Original Album Series

Bread was a rock band from Los Angeles, California. They placed 13 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1970 and 1977 and were a prime example of soft rock. The band consisted of David Gates, Jimmy Griffin, Robb Royer, Mike Botts who joined in the summer of 1969 and Larry Knechtel who replaced Royer in 1971. Before forming Bread, Gates had worked with Royer's previous band, The Pleasure Fair. Royer introduced Gates to his songwriting partner, Griffin, and the trio joined together in 1968 choosing the name "Bread" in 1969. Their debut album, Bread, was released in September 1969 and peaked at No. 127 on the Billboard 200. Songwriting on the album was split evenly between Gates and the team of Griffin-Royer. Jim Gordon, a session musician, accompanied the band on drums for the album. In the summer of 1969, Bread did some concerts with Gordon on drums But when Gordon's schedule conflicted and he proved unavailable for future outings, they quickly brought in Mike Botts as their permanent drummer. Botts appeared on their second album, On the Waters (peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard 200). This time their efforts quickly established Bread as a major act with the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit "Make It with You" in 1970, which was Bread's only No. 1 on the Hot 100. Their third album was the 1971 release titled Manna (#21), which included the Top 5 hit single, "If". As with the first album, songwriting credits were split evenly between Gates and Griffin-Royer. Royer left the group after three albums, although he would continue to write with Griffin, and was replaced by Larry Knechtel, a leading Los Angeles session musician in 1970. In January 1972 Bread released Baby I'm-a Want You, their fourth and most successful album, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The title song was established as a hit in late 1971 before the album was released, also hitting No. 3. Follow-up singles "Everything I Own" and "Diary" also went Top 20. The Fifth album, Guitar Man, was released ten months later and went to No. 18. The album produced three Top 20 singles, "The Guitar Man" (#11), "Sweet Surrender" (#15), and "Aubrey" (#15), with the first two going to No. 1 on Billboard's adult contemporary chart. Unfortunately, this collection contains the vast majority of the Bread repertory. These songs are very soft rock and some even work as country or folk. The sound of these albums is sharp and clear. Highly recommended for those who enjoy soft rock. You can get this set through the Amazon marketplace for a bit under four dollars per CD delivered. That's a bargain that's hard to pass up.

good cd

I give this a five star rating because it has a lot of great music.! I read in one of the ratings that the buyer mostly liked the set, but that Bread doesn't sing any songs that rock. Not true. There are several tunes that rock like ,Freedom, Truckin', This Isn't What The Government. All very good songs. I consider this a very good purchase. I now have all the great songs that they left off the Ultimate Bread CD

Once again Rhino screws up another of their "Original Album Series" by having different playback levels for different albums. It's nice to get these 5 album series so I can create my own playlist of a particular artist using my computer, but with different levels between albums, there is no way to play such a playlist back without having to change the volume level on the playback unit. As is usual with this series' releases, it is bare bones: each disc is housed in an original album art cardboard sleeve w/all 5 albums slipped inside a slightly bigger box (nice for taking up minimal shelf space); no bonus tracks or information (other than song titles), so I do not know if the set is re-mastered (although the songs sound great).

I would indefinitely say it is worth it

Really enjoyable collection, wanted to hear and experience the original LP releases without having to go look for record copies, also to hear the music without the later post processing added in digital remastered greatest hits collections, definitely recommend for lovers of Bread wanting to get back to original flavor.

Just bought this five album set, to just have new copies of my bread albums, on vinyl and c.d. I have bread records since the beginning, 1969, truly one of the best bands ever, singing, songwriting, totally not just a soft, syrupy ballad band that they are labeled, tho, nobody writes a heartfelt ballad like David Gates, that can bring you to your knees emotionally.

Bread was one of my favorite bands. This set has the songs just as I remember them. The sound is great and this has a large selection of songs. If you like Bread. You can't go wrong with this collection. Just to name a few songs:London Bridge, Any way you want me, Make it with you, Look what you've done. Let your love go, Truckin', If, Baby I'm a want you, Everything I own, Diary, Guitar Man, Aubrey, Yours for Life. And so many more.Love this deal!

Envío muy rápido. Buena aquisición.

Many great tunes from a great soft 60/70 band although there are a handful good rocking tunes within. Cds are great quality audio. Package is decent (try to let cds drop to your hand from sleeves so you don't get finger prints on them). for price definitely recommend.

Zeitreise mit The Bread- Die schönsten Lieder sind auf diesem Paket enthalten und nur zu empfehlen für diesen smarten Preis!

Me encanta esta banda, escuchar sus canciones es una excelente experiencia auditiva

I love the Original Album Series. It is a cost effective way of adding artists and their albums to your music collection and much better than the 'hit and miss' compilations on offer. I was introduced to Bread a couple of years ago by a friend and I thought I had no right or reason to be drawn to their music. I simply thought I shouldn't and couldn't like them - how wrong I was. These five albums possess such an accomplished feel and depth that they have become an essential part of my music collection and my life. 'Bread' the 1968 debut album is melancholic folk rock - "Loneliness comes and stays, torturing nights and days" writes and sings David Gates on 'Look At Me.' Surely one of the greatest songwriters there has been. Their second album, 1970's 'On The Waters' introduces keyboards to Bread's music and expands musically from the debut. It could be described as the birth of soft rock, as is apparent on the single 'Make It With You.' I am currently listening to David Gates' 'First' while writing this review and it's musical kinship with Bread's third album - 1971's 'Manna' is obvious with it's lush string arrangements and piano based compositions. The harder edged and aptly titled 'Guitar Man' and, 'Baby I'm A Want You' - both released in 1972, make up the albums included in this collection. The band had introduced steel guitar and fiddle to the music by now which gave the albums a honky tonk, country tinged feel. 'Guitar Man' includes the hardest rocking song they ever did - 'Telecota.' Bread released a comeback album 'Lost Without Your Love' in 1977 which received only lukewarm reviews and isn't included here. These albums aren't remastered and the cardboard replicas of the original albums are difficult to read without glasses, but it is the music which is important and the words and music of David Gates, Rob Royer, James Griffin, Mike Botts and Larry Knechtel have brought me hours of pleasure and satisfaction for which I am grateful.