One can't remember Jim Croce w/o a strong nod to his accompianist Maury Muehleisen whose guitar work was so interwoven w/Croce's. Those straight forward, tasteful figures were as important to Croce's sound as his voice, songs and production. Croce was direct, unadorned, simple and accessable. It's sad that he passed so young as his body of recorded works is small. Didn't fully appreciate his abilities as a musicain until becoming accomplished myself and having an occasion to learn one of his songs for a gig. Then I went on a tear and learned a dozen. The two of them had a seamless blend. They set the standard for guitar interplay in acoustic music. A very original approach. Understated and overlooked. Had the pleasure of seeing him and the magic was that there was no show business veneer. He was the genuine article and truly a man of the people. Latter day Will Rogers.
|