Time in a Bottle

Composition

Croce wrote the lyrics after his wife Ingrid told him she was pregnant in December 1970.

The arrangement features a harpsichord that producer Tommy West discovered had been left in the mixing studio.

Reception

Cash Box magazine called the song "a sweet, tender ballad filled with Croce's magical vocal touch". Record World called it "an instant classic and an extremely moving record."

"Time in a Bottle" was the third posthumous Billboard number-one hit after "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding and "Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin.

After the single finished its two-week run at the top of the charts in early January 1974, the album You Don't Mess Around with Jim became No. 1 for five weeks.

In 1977 "Time in a Bottle" was used as the title of a compilation album of Croce's love songs.

Track listing

7" single (ABC-11405)

1. "Time in a Bottle" – 2:24
2. "Hard Time Losin' Man" – 2:23

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

All-time charts

Certifications

In popular culture

• The song was performed on a 1977 episode of The Muppet Show.
• The song was used in television commercials for Mateus wine in 1983.
• The song was sung by Leslie Chow (Ken Jeong) and Alan Garner (Zach Galifianakis) in an elevator in The Hangover Part II.
• The song was featured in X-Men: Days of Future Past in a slow-motion sequence showcasing the character Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver.
• In 2016, Apple released an iPhone 6s commercial called "Timer" which played some of "Time in a Bottle"; the commercial also features Sesame Streets Cookie Monster interacting with Siri.
• The song was featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Agatha All Along end credits for episode seven "Death's Hand in Mine".

References

References

1. Ruhlmann, William. "Jim Corce - You Don't Mess Around With Jim: Ratings & Reviews".
2. Breihan, Tom. (May 1, 2019). "The Number Ones: Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle"".
3. Whitburn, Joel. ''The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'', 7th edition, Billboard Books, 2000, p. 159.
4. Hyatt, Wesley. ''The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits'', Billboard Books, 1999, p. 132.
5. Eskow, Gary. (November 2009). "Classic Tracks: Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle"". Mix (magazine).
6. (November 17, 1973). "CashBox Record Reviews". Cash Box.
7. (November 17, 1973). "Hits of the Week".
8. Zellner, Xander. (June 27, 2018). "Artists Who Hit No. 1 On The Hot 100 Posthumously: XXXTentacion & More".
9. Whitburn, Joel. ''The Billboard Book of Top Pop Albums 1955–1985'', Record Research Inc., 1985, p. 88, 505.
10. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Time in a Bottle: Jim Croce's Greatest Love Songs". www.allmusic.com.
11. (1973). "Jim Croce – Time in a Bottle". discogs.
12. "Time in a Bottle (song by Jim Croce) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts".
13. "Top Singles – Volume 20, No. 23, January 19 1974".
14. "Adult Contemporary – Volume 20, No. 23, January 19 1974".
15. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1974".
16. "The RPM Year-End Charts: 1974".
17. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart".
18. Jackson, Don. (January 9, 2013). "Jim Croce hits Number 1 with 'Time in a Bottle'". [[WMJI]].
19. (April 30, 1983). "Marketing & Media Decisions". Decisions Publications.
20. (April 30, 1984). "Art Direction". Advertising Trade Publications..
21. (April 30, 1985). "Beverage World". Keller Publishing Corporation.
22. Board, Josh. (May 26, 2011). "MOVIE REVIEW: The Hangover Part II". SanDiego.com.
23. O'Connell, Sean. (May 23, 2014). "How Did They Film Quicksilver's Amazing X-Men: Days Of Future Past Scene?". Cinema Blend.
24. "Apple enlists help of Cookie Monster to highlight 'Hey Siri' in new iPhone 6s ad".
25. Erdmann, Kevin. (October 24, 2024). "Agatha All Along Episode 7 Easter Eggs & Marvel References".