There’s nothing quite like the Sound of Bread. Since they were first formed in 1969, they have produced some of the most serious-romantic style songs. They alternate fast songs with slow ones and in doing so help to get the whole sound of Bread. This album features 20 of their most popular hits of the 70s in a high energy album. I was only a young child when this was released but I remember my older brothers playing these tunes back in the 70s.

The band came together when three studio musicians David Gates, Robb Royer and James Griffin decided to use their talents for their own work. The trio knew each other via a group called Pleasure faire.

Their hit single Make It with You (Side One) gave them immediate success and later It Don’t Matter to Me clinched another topper for them. Five albums and a string of hit singles between 1970 and 1972 kept the band almost constantly in the charts. They changed their lineup twice in that time adding drummer Mike Botts and substituting Larry Knechtel for Robb Royer (who left to concentrate on songwriting).

On Side One Dismal Day features a strange high-pitched vocal from David Gates, but is also an appealing, lively hippy-ish track. There are so many (for me) undiscovered gems here, apart from the well-known hits. Another one is the harmonious and rocky The Last Time. Let Your Love Go rocks more than I ever thought Bread could. The rock spin continues on the infectious country twist Truckin'. But their best come in the song If that has a very heartening tune to it.

Gates top hit Baby I’m a want You as songwriter and singer has a lot of freshness, a statement that lyrically means a lot to whoever he wanted to address it to. Diary with its bland melody is a melodramatic piece about someone who finds and misinterprets the diary of the girl he’s in love with, pledging his life to her. The same sentiment is felt in Everything I Own.

The way the band performs Down on My Knees is strongly reminiscent of the Beatles in terms of harmony and guitar solos and the chord build up and Griffin’s vocals on the song. It is not all contemplative romantic material, but lovers have ended their all night parties listening to  Sweet Surrender is a lovely mid-tempo laid-back number with some great guitar, while Guitar Man was another huge hit, again quite rightly, it is packed with both instrumental and vocal hooks. 

It is all very typically early seventies stuff - clear, airy, breezy vocals (in the style of America and many other country rock groups), razor sharp vocals some Beatles influence also as mentioned before. Many of the tracks are surprisingly upbeat and rhythmic, gently rocking.

This soft rock band was popular, having several hits in the 1970's. Their music still sounds fresh today - featuring unique vocal talent, amazing musicianship, and artistic songwriting. If you haven't heard of 'Bread', I recommend listening to such tracks as If, Everything I Own and Baby I’m a want You, to get hooked instantly.

Label: Elektra (released in India on Polydor)

Release: 1977

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira