Bread
Biography
Bread was one of the most popular pop groups of the early '70s, earning a string of well-crafted, melodic soft rock singles, all of which were written by keyboardist/vocalist David Gates. A session musician and producer, Gates met in 1968 guitarist/vocalist James Griffin, who had already released a solo album called Summer Holiday. Griffin hired Gates to produce a new album, and the pair soon became a group, adding guitarist/vocalist Robb Royer from the band Pleasure Fair, who Gates had produced early in its career. The trio soon signed with Elektra Records, becoming one of the label's first pop bands. Naming themselves Bread, the group released its self-titled debut album in late 1968. Although it was filled with accessible, melodic soft rock that became the band's signature sound, the record had no hit singles.
With their second album, On the Waters, Bread established themselves as hitmakers. "Make It With You," the first single released from the album, became a number one hit, which led to "It Don't Matter to Me," a song taken from Bread, becoming a Top Ten hit. With On the Waters becoming a gold record, the group embarked on a tour, adding a full-time drummer, Mike Botts, to the lineup. Manna, released in the spring of 1971, wasn't as big a hit as the previous record, yet it launched another Top Ten hit with "If." Royer left the group after the album and was replaced by Larry Knechtel, a Los Angeles session musician who played on records by the Byrds, the Beach Boys, and the Monkees, among others. The new lineup released its first single, "Mother Freedom," in the summer of 1971; the single scraped the Top 40 at number 37. Bread's next single, "Baby I'm-a Want You," became a number three hit at the end of the year. After "Everything I Own" reached number five in January of 1972, an album called Baby I'm-a Want You was released. Peaking at number three, the record became the group's most successful album. The group's fifth album, Guitar Man, followed in the fall of 1972.
At the beginning of 1973, Bread disbanded after a dispute between Gates and Griffin. Griffin claimed that, when the group was conceived, the pair agreed that the singles would be divided equally between the two songwriters; Gates wrote most of Bread's hits and wanted to continue to compose the singles. The two parted ways, with each of the musicians pursuing solo careers. Bread reunited in 1976, releasing Lost Without Your Love in early 1977. The title track became their last Top Ten hit, peaking at number nine. The success could not keep the group together as tensions between Gates and Griffin began to escalate again. After Griffin split from the group, Gates assembled a new version of the band and toured under the name Bread. Griffin sued Gates for using the name, which the duo co-owned. A judge ordered the group not to perform, record, or collect royalty payments until the case was resolved; it wasn't resolved until 1984. In the meantime, Gates and Griffin pursued solo careers. Of the two musicians, Gates was more successful, scoring a number 15 hit in 1978 with the title theme to Goodbye Girl. However, his career declined in the '80s; by the '90s, he was running a California ranch. Griffin relocated to Nashville, forming Dreamer with Randy Meisner in the early '90s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Selected Discography

Definitive Collection
2006

Anthology Of Bread
1985

Guitar Man
1972

Baby I'm-A Want You
1972

Manna
1971
Bread was one of my favorite bands in the 70s. I bought one of their first albums and played it over and over. Still love to listen to them.
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I recorded Bread from albums to cassette in the early 70's. One song that is on the tape but I cannot find on line or on the albums I still have is called "Change of Heart", my favorite because of a relationship I had at the time. I know it exits because I have it on tape. I wonder if it was pulled off due to possible copywrite infringement . Any suggestions?
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New to Pandora and I love it. Bread is one of my favorites, but I can't find it, let alone hear it on the radio anymore. I named my daughter Aubrey - still pulls at my heart when I hear the song, even after so many years.
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I purchased an 8 track player in highschool with money saved up from my first job....my first ever 8 track I purchased was Bread.....I think I wore the words off the tape I played it so much! Brings me back many years!
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I am 18 again and in love with my high school boyfriend - far away from the present.
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i could listen to david gates sing all day. i consider myself heavy metal. guilty pleasure.
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Love, love Bread. It got me through a really tough time in my life. Listening to this song, takes me right back to that moment in time. That is what a good song does.
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aaaah when music had real meaning. i love Bread. thanks for the great memories.
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I believe it was Bresd that sang the song "Daughter". I would like to hear it.
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many memory;s at a time when things where a lot more of a care free life style bread is with out a dought a lasting memory;;;;;; ; ; ;
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I love their music. I played it a lot in grade and high school and now I like to listen to it at work. I can crank up my radio and no one gets offended!
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I have always loved Bread, their music is so beautiful. There will be no one else like them.
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I truly believe David Gates to be one of the most important American popular music songwriters. His influence will remain embedded in our song structure forever.
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Its just nice to listen to their music which happened to be one of my husband's favorites... Bread
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Love the BREAD, any time!
David Gates' 'Goodbye Girl' is one of my favorites as well. |
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A lttle sappy now, but what a flashback to the 70's and those first heart breaking romances. Damn I'm getting old!
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One of the best groups around,they were at the top for a long time..
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It's a shame there aren't really any groups producing ballads of this caliber anymore - how long has it been since a love song came out that EVERYONE wanted for the 1st song at their wedding? Bread had a bunch of them.
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This takes me back to when I was just starting to date and have fun as a teen. Young guitar players trying to woo us with their coffee house brand of music.
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a coworker just said there's a weird TIE between this band's demise and Air Supply's rise to fame-- Any conspiracy theory there fans?? mesg me
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"if" was a great wedding song. it was for mine 32 years ago. and we still love it as well as each other.
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What a great, soft, romantic album to "set the mood". The Best of Bread is responsible for much of the romantic success I enjoyed while in my late teens and early twenties.
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Hard to get any better than this great group,every song they recorded was wonderful,"B R E A D " was one of many favorites of mine..DAVID GATES had a great voice,He still does,saw him on a country show a couple of months ago,still has a nice soft voice but is much older now,wonder why??just like me I guess,"Bread " was so darn good back in time..Thanks Pandora
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great music for a crapy day. brings me back to a slower time when music was enjoyed not just listened to.
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Bread will always be a classic! Their music is timeless. I never get tired of listening to them J.
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I love lsitening to Bread. It's been ages since I've heard a song and when I found Pandora, it instantly took me back 36 years to that teenager I was at that time. I could even tell you what I was wearing!! Incredible is all I can say! Thanks!
Susan Wondrusch |
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