Music Metrics Vault

Bread

Data updated on 2025-03-28 07:19:38 UTC
Bread was one of the most popular pop groups of the early 1970s, earning a string of well-crafted, melodic soft rock singles, all of which were written by keyboardist/vocalist David Gates. A session musician and producer, Gates met in 1968 guitarist/vocalist James Griffin, who had already released a solo album called Summer Holiday. Griffin hired Gates to produce a new album, and the pair soon became a group, adding guitarist/vocalist Robb Royer from the band Pleasure Fair, whom Gates had produced early in their career. The trio soon signed with Elektra Records, becoming one of the label's first pop bands. Naming themselves Bread, the group released their self-titled debut album in late 1968. Although it was filled with accessible, melodic soft rock that became the band's signature sound, the record had no hit singles.

With their second album, On the Waters, Bread established themselves as hitmakers. "Make It with You," the first single released from the album, became a number one hit, which led to "It Don't Matter to Me," a song taken from Bread, becoming a Top Ten hit. With On the Waters becoming a gold record, the group embarked on a tour, adding a full-time drummer, Mike Botts, to the lineup. Manna, released in the spring of 1971, wasn't as big a hit as the previous record, yet it launched another Top Ten single with "If." Royer left the group after the album and was replaced by Larry Knechtel, a Los Angeles session musician who played on records by the Byrds, the Beach Boys, and the Monkees, among others. The new lineup released its first single, "Mother Freedom," in mid-1971; the song scraped the Top 40 at number 37. Bread's next single, "Baby I'm-a Want You," became a number three hit at the end of the year. After "Everything I Own" reached number five in January of 1972, an album called Baby I'm-a Want You was released. Peaking at number three, the record became the group's most successful album. The group's fifth album, Guitar Man, followed in October 1972.

At the beginning of 1973, Bread disbanded after a dispute between Gates and Griffin. Griffin claimed that, when the group was conceived, the pair agreed that the singles would be divided equally between the two songwriters; Gates wrote most of Bread's hits and wanted to continue to compose the singles. The two parted ways, with each of the musicians pursuing solo careers. Bread reunited in 1976, releasing Lost Without Your Love in early 1977. The title track became their last Top Ten hit, peaking at number nine. The success could not keep the group together as tensions between Gates and Griffin began to escalate again. After Griffin split from the group, Gates assembled a new version of the band and toured under the name Bread. Griffin sued Gates for using the name, which the duo co-owned. A judge ordered the group not to perform, record, or collect royalty payments until the case was resolved; it wasn't resolved until 1984. In the meantime, Gates and Griffin pursued solo careers, and Gates scored a number 15 hit in 1978 with the title theme to Goodbye Girl. However, his career declined in the '80s, and by the '90s, he was running a California ranch. Griffin relocated to Nashville, forming Dreamer with Randy Meisner in the early 1990s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Genres

: soft rock

Total plays

2.5 billion
Updated on 2025-03-28

Social media links

Monthly listeners

5,383,260

Followers

1,874,670

Top Cities

  1. Philippines
    235,645 listeners
  2. Indonesia
    82,869 listeners
  3. Philippines
    118,267 listeners
  4. Philippines
    103,463 listeners
  5. Philippines
    128,242 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Everything I Own - 45 Version
Everything I Own - 45 Version
283,947,495 3:06 1972-01-01
Everything I Own
Everything I Own
283,791,546 3:07 1972-01-01
Make It with You
Make It with You
248,828,131 3:12 1970-01-01
Make It with You - 2015 Japan Remaster
Make It with You - 2015 Japan Remaster
248,559,099 3:18 2017-10-27
Make It With You
Make It With You
248,559,099 3:18 2021-01-01
If
If
182,620,282 2:36 1971-01-01
If
If
182,504,840 2:33 2012-01-01
Guitar Man
Guitar Man
135,089,251 3:46 1972-01-01
The Guitar Man
The Guitar Man
134,945,578 3:45 2007-01-23
Guitar Man
Guitar Man
134,945,578 3:45 2012-11-16
Baby I'm-a Want You
Baby I'm-a Want You
112,254,690 2:31 1972-01-01
Aubrey
Aubrey
69,527,581 3:39 1972-01-01
Lost Without Your Love
Lost Without Your Love
58,459,717 2:55 1973-06-01
Diary
Diary
44,313,727 3:09 1972-01-01
It Don't Matter to Me
It Don't Matter to Me
23,056,499 2:43 1969-01-01
Sweet Surrender
Sweet Surrender
18,904,162 2:37 1972-01-01
Look What You've Done
Look What You've Done
9,616,238 3:11 1970-01-01
Too Much Love
Too Much Love
6,558,257 2:47 1971-01-01
Hooked on You
Hooked on You
5,735,913 2:21 1977-01-01
Mother Freedom
Mother Freedom
5,173,503 2:36 1972-01-01
Just Like Yesterday
Just Like Yesterday
4,507,300 2:16 1972-01-01
Belonging
Belonging
4,174,763 3:19 1977-01-01
Down on My Knees
Down on My Knees
4,127,879 2:45 1972-01-01
Let Your Love Go
Let Your Love Go
3,477,608 2:26 1971-01-01
Dismal Day
Dismal Day
3,324,735 2:22 1969-01-01
Dismal Day
Dismal Day
3,323,449 2:14 2007-01-23
Truckin'
Truckin'
2,943,720 2:33 1971-01-01
Games of Magic
Games of Magic
2,847,852 3:10 1972-01-01
Yours for Life
Yours for Life
2,837,699 3:21 1972-01-01
London Bridge
London Bridge
2,835,063 2:32 1969-01-01
Today's the First Day
Today's the First Day
2,685,422 3:26 1977-01-01
The Last Time
The Last Time
2,646,499 4:10 1969-01-01
The Chosen One
The Chosen One
2,337,749 4:40 1977-01-01
He's a Good Lad
He's a Good Lad
2,305,359 3:01 1971-01-01
He's A Good Lad
He's A Good Lad
2,305,359 2:56 2012-01-01
She's the Only One
She's the Only One
2,223,995 2:57 1985-08-13
Any Way You Want Me
Any Way You Want Me
2,212,194 3:15 1969-01-01
Daughter
Daughter
2,209,436 3:24 1972-01-01
The Other Side of Life
The Other Side of Life
2,184,422 2:03 1970-01-01
The Other Side Of Life
The Other Side Of Life
2,184,422 2:03 2021-01-01
Fancy Dancer
Fancy Dancer
1,683,898 3:33 1972-01-01
Take Comfort
Take Comfort
1,643,754 3:33 1971-01-01
Make It by Yourself
Make It by Yourself
1,586,730 3:50 1972-01-01
I Want You with Me
I Want You with Me
1,579,000 2:52 1970-01-01
I Want You With Me
I Want You With Me
1,579,000 2:53 2021-01-01
Been Too Long on the Road
Been Too Long on the Road
1,534,265 4:52 1970-01-01
Friends and Lovers
Friends and Lovers
1,533,463 3:55 1969-01-01
Come Again
Come Again
1,412,466 4:03 1971-01-01
In the Afterglow
In the Afterglow
1,365,228 2:36 1970-01-01
In The Afterglow
In The Afterglow
1,365,228 2:38 2021-01-01
Didn't Even Know Her Name
Didn't Even Know Her Name
1,363,215 3:11 1972-01-01
Picture in Your Mind
Picture in Your Mind
1,238,125 4:42 1972-01-01
Look at Me
Look at Me
1,230,390 2:44 1969-01-01
Fly Away
Fly Away
1,199,526 3:08 1977-01-01
Nobody Like You
Nobody Like You
1,144,569 3:14 1972-01-01
Change of Heart
Change of Heart
1,127,466 3:21 1977-01-01
What a Change
What a Change
1,115,372 3:40 1971-01-01
Move Over
Move Over
1,038,962 2:36 1969-01-01
Live in Your Love
Live in Your Love
972,453 2:47 1971-01-01
She's the Only One
She's the Only One
874,239 3:02 1977-01-01
Family Doctor
Family Doctor
851,297 2:15 1969-01-01
She Was My Lady
She Was My Lady
805,407 2:51 1971-01-01
I Don't Love You - 45 Version
I Don't Love You - 45 Version
801,568 2:48 1972-01-01
Don't Shut Me Out
Don't Shut Me Out
792,127 2:40 1969-01-01
You Can't Measure the Cost
You Can't Measure the Cost
787,440 3:22 1969-01-01
Our Lady of Sorrow
Our Lady of Sorrow
763,797 4:16 1977-01-01
I Am That I Am
I Am That I Am
746,164 3:20 1970-01-01
Dream Lady
Dream Lady
700,709 3:22 1972-01-01
Could I
Could I
696,325 3:31 1969-01-01
Lay Your Money Down
Lay Your Money Down
688,202 2:43 1977-01-01
Welcome to the Music
Welcome to the Music
657,262 2:57 1972-01-01
Coming Apart
Coming Apart
643,509 3:30 1970-01-01
It Don't Matter to Me (Single Version)
It Don't Matter to Me (Single Version)
642,185 2:50 2019-04-19
Blue Satin Pillow
Blue Satin Pillow
636,463 2:29 1970-01-01
I Say Again
I Say Again
545,079 2:53 1971-01-01
Be Kind to Me
Be Kind to Me
524,655 3:04 1971-01-01
This Isn't What the Governmeant
This Isn't What the Governmeant
518,057 2:27 1972-01-01
Tecolote
Tecolote
486,406 4:36 1972-01-01
Easy Love
Easy Love
473,585 2:29 1970-01-01
Why Do You Keep Me Waiting
Why Do You Keep Me Waiting
429,223 2:29 1970-01-01
Hold Tight
Hold Tight
404,283 3:08 1977-01-01
Let Me Go
Let Me Go
372,399 3:27 1972-01-01
Don't Tell Me No
Don't Tell Me No
313,696 3:35 1972-01-01
Call on Me
Call on Me
275,754 4:00 1970-01-01
Call On Me
Call On Me
275,754 4:04 2021-01-01
Miami Beach
Miami Beach
250,769 2:13 2021-12-17
Been Too Long on the Road - 2015 Japan Remaster
Been Too Long on the Road - 2015 Japan Remaster
50,685 4:55 2017-10-27
Been Too Long On The Road
Been Too Long On The Road
50,685 4:53 2021-01-01
I'm Just Clay
I'm Just Clay
24,233 4:09 1980-02-21
What's Up
What's Up
23,497 4:12 2019-01-25
Fuck These Niggaz
Fuck These Niggaz
21,095 4:41 2001-07-24
Un Guardaroba Di Scuse
Un Guardaroba Di Scuse
17,762 4:22 2021-01-30
The Fool On The Hill
The Fool On The Hill
11,661 3:32 2010-12-10
Miss Me
Miss Me
11,060 4:44 2011-11-04
I'll Tell The World His Name
I'll Tell The World His Name
7,452 3:34 1980-02-21
Heat
Heat
6,706 2:57 2022-03-27
DUSTY
DUSTY
6,362 3:41 2022-03-01
Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine
Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine
5,322 4:35 1980-02-21
We'll Always Be Together
We'll Always Be Together
4,027 6:20 1980-02-21
I'll Have Love This Time
I'll Have Love This Time
3,988 3:52 1980-02-21
Thank You For Your Sweet Loving Spirit
Thank You For Your Sweet Loving Spirit
3,617 4:31 1980-02-21
You Know Me
You Know Me
1,737 7:10 1980-02-21
Fancy Dancer
Fancy Dancer
< 1000 3:31 2012-01-01

