You Don't Mess Around With Jim

Peak Week

#8 · 1972-09-02

It debuted at #60 on July 1, 1972. It entered the Top 40 3 weeks later. It reached the Top 10 after 8 weeks. It reached a peak of #8 on September 2, 1972. After 13 weeks, its final appearance came on September 23, 1972.

You Don't Mess Around With Jim: The Breakthrough Moment

Jim Croce's "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. You Don't Mess Around with Jim is the third studio album and major-label debut by American singer-songwriter Jim Croce; it released in April 1972 by ABC Records. History and release The album was recorded over a three- to four-week period for about $18,000, with most funding coming from the PolyGram Group in Baarn, the Netherlands, on the basis of hearing an eight-song demonstration tape assembled by production team Cashman & West. The deal with PolyGram was made after team attorney Phil Kurnit approached a contact within the record company, who then had PolyGram executives listen to the demo tape. The song peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 13 weeks on the chart.