Bread

Bread

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 1969
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B000MGVCGI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,343 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

CD reissue of the classic debut album from California soft-rockers Bread, led by the skilled songwriting of main man David Gates and masterful guitar playing of James Griffin. Originally released in 1969, the album reached #127 on the Billboard Pop Album charts and features the hit single 'It Don’t Matter To Me'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1st album a stunning debut, February 23, 2001

By	Timothy Cummings (Aurora, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bread (Audio CD)

This album by Bread is a definite plus for this group; a very strong debut for a band that I only wish wouldn't have gotten tagged with the "soft rock" label. I prefer the James Griffin-Robb Royer songs more than the Gates penned tunes here, although all of them have a certain amount of sentimental quality to me. Standout tracks are "Move Over", "Could I", which has Beatles all over it. "Friends and Lovers", is pretty sweet too. I like the original version of "It Don't Matter To Me" for it's demo-ish quality. It's nice to hear a different version than the one I grew up with. This music was a mainstay in my house when I was a small boy in the early-mid 70's, but it's only been within the last few years that I bought all the albums, vinyl of course. Great album, and highly recommeded, as are all of them! Buy it, mello out, and let your mind go back in time to when bands like Bread had stellar musicianship before the 90's came along and became boy band based!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of Bread? That's how the group started out!, May 8, 2003

By	CWC (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bread (Audio CD)

I remember my weekly jaunts to my favorite record store. While thumbing the record bins during the holidays in 1969, I happened on this album. I had never heard of "Bread" and actually decided to purchase it because of the band's name and the album cover design. I was pleasantly surprised with the selection of songs I found... fun, pensive, thoughtful, and a bit of rock punch. Although not a totally cohesive ensemble for a classic album concept, this vinyl got a lot of play on my ol' record player. Delving into the album and the songs that each of the three artisits, Gates, Griffin, and Royer, wrote, it is fun to piece each singer's tunes together. Each seemed to have their own individual style and creativity, but fit together very well for my tastes.

Some of my favorite on the album are "Dismal Day," "London Bridge," "The Last Time," "Don't Shut Me Out," and "Friends and Lovers." Listeners will have fun, too, with the original "It Don't Matter To Me." This version has a much faster, up-beat tempo than most fans remember when it was released as a single some four years later.

Critics loved the album, but for reasons I can't understand to this day, it did not sell very well... some 30,000+ albums. I have heard some reflection that this album was released the same time that Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young released their debut album. While that could be true, frankly I don't see a comparison to CSNY and Bread. Bread's initial outing was more rock-orientated and appealing to a wider audience to me while CSNY empahsised more folk-based music to me. Ultimately, the good news was that "the music didn't die" here (if I can borrow a classic line) with this first album and Bread went on to give us many more memorable songs and wonderful moments and memories.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Early and Overlooked, October 6, 2008

By	R. Langdon "Scriptor" (Four Oaks, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It is perhaps impossible to think of Bread without associating them with the laid back, syrupy ballads that made them famous. However, their first release reveals that they had a lot more to offer. In fact, while I find their "hits" to be enjoyable still after many years, this self-titled album brings more rock and blues influenced material to the front. I find this album very enjoyable overall. Fans of late 60's early 70's rock/pop should also find much to enjoy with this release. If you just like the radio hits, a best of collection might be good enough for you. But if you want more Bread that shows the true versatility of this talented group, this is one to own. The tight vocal harmonies and the style of writing that made them a household word in the 70's are there, but be prepared for much more.

- Scriptor