Bread (album)

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