Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Somewhere in my house, I have a cassette of a Jim Croce performance that aired on an old PBS show called Soundstage. I can't remember much about the show or readily locate the tape, but I can recall that the concert was very much like the live performances presented in Have You Heard: Jim Croce Live. This 2003 video, which was released by Shout! Factory, is a collection of 13 performances with just two musicians - Croce on acoustic guitar and Maury Meuhleisen on acoustic guitar and harmony vocals. During the last two years of their lives, Croce and Muehleisen often went on tour as a band unto themselves. That all came to an end on September 20, 1973, when a plane crash claimed the lives of Croce, Muehleisen, and four others. The music segment of the DVD also includes three video montages that were created by co-producer Nick Redman and editor Vincent Stancarone.

The performances, which were collected from various sources, show two artists performing virtually as one. Croce is front and center as the vocalist and the storyteller, but Muehleisen quietly provides all the backing band Croce needs. At one point, Croce introduces his band. Muehleisen simply smiles and waves to the audience. That gesture in itself illustrates the simple beauty of their work. Croce had done many jobs and had the opportunity to meet many people before he became a popular artist. One of the people he met was Leroy Brown, a fellow soldier Croce met when they were in the Army, stationed in South Carolina. It's Brown's personality, as well as trouble with military authority, that became the basis for Croce's biggest hit, "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown." The studio recording is a classic, but Croce and Muehleisen show that they have an innate sense of the basic needs to perform the song with the same sense of style heard on the hit version. On every one of their songs, the men play with a harmony and an intimacy that few musical duos can match. Muehleisen was the perfect musical backbone on the stage, adding guitar that created a fuller sound, an occasional vocal support, and a smile that showed an appreciation of Croce's stories. Croce clearly enjoys telling the stories and playing his music.

The videos from Have You Heard tell three stories about Croce himself. The video for "Photographs And Memories" takes a look at Croce's life through the pictures of himself and his family. The video for "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song" shows the sheet music, Croce's hand-written lyrics, and shots of Croce and his wife, Ingrid. The video for "Time In A Bottle" shows filmed footage of Croce spending time with Ingrid and their son, A. J., on their Pennsylvania farm. The videos tell their stories in the same simple and affectionate way the singer told his tales to many an audience.

The DVD also has about twenty minutes of other footage related to Croce. Footage includes memories of Croce from (Kenny) Loggins & (Jim) Messina and Randy Newman, who toured with him, an excerpt of a documentary about Croce, and a rendition of "Roller Derby Queen" where the singer tells a different introductory story than the one in the main section. In both cases, Croce knows how to tell a story effortlessly - and only he knew for sure which parts of his stories were true. For all we know, both ladies could be the basis for the tune. The second section also includes the only known TV appearance of Jim and Ingrid singing together on the song "Spin, Spin, Spin," which was a track on their 1969 album. My favorite segment is a Sonny and Cher cover of "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" that is done in cartoon form, and originally aired on their variety show. The duo does a good cover, and the animation is simple and amusing. I especially like the part where Leroy does his King Kong imitation on top of the John Hancock building. As special as the musical footage was, I think this segment was a perfect complement to the performance footage. It shows how special the music of Jim Croce was to others.

The entire presentation also comes with commentary tracks. Ingrid Croce is interviewed by Redman for the concert and music videos. A. J. Croce narrates the remaining footage. Each offers a different perspective of Jim Croce. Ingrid has the memories of the life that made Jim Croce the musician he was, and was still a bit emotional when Redman asked her to recall the last time she and Jim spoke. A. J., who had not yet turned two when his father died, has had to learn about his life from people who, in some way, knew his father, as well as through his father's music. While the Croces provide plenty of insight, I wish Redman and the Croces had made their comments on a separate video track, or had been visually inserted at some point during their remarks. With all of the fans of Jim Croce's music, the family missed an opportunity to show themselves as they were in 2003. Ingrid even indicates that A. J., a musician in his own right, has become a parent himself. This is a minor complaint, as it in no way affects the overall presentation.

Even though his life ended at age thirty, Jim Croce left a legacy of songs and characters that are still remembered with great fondness. Not only was Croce an adept storyteller, but his words have influenced others to share their memories of his music with his wife and son. At the end of his life, Jim Croce had found some chart success and a big audience, but he never got to know the bigger success that was to come. Have You Heard adds some excellent visuals and performance footage, the latter of which had not been released in audio form (That changed in 2006, when Shout! Factory released the concert performances on CD, with one additional track). Jim Croce lamented being unable to save time in a bottle, but Have You Heard does the next best thing for the many who have been moved by his body of work.


This is an entry for Challenge Yourself 2007. I have previously reviewed Jim Croce's music, but never this video. Both have been outstanding additions to my music collection.

Thanks, Dave, for a new challenge and new rules.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12