<Tr> <Th> Source </Th> <Th> Rating </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Allmusic </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <P> You Don't Mess Around with Jim is the third studio album by American singer - songwriter Jim Croce, released in 1972 . </P> <P> The album was recorded over a three to four week period for approximately $18,000, with most funding coming from the PolyGram Group in Baarn, the Netherlands on the basis of hearing an 8 - song demo 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 to listen to the demo tape . After having the finished album rejected by up to 40 record labels, Croce was signed to ABC Records after Cashman & West had a chance meeting with ABC promotion man Marty Kupps . Kupps urged label head Jay Lasker to sign Croce after hearing cuts from a cassette tape of the finished album . </P>

Who sings don't mess around with jim