If they are to believed, David Gates and the other members of Bread never intended to become the enduring icons of a subgenre they virtually invented: soft rock. Indeed, scattered throughout this expanded edition of a perennial bestselling catalog album are tuneful evidence of their original intent, as one band mate said, "to make the '60s last a little longer." But it's the familiar, largely Gates-penned and -sung hit singles that remain the band's legacy, from "Make It with You" through the reunited band's last hurrah, "Lost Without Your Love." Though they've become oft-mocked clichés, these are singles informed with a rare, often complex melodic sense, delivered with a deceptively breezy tone by one of pop's purest tenors. Gates and Bread clearly colored artists as diverse as '80s MOR icon Christopher Cross and nouveau singer-songwriter David Mead. --Jerry McCulley

I will go ahead and say what few men will and that is this: I have sung my heart out many times throughout my life with this album - at times sobbing or wistful, other times filled with joy and hope - but sing along I did, as you will when you get this classic. Their sound reminds me of Seals and Crofts, who too can bring me to tears. This compilation harkens back to an earlier, better, sweeter time and these songs are just as easy to listen to alone as they are with the one you love. Get a slice of Bread, make it uniquely yours, or share it with someone you care for: I'm buying a copy to give my 16 year-old daughter. I cannot recommend this any higher...

What can I say about Bread who I started listening to on 8track when I was nine but, awesome. These guys are talented beyond words and two of them wrote "For All We Know" which was recorded by The Carpenters. The songs "Make It With You","Look What You've Done(a personal favorite)", "If",and you get so much more. All these songs are excellent on this collection. "Let Your Love Go" proves the group can rock and I am glad they included "Lost Without Your Love". I do hope they release Best of Bread Vol 2 one day(another excellent collection of songs). David Gates,James Griffin,Mike Botts,Robb Royer,Larry Knechtel, and Jim Gordon(who drummed on the first album), thank you for all the wonderful music. Highly reccommended!!!!!!!!!!

If you could only use one word to describe this collection hits that's it... BRILLIANT.

Put on this CD (slab of vinyl would be even better) and immediately be morphed to a kinder, more gentle time when the soft rock of David Gates and Bread ruled the AM airwaves.

There is some serious baby-making music here, folks!

When Bread formed in the late sixties, the band had modest aspirations. They wanted to keep the musical spirit of the sixties alive, and when you listen to some of the folkie tunes like "Daughter" or the minor 'social' rock of "Mother Freedom," you can understand the the pristine mellow hits that the band is best known for was not the only thing Bread was about. Indeed, before David Gates began wrestling with James Griffin over control of the band, Bread had as much in common with The Byrds or even The Eagles than The Carpenters. You'll hear hints of folk, country and protest songs scattered throughout their full length CD's.

But when Gates' Immaculate "Make It With You" topped the charts and "If" became a standard soon after, Bread's place in pop history was cemented in cheese. Without Bread, there would have likely been no England Dan & John Ford Coley or Orleans. Christopher Cross would just be another Texas session man. I mean this in all honestly. Bread were peer only to Karen and Richard Carpenter for their dynamic, immaculate middle of the road chart-toppers during the 70's.

Which makes this expanded and remastered single disc Best Of a true guilty pleasure. You can try as hard as you want, but the catchiness of songs like "Baby I'm-a Want You" and "Sweet Surrender" is inescapable. The band had a solid hand at folk-rock, as the songs here "Trucking" and "Let Your Love Go" attest (and the albums often would contain as non-singles tracks). Gates' voice is also one of the most clear and expressive in the soft-rock world, making such sensitive/hurt lyrics like "Diary" and "Guitar Man" ring honest. The hits will pry their way from your brain if you were listening to radio in that decade.

This could have been a five star set if maybe Gates' solo singles ("Goodbye Girl" or "Clouds") were included. Get the Retrospective 2CD Set if you're a total Bread Head, and you'll find them. But for immaculate production, melodic songwriting that has kept its staying power, and yes, the true beginnings of soft-rock, "The Best of Bread" is totally worth it.

I was lucky enough to be exposed to many different types of music growing up. My dad was into the harder rock while my mom was into softer rock. This is the ultimate soft rock/ballad album. After many years of not being able to even find this album, it didn't fail to make me smile as I remembered every one of the songs. It was amazing and I still remembered all the words! The song, Diary, still brings back the mellow memories.