Bread (album)

Bread is the debut album by soft rock band Bread, released in September 1969 on Elektra Records. This album has been certified Double Platinum in Australia by the ARIA.^[4][5]

Bread
Studio album by Bread
Released	September 1969
Recorded	1969
Studio	Elektra, Hollywood, California
Genre	Soft rock
Length	35:29
Label	Elektra
Producer	Bread
Bread chronology
Bread (1969) On the Waters (1970)
Singles from Bread
"Dismal Day" Released: August 1968 "It Don't Matter to Me" Released: September 1970 (different recording than on album)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	(favorable)[2]
The Village Voice	C−[3]

Overview

Produced by Bread themselves, this album was recorded at Elektra Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California.^[4]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic described the album as "effectively the birth of Californian soft rock, as David Gates and compatriots blend the folk-rock of the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield with a distinctly British melodicism and a streak of sentimentality borrowed from McCartney. The result is a modest little gem, with more strange turns than you'd expect from their reputation -- including soaring falsettos, spiraling melodies, rough guitars, and, best of all, a set of tightly-written, appealing songs."^[1]

Track listing

Side one

1. "Dismal Day" (Gates) – 2:21
2. "London Bridge" (Gates) – 2:32
3. "Could I" (Griffin, Royer) – 3:31
4. "Look at Me" (Gates) – 2:43
5. "The Last Time" (Griffin, Royer) – 4:10
6. "Any Way You Want Me" (Griffin, Royer) – 3:16

Side two

1. "Move Over" (Griffin) – 2:36
2. "Don't Shut Me Out" (Gates) – 2:39
3. "You Can't Measure the Cost" (Gates) – 3:22
4. "Family Doctor" (Griffin, Royer) – 2:15
5. "It Don't Matter to Me" (Gates) – 2:41
6. "Friends and Lovers" (Griffin, Royer) – 3:54

Personnel

Bread

• David Gates – lead vocals, guitars, bass, organ, piano, RMI electric piano, Moog synthesizer, violin, viola, percussion
• James Griffin – lead vocals, guitars, percussion
• Robb Royer – backing vocals, guitar, bass, RMI electric piano, piano, flute, recorder, percussion

Additional personnel

• Jim Gordon – drums
• Ron Edgar – drums

Production

• Producer: Bread
• Engineer: Bruce Botnick
• Production supervisor: Jac Holzman
• Art direction: William S. Harvey, Coco Shinomiya
• Cover art concept: William S. Harvey
• Cover art: Abe Gurvin
• Design: Bryan Rackleff
• Photography: Ed Caraeff
• Liner Notes: Barry Alfonso

Charts

Chart (1969)	Position
US Pop Albums	127

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[6]	2× Platinum	140,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.