Music Metrics Vault

Bread

Data updated on 2025-01-06 09:44:36 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

Total plays

1.6 billion
Updated on 2025-01-06

Social media links

Monthly listeners

5,419,017

Followers

1,828,186

Top Cities

  1. Philippines
    224,010 listeners
  2. Indonesia
    115,224 listeners
  3. Philippines
    124,740 listeners
  4. Philippines
    119,009 listeners
  5. Philippines
    129,513 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Everything I Own - 45 Version
Everything I Own - 45 Version
272,096,658 3:06 1972-01-01
Make It with You
Make It with You
232,453,540 3:12 1970-01-01
Make It With You
Make It With You
232,453,540 3:18 2021-01-01
If
If
172,225,933 2:36 1971-01-01
Guitar Man
Guitar Man
127,213,653 3:46 1972-01-01
The Guitar Man
The Guitar Man
127,213,653 3:45 2007-01-23
Baby I'm-a Want You
Baby I'm-a Want You
105,151,498 2:31 1972-01-01
Aubrey
Aubrey
65,781,030 3:39 1972-01-01
Lost Without Your Love
Lost Without Your Love
54,776,406 2:55 1973-06-01
Diary
Diary
41,549,382 3:09 1972-01-01
It Don't Matter to Me
It Don't Matter to Me
21,803,698 2:43 1969-01-01
Sweet Surrender
Sweet Surrender
18,198,319 2:37 1972-01-01
Look What You've Done
Look What You've Done
9,077,405 3:11 1970-01-01
Too Much Love
Too Much Love
6,245,376 2:47 1971-01-01
Hooked on You
Hooked on You
5,475,216 2:21 1977-01-01
Mother Freedom
Mother Freedom
5,012,218 2:36 1972-01-01
Just Like Yesterday
Just Like Yesterday
4,334,691 2:16 1972-01-01
Down on My Knees
Down on My Knees
3,992,637 2:45 1972-01-01
Belonging
Belonging
3,911,947 3:19 1977-01-01
Let Your Love Go
Let Your Love Go
3,363,977 2:26 1971-01-01
Dismal Day
Dismal Day
3,234,015 2:22 1969-01-01
Truckin'
Truckin'
2,857,679 2:33 1971-01-01
London Bridge
London Bridge
2,764,897 2:32 1969-01-01
Yours for Life
Yours for Life
2,746,455 3:21 1972-01-01
Games of Magic
Games of Magic
2,690,222 3:10 1972-01-01
Today's the First Day
Today's the First Day
2,612,129 3:26 1977-01-01
The Last Time
The Last Time
2,582,661 4:10 1969-01-01
The Chosen One
The Chosen One
2,214,718 4:40 1977-01-01
He's a Good Lad
He's a Good Lad
2,206,444 3:01 1971-01-01
He's A Good Lad
He's A Good Lad
2,206,444 2:56 2012-01-01
Daughter
Daughter
2,161,352 3:24 1972-01-01
Any Way You Want Me
Any Way You Want Me
2,152,488 3:15 1969-01-01
She's the Only One
She's the Only One
2,107,863 2:57 1985-08-13
The Other Side of Life
The Other Side of Life
2,095,780 2:03 1970-01-01
The Other Side Of Life
The Other Side Of Life
2,095,780 2:03 2021-01-01
Fancy Dancer
Fancy Dancer
1,648,764 3:33 1972-01-01
Take Comfort
Take Comfort
1,632,034 3:33 1971-01-01
Make It by Yourself
Make It by Yourself
1,530,008 3:50 1972-01-01
I Want You with Me
I Want You with Me
1,501,706 2:52 1970-01-01
I Want You With Me
I Want You With Me
1,501,706 2:53 2021-01-01
Friends and Lovers
Friends and Lovers
1,497,424 3:55 1969-01-01
Been Too Long on the Road
Been Too Long on the Road
1,493,990 4:52 1970-01-01
Come Again
Come Again
1,371,265 4:03 1971-01-01
In the Afterglow
In the Afterglow
1,327,056 2:36 1970-01-01
In The Afterglow
In The Afterglow
1,327,056 2:38 2021-01-01
Didn't Even Know Her Name
Didn't Even Know Her Name
