Jim Croce is sometimes forgotten in the canon of singer / songwriters who died prematurely. The five albums he released during his short life prove how unfortunate and unjustified that is. Croce was the son of Italian immigrants and inherited his parents' work ethic. After years of potato consumption, Croce finally seemed to start reaping the rewards in 1973. Unfortunately, the singer died on
… September 20, 1973 in a plane crash. I Got A Name was released four months after that tragedy and features material Croce had already written for his upcoming album. Most notable song is I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song that posthumously gave the singer another American top-10 hit. Croce was a master of compelling middle-of-the-road songs, but songs like the title track and Five Short Minutes prove he could rock too. This solid swan song raises the question of what more beauty Croce could have made if he had been allowed a longer life. (PdK)more
