Operator." You will sympathize with Jim's predicaments and remember your own situations. "Lover's Cross" is one of the best on the album. 5 stars and worth the reminiscing.


An excellent collection of Croce   October 18, 2000
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Photographs and memory's is an excellent collection of Jim Croce's hits in the early 70's. The album remembers the artist well and portrays his unique style to the listener. In an era where soft rock dominated the airways Croce was the best of the best.

His unique singing style, voice and guitar paved the way for some classic upbeat, downtown songs like "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and, "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," where Croce always seemed to sing to the underdog. He also created some of the best ballet classics "Photographs and Memories", "Time In A Bottle", and "I Got A Name."

If your only going to buy one Croce CD pick up this one, it's an excellent collection of Croce's hits that portrays his style and versatility very well.


Splendid collection of Croce's greatest hits   January 18, 2001
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

This CD pulls all of Jim Croce's songs into one album. Every song on this CD is a major hit of his, so you need not worry about skipping through the "bad songs". It displays the variety of his style in the song layout: most up-beat songs are followed by a love ballad, so this CD won't get you TOO excited if you plan on listening to this while working out. This is a great CD for all those Jim Croce fans out there as well as teenagers like myself who love singing romantic songs in addition to fun, up-beat songs. Giving this to a teenager might take some convincing to get him/her to listen to it, but believe me, IT'S WORTH IT! These aren't half as immoral as modern-day music.