New releases

On The Waters
On The Waters
2021-01-01
[Revolver Records]
Everything I Own: Their Finest Moments
Everything I Own: Their Finest Moments
2019-04-19
[Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group]
The Elektra Years: Complete Albums Box
The Elektra Years: Complete Albums Box
2017-10-27
[Rhino/Elektra]
Collected
Collected
2012-01-01
[Universal Music, a division of Universal International Music BV]
Original Album Series
Original Album Series
2010-01-01
[Rhino/Elektra]
The Sound Of Bread
The Sound Of Bread
2006-09-04
[Rhino/Elektra]
Anthology of Bread
Anthology of Bread
1985-08-13
[Rhino]
Lost Without Your Love
Lost Without Your Love
1977-01-01
[Rhino/Elektra]
The Best of Bread
The Best of Bread
1973-06-01
[Rhino/Elektra]
Everything I Own / I Don't Love You (45 Version)
Everything I Own / I Don't Love You (45 Version)
1972-01-01
[Rhino/Elektra]
Guitar Man
Guitar Man
1972-01-01
[Elektra Asylum]
Baby I'm-a Want You
Baby I'm-a Want You
1972-01-01
[Elektra Records]
Manna
Manna
1971-01-01
[Rhino/Elektra]
On the Waters
On the Waters
1970-01-01
[Rhino/Elektra]
Bread
Bread
1969-01-01
[Rhino/Elektra]