Cures Just Like Medicine

Album: Just Like Medicine (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A.J. Croce's father, the acclaimed singer-songwriter Jim Croce, died in 1973 when A.J. was 2. In 2018 A.J. faced tragedy again when his wife Marlo died.

    The song "Cures Just Like Medicine" is a tribute to her, released in 2017 before she died. In 2019 A.J. released a video for the song and added these notes:

    "It was a love letter to my best friend. When she passed away suddenly of a rare illness, I felt lost. It's taken time for me to be able to feel creative again. I felt that I needed to send her a posthumous love letter in gratitude for the life we shared. So this video is just that, a thank you note to my muse."
  • The song is part of Croce's album Just Like Medicine, one of his most personal. Some soul music legends contributed to the album: It was produced by Dan Penn (known for his work with Aretha Franklin), and musicians include David Hood of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Steve Cropper of Booker T & the MG's.
  • Croce talked to Listen Iowa about what led him to write this song: "I had written hundreds of songs for her, but that particular song I wrote during a tough time. I was broke, moving from California to Tennessee, and wasn't sure about my future. I was starting over in a lot of ways. But we had each other. That's what the song is about. Having that person in your life that is with you no matter what."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"They're Playing My Song

Armed with a childhood spent devouring books, Mike Scott's heart was stolen by the punk rock scene of 1977. Not surprisingly, he would go on to become the most literate of rockers.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.