Relive Jim Croce’s “Operator” On Live On Kenny Rogers: Rollin’

A Few Months Before His Tragic Death

Jim Croce appeared on January 1973 on the Canadian music variety series “Rollin’ on the River” which was hosted by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. He performed “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” and “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)”. Check out his beautiful performance below.

“Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” was released on August 23, 1972 and it was the second single off his breakthrough LP “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim.” Although it only peaked at #17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, it spent 12 weeks on the chart. Croce drew inspiration from his military service when he used to see soldiers lining up to use the outdoor phone.

Ingrid Croce told SongFacts: “‘Operator’ is one of my favorite songs. I think it’s a pretty interesting song in the way in which it was composed. It’s probably like a lot of songs of Jim’s, but it’s one that I think a lot of people relate to in a whole bunch of different ways.”

Croce also performed “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” during an appearance on The Midnight Special. Although it didn’t crack the top 10, it remains as one of Croce’s most popular and enduring songs.