Bread

Welcome to Rock and Roll Flashback!  I'm Bill Price, and in this episode of Rock and Roll Flashback, we’ll take a look at Bread, one of the bands that emerged during the late 1960's, but did not hit it big until the beginning of the 1970's.

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Transcript

In this episode of Rock and Roll Flashback, we’ll take a look at Bread, one of the bands that emerged during the late 1960's, but did not hit it big until the beginning of the 1970's.

As the 1970's began a new trend developed in Rock music, a style that was significantly toned down from that of the late 60's. Bread was one of the first bands to record and have several songs on the Billboard Hot 100 in the style termed Soft Rock.  The band’s leader David Gates was originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Interestingly, David knew future rock star Leon Russell.  They both gained experience by performing in bar bands in the Tulsa area. Eventually both David and Leon decided to go to California to examine the music scene. Interestingly, Leon would go on to become a Los Angeles session musician and a Rock star. Gates worked with Robb Royer’s former band called The Pleasure Fair, who recorded an album, which Gates produced and arranged. Royer later introduced Gates to Jimmy Griffin who became his songwriting collaborator. In 1968 Gates, Royer and Griffin became a trio and signed with Electra Records in January 1969. Gates recounted the story of how the band’s name was derived. They had been considering names like Bush and Telephone Pole. Then a bread truck drove by, and initially the name Bread Truck was suggested, but then it was changed to just Bread.

The first single titled “Dismal Day” was released in June 1969, but failed to chart. Their debut album called Bread was released in September and managed to achieve the #127 position on the Billboard 200. Session musicians Jim Gordon and Ron Edgar supported the band for the recording. Bread’s first concert performance took place at the Aquarius Theater in Hollywood, California on July 25th, 1969, where they opened for The Flying Burrito Brothers. Since Gordon was a session musician, his schedule often conflicted with the bands’ performances, so eventually he was replaced by Mike Botts, as the new drummer.  The second album titled On the Waters, was released on July 1970, peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 200. The album produced the number one hit single titled “Make It With You”, which became Bread’s only #1 hit on the Hot 100.

Here is Bread’s first hit single from 1970,  “Make It With You”.   

The next single released, also in 1970, was a re-recorded version of  “It Don’t Matter To Me”, a song from their first album. The single also became a hit, reaching the #10 position. The band then began touring and also recorded the third album titled Manna, which reached the #21 position. The album also included the song titled “Let Your Love Go”, which reached the #28 spot and  “If’” which became a Top five hit single.  

Here is Bread’s second single  “It Don’t Matter To Me”.     

In the summer of 1971, Royer left the band due to conflicts with the other group members.  Royer was then replaced by Larry Knechtel, who had previously played piano and harpsichord on The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds album and on Simon and Garfunkel’s single, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. In January 1972, the album titled Baby I’m A Want You was released, which would go on to become their most successful album, peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200. In 1971, I was working at an FM radio station playing Rock music. In the latter part of the year before the album was released the title song “Baby I’m A Want You” peaked at #3. I remember playing the song several times during that time, which generated a few listener calls to the radio station. Every time I hear the song, it always takes me back to that time at the FM station.

In 1972, the follow up single titled “ Everything I Own” reached the #5 position and “Diary” peaked at #15.  Regarding the song “ Everything I Own”, listeners assumed it was a song about a broken relationship. However, Gates stated that the song was written in memory of his father, who had passed away in 1963 before the success of Bread.  

Here is Bread’s recording of “ Everything I Own”.  

The next album release was titled Guitar Man and peaked at #18.  The album produced three top twenty hits.  The title track, “The Guitar Man”, reached the #11 position, “Sweet Surrender” and “Aubrey” both peaked at #15. Interestingly Gates wrote “Aubrey” after watching the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s, starring Audrey Hepburn. Instead of using Hepburn’s first name, the name was modified to Aubrey.

Here is Gates’ 1973 composition of  “Aubrey”.    

In spite of Bread’s success, by 1973 the band grew tired from constant touring and recording. The strain between Gates and Griffin increased, especially with Griffin’s dissatisfaction with the songs planned for the sixth album. Just before they were to perform at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah in June 1973, their instruments and associated equipment were destroyed in a truck accident. This prompted Bread to make the decision to disband. Gates and Griffin pursued solo careers, but only achieved mixed results. 

Then in 1976 the band reunited, when the Elektra Record label expressed interest in another Bread album. Gates, Griffin, Botts and Knechtel recorded the album titled Lost Without Your Love which was released in January 1977. Once the title track was released as a single, it peaked at #9 on the singles chart, making it the band’s last Top ten hit. Elektra Records released the single titled “Hooked On You”, but it was less successful, only reaching the #60 position on the pop chart. The band then toured during the spring of 1977, however after a brief break they resumed touring but without Griffin due to continuing tensions with Gates. As the year ended, there were no further plans to record as a band.

In 1996 with their differences settled, Gates, Griffin, Botts and Knechtel reunited for a final tour titled “Twenty Fifth Anniversary”, which included the US, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, the UK and Asia. The tour was extended into 1997, which turned out to be the last time Bread would perform. At the conclusion of the tour, Gates and the other members resumed their solo careers. 

In 2005 Jimmy Griffin and Mike Botts passed away at the age of sixty one. And in 2009 Larry Knechtel passed away at the age of sixty nine. Robb Royer continued his work in music, and subsequently relocated to the Virgin Islands, and David Gates retired from the music industry and lived in his home in Washington state. In 2006 Bread was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.  Bread’s discography encompasses six studio albums, thirteen compilation albums, and sixteen singles.

I’ll conclude the podcast with Bread’s #3 hit from 1971 “Baby I’m A Want You”.  This has been a look back at the career of the Soft Rock band called Bread. And until next time, I’m your host Bill Price.