Search - Bread :: Essentials

Just the hits ma'am....just the hits

Paul Tognetti | Cranston, RI USA | 01/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the waning days of Top 40 radio one of the most popular groups on the radio was Bread. Led by singer-songwriter David Gates, Bread would amass an impressive total of nine Top 20 records during the years 1970 thru 1973. This 2005 import release "Essentials" is really an abridged version of a 24 track offering that was first released in 2002. For my money this new abridged version is all the Bread you'll ever need.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1968, David Gates and Bread would quickly establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the Billboard Hot 100. "Make It With You" went all the way to the top of the charts in the summer of 1970. And the hits just kept on comin'!!!! Over the next couple of years "It Don't Matter To Me", "If", "Baby I'm-A Want You" and "Everything I Own" all became Top 10 smashes. Some of my favorite Bread tunes were among those that did not quite make it into the Top 10. Songs like "Diary", "The Guitar Man" and "Sweet Surrender", all released in 1972, were terrific pop tunes. And does anyone out there remember "Let Your Love Go"? All of the aforementioned tunes are included in this 12 track collection.

If there was a valid criticism of Bread it was that most of their songs really sounded alike. That is why I was pleased to come across "Essentials". Other collections like the 1990 release "Anthology" include far too much filler for my taste.

No, in this particular case less is better. "Essentials' offers 12 of Bread's 13 charted hits. One tune that might have been included here was David Gates solo smash "Goodbye Girl" from 1977. But in the final analysis "Essentials" offers the songs that most people would be looking for at a very affordable price. Recommended."