Bread

• Bread [Elektra, 1969] C-
• The Best of Bread [Elektra, 1973] B

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Bread [Elektra, 1969]
For years it has been my fond belief that a great rock band could be concocted of studio musicians. Professionals, you dig? Trained to communicate, with no hangups or pretensions. I was wrong because this is that group. It is super competent and super vapid, harmonizing tastefully on one well-executed "love song" after another. With a good beat, of course. If Crosby, etc. are the Limeliters of rock--and they are--then these guys are the Lettermen. C-

The Best of Bread [Elektra, 1973]
Though at times they sound like country-rock crossover of unprecedented spinelessness, this is basically prime pop--I thought "Everything I Own" was a better single than "Tumbling Dice." I only wish they reshuffled the lyrical clichés as skillfully as the musical ones. Even in fun I can't work up much feeling for an ass man as mendacious as David Gates. B