The Best of Bread
If they are to believed, David Gates and the other members of Bread never intended to become the enduring icons of a subgenre they virtually invented: soft rock. Indeed, scattered throughout this expanded edition of a perennial bestselling catalog album are tuneful evidence of their original intent, as one band mate said, "to make the '60s last a little longer." But it's the familiar, largely Gates-penned and -sung hit singles that remain the band's legacy, from "Make It with You" through the reunited band's last hurrah, "Lost Without Your Love." Though they've become oft-mocked clichés, these are singles informed with a rare, often complex melodic sense, delivered with a deceptively breezy tone by one of pop's purest tenors. Gates and Bread clearly colored artists as diverse as '80s MOR icon Christopher Cross and nouveau singer-songwriter David Mead. --Jerry McCulley
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The Best of Bread Reviews
"Everything I Own" is a love ballad that strikes me with its beauty; this is a true blue love song and the slight rock flavor makes it stronger. It's only too bad they didn't spend even more time together as a band than they did. "Let Your Love Go" reverts again to a harder rock sound that Bread carries well; the guitars work and they harmonize flawlessly. There's another gem in "Truckin'." "Truckin'" really rocks and it's a great addition to this album. "Everything I Own" is truly a highlight of this album. The guitar work enhances the natural loveliness of this number; and they never miss a beat, either.
"If" is yet another raw emotion, touching ballad that I could never forget. The album ends strong with Bread performing "Lost Without Your Love;" this poignant song haunts me with its beauty and it leaves you begging for more. This CD is perhaps best used as a starter CD for people who want to know if they're going to like Bread; diehard fans will want to search out more comprehensive releases including the two CD set entitled Retrospective which is available for sale on this website. The album starts with "Make It With You;" this is really a wonderful soft rock ballad. "Sweet Surrender" shines brightly as Bread takes this into the stratosphere; and I also think highly of "He's A Good Lad." Bread handles the key modulations like the pros they always were and they handle the spotlight very wellwhich was, of course, right where they belonged. They sing and play so well. Listen also for "Mother Freedom." "Mother Freedom" rocks harder and the guitars use some chords we didn't really hear in some of the "lighter" rock ballads so far on this disc; but "Mother Freedom" works well on many levels and I enjoy it whenever I heard it.
There's also "Baby I'm-A Want You" which gets the royal treatment from these very special artists; and there's another fine number in "It Don't Matter To Me." "It Don't Matter To Me" touches me greatly; and the raw feeling with which Bread performs this makes this number instantly memorable and a knock-out classic. "Aubrey" gives us Bread doing another very tender love ballad; they perform this with such a fragile sense of raw emotion that you'll have a hard time forgetting "Aubrey." It's all THAT good. Wow, how Bread could put out a tune. The Best Of Bread is a great single CD compilation of some incredibly fine tunes from Bread. "Too Much Love" is another great song from Bread that I don't hear as often as I would like to hear it; I think you'll enjoy "Too Much Love" is this type of music is what you like.
The vocals are perfect and the special musical effects make this sublime. The sound quality is excellent and the artwork reflects good judgment. "If" is classic soft rock at its very best. Some people may say that Bread painted love relationships a little too darkly; but I believe that these tunes are remarkably beautiful, full of raw emotion and timeless. Bread could take a song and make it so very special with their incredible arrangements.
The Best Of Bread gives us a lot of hits that this band put out while they were together; and I love that.
These guys were the best.
He wrote I Would Give Everything I Own originally after the death of his father, and later rewrote it as a love song.
If you liked Bread back when, you'll love this album.
Also the jacket info told me what I've always suspected: David Gates, who wrote most of the songs, is more than your normal rocker.
He shows a love for family and a wholesomeness that's pretty unusual in the field.
Daughter, Daughter is a song about waiting for the right person.
Enjoyed their music in the '70's and it's just as good now.
music to lay around with your lady and listen to. very sensual and mood setting
Get a slice of Bread, make it uniquely yours, or share it with someone you care for: I'm buying a copy to give my 16 year-old daughter. I will go ahead and say what few men will and that is this: I have sung my heart out many times throughout my life with this album - at times sobbing or wistful, other times filled with joy and hope - but sing along I did, as you will when you get this classic. This compilation harkens back to an earlier, better, sweeter time and these songs are just as easy to listen to alone as they are with the one you love. Their sound reminds me of Seals and Crofts, who too can bring me to tears. My highest recommendation.
The songs "Make It With You","Look What You've Done(a personal favorite)", "If",and you get so much more. I do hope they release Best of Bread Vol 2 one day(another excellent collection of songs). "Let Your Love Go" proves the group can rock and I am glad they included "Lost Without Your Love". What can I say about Bread who I started listening to on 8track when I was nine but, awesome. These guys are talented beyond words and two of them wrote "For All We Know" which was recorded by The Carpenters. David Gates,James Griffin,Mike Botts,Robb Royer,Larry Knechtel, and Jim Gordon(who drummed on the first album), thank you for all the wonderful music. All these songs are excellent on this collection. Highly reccommended.
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