Yes, folks, I was a "Breadhead".

We worshipped our icons, the musical group, Bread. With a special further level of worship for the leader of the band, David Gates.

We'd travel from town to town, across the US and Canada, following our heroes from town to town. We'd wear similar clothing (paisley-patterned shirts from JCPenney, often with sweater vests, flared-legged trousers...you've seen us around), travel via interstates in such vehicles as Chevy Novas, Malibus, Plymouth Dusters, with an occaisional "rebel" driving a Toyota Corona. We'd "crash" at Motel 6, or Days Inn, or a nice low-priced Holiday Inn.

Oh, sure, we'd cruise down the main drag of Anytown, USA, and the locals would point at us, or yell "Why don't you dagnabbed Breadheads go back wear you came from!". But sometimes, they'd get to know a few of us, up close and personal, and the local papers would run a story, with a headline something like: "'Breadheads' Just Everyday Kids".

The staff of life. If to eat is to live, Bread realized early on that man and woman do not survive by bread (small b, meaning food or money) alone. Expanded into song, the band's light-rock sound touched the same breathy emotions that satisfy hunger, and the proof of their understanding sold millions of records and won numerous hearts around the world.

They were kneaded in the bakery of the Hollywood studios. David Gates had come from Tulsa, where he'd cut his teeth with Leon Russell in a high school combo that backed such visiting dignitaries as Chuck Berry. He worked as an arranger and producer (one of his credits was Pat Boone), composed a movie score ("Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!") and fell in with songwriters James Griffin and Robb Royer. Griffin, as a solo artist, had recorded an album for Warner Brothers, "Summer Holiday", before stepping behind the scenes. Under the pseudonym of Arthur