Bread – BREAD***

Dismal Day/London Bridge/Could I/Look At Me/The Last Time/Any Way You Want Me/Move Over/Don’t Shut Me Out/You Can’t Measure The Cost/Family Doctor/It Doesn’t Matter To Me/Friends & Lovers

The self titled debut album from the Los Angeles soft rock group Bread. Led by melodic songwriter David Gates they would become one of the most popular acts of the early 1970s. (US:127)

“Not the best album I’ve ever heard, but it is not as bad as their following albums at all. This is still pop, but definitely made in more artistic way than the other albums by Bread. Small signs of light psychedelia, post hippie - pre disco era. Some songs better, some worse, but overall feeling is satisfying.”

“Nice soft pop with lots of moping love songs I could relate to. Dismal Day seemed to sum up life at times and Gates had a way of making all things sad seem not so bad, something worth writing a song about.”

“This album by Bread is a definite plus for this group; a very strong debut for a band that I only wish hadn’t got tagged with the 'soft rock' label.”

“The music is excellent, reminiscent of a time when radio friendly rock music was softening and artist competition made for excellent songwriting. That's the period in a nutshell. Largely unnoticed even back then, Bread released solid hits that remain timeless.”

“Bread never claimed to be more than high quality pop/rock group and much of this sounds fresh as the day it was recorded. I rate these songs very highly.” “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 still enjoyable after many years, this self-titled album brings more rock and blues influenced material to the front. Fans of late 60s early 70s rock/pop should find much to enjoy with this release.”

“The first Bread album is clearly their best and the most promising. There is not one bad composition, either from a lyrical or musical perspective. These songs held lots of excitement suggesting a level of sophistication that they never again delivered.”