Jim Croce Graces Cash Box Cover in March 1973
Singer-songwriter’s milestone feature highlights rise to fame with soulful hits and tunes.
Ratika holds a master's degree in commerce and a post-graduate diploma in communication and journalism from Mumbai University. She has 6 years of experience writing in various fields, such as finance, education, and lifestyle.
Read full bio of Ratika Pai
Image: Instagram
On March 10, 1973, folk-rock singer-songwriter Jim Croce landed the cover of Cash Box magazine, cementing his status as an emerging star in the early 1970s singer-songwriter movement. The image, shared decades later on Croce’s official Instagram account (@jimcroce), recalls the moment when industry insiders and fans alike took notice of his introspective lyrics and warm baritone.
Jim Croce’s Cash Box Milestone
Croce’s appearance on the March 10th issue came on the heels of his breakthrough single “Time in a Bottle,” which had climbed the charts following his tragic passing in September 1973. The magazine cover shot captures Croce seated with his signature acoustic guitar, dressed in a simple button-down and jeans, his gaze reflecting both humility and quiet confidence. In the Instagram caption, the team notes: “Jim appeared on the cover of Cash Box magazine on March 10th 1973.”
Cash Box, established in the 1940s, was then one of the industry’s leading trade publications, alongside Billboard and Record World. Featuring Croce on its cover signaled the publication’s recognition of his rapid rise, fueled by hits such as “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” and the posthumous success of “I Got a Name.”
Behind The Lens: ‘i Got A Name’ Session
Just months after the Cash Box cover shoot, photographer Benno Friedman captured Croce in a series of portraits for the back-to-back album photo sessions in August 1973. A related Instagram post from the @jimcroce archive presents three striking black-and-white images from that Benno Friedman session, taken during the making of Croce’s final studio album, I Got a Name.
Those photographs show Croce leaning against vintage amplifiers, strumming his guitar in natural light, and sketching lyrics in a notebook. The August session was intended to convey the themes of identity and legacy that define tracks like “I Got a Name” and “Age.”
Lyrics On Display
Croce’s Instagram feed also features a post spotlighting verses from his song “I’m Your New Friend” (later retitled on live recordings). An image of the handwritten lines “I’m walkin’ back to Georgia / And I hope she will take me back / Nothin’ in my pockets / And all I own is upon my back” underscores his storytelling gift—vignettes of longing, homecoming, and resilience that resonated deeply with 1970s audiences.
These archival posts not only celebrate Croce’s musical milestones but also give fans a window into his creative process and the aesthetic of early ’70s folk-rock.
By appearing on the March 1973 Cash Box cover, Jim Croce joined the ranks of contemporaries such as Carly Simon and Cat Stevens, artists who blended personal narrative with accessible melodies. Decades later, the Instagram retrospectives invite a new generation to rediscover his work and the era that shaped it.
Though his life was cut tragically short, Croce’s influence endures. From that pivotal magazine cover to the album art and lyric sheets preserved online, each image reinforces why his music continues to find fresh audiences nearly fifty years on.
Read full bio of Ratika Pai