1,322,554 3:11 1972-01-01
Picture in Your Mind
Picture in Your Mind
1,225,117 4:42 1972-01-01
Look at Me
Look at Me
1,194,732 2:44 1969-01-01
Fly Away
Fly Away
1,140,049 3:08 1977-01-01
Nobody Like You
Nobody Like You
1,127,266 3:14 1972-01-01
Change of Heart
Change of Heart
1,106,846 3:21 1977-01-01
What a Change
What a Change
1,087,832 3:40 1971-01-01
Move Over
Move Over
1,018,239 2:36 1969-01-01
Live in Your Love
Live in Your Love
933,052 2:47 1971-01-01
She's the Only One
She's the Only One
846,792 3:02 1977-01-01
Family Doctor
Family Doctor
829,685 2:15 1969-01-01
I Don't Love You - 45 Version
I Don't Love You - 45 Version
790,187 2:48 1972-01-01
Don't Shut Me Out
Don't Shut Me Out
771,351 2:40 1969-01-01
She Was My Lady
She Was My Lady
769,300 2:51 1971-01-01
You Can't Measure the Cost
You Can't Measure the Cost
766,738 3:22 1969-01-01
Our Lady of Sorrow
Our Lady of Sorrow
750,837 4:16 1977-01-01
I Am That I Am
I Am That I Am
738,381 3:20 1970-01-01
Could I
Could I
691,891 3:31 1969-01-01
Dream Lady
Dream Lady
683,122 3:22 1972-01-01
Lay Your Money Down
Lay Your Money Down
674,142 2:43 1977-01-01
Welcome to the Music
Welcome to the Music
639,961 2:57 1972-01-01
Blue Satin Pillow
Blue Satin Pillow
627,536 2:29 1970-01-01
Coming Apart
Coming Apart
619,777 3:30 1970-01-01
It Don't Matter to Me (Single Version)
It Don't Matter to Me (Single Version)
608,523 2:50 2019-04-19
Be Kind to Me
Be Kind to Me
517,408 3:04 1971-01-01
I Say Again
I Say Again
516,890 2:53 1971-01-01
This Isn't What the Governmeant
This Isn't What the Governmeant
505,565 2:27 1972-01-01
Tecolote
Tecolote
475,099 4:36 1972-01-01
Easy Love
Easy Love
467,592 2:29 1970-01-01
Why Do You Keep Me Waiting
Why Do You Keep Me Waiting
422,739 2:29 1970-01-01
Hold Tight
Hold Tight
393,457 3:08 1977-01-01
Let Me Go
Let Me Go
360,678 3:27 1972-01-01
Don't Tell Me No
Don't Tell Me No
305,254 3:35 1972-01-01
Call on Me
Call on Me
267,422 4:00 1970-01-01
Call On Me
Call On Me
267,422 4:04 2021-01-01
Miami Beach
Miami Beach
230,344 2:13 2021-12-17
Been Too Long on the Road - 2015 Japan Remaster
Been Too Long on the Road - 2015 Japan Remaster
50,135 4:55 2017-10-27
Been Too Long On The Road
Been Too Long On The Road
50,135 4:53 2021-01-01
I'm Just Clay
I'm Just Clay
22,230 4:09 1980-02-21
What's Up
What's Up
22,224 4:12 2019-01-25
Fuck These Niggaz
Fuck These Niggaz
20,459 4:41 2001-07-24
Un Guardaroba Di Scuse
Un Guardaroba Di Scuse
17,621 4:22 2021-01-30
The Fool On The Hill
The Fool On The Hill
11,008 3:32 2010-12-10
Miss Me
Miss Me
10,962 4:44 2011-11-04
I'll Tell The World His Name
I'll Tell The World His Name
6,935 3:34 1980-02-21
Heat
Heat
6,210 2:57 2022-03-27
DUSTY
DUSTY
5,600 3:41 2022-03-01
Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine
Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine
4,702 4:35 1980-02-21
I'll Have Love This Time
I'll Have Love This Time
3,701 3:52 1980-02-21
We'll Always Be Together
We'll Always Be Together
3,454 6:20 1980-02-21
Thank You For Your Sweet Loving Spirit
Thank You For Your Sweet Loving Spirit
3,259 4:31 1980-02-21
You Know Me
You Know Me
1,138 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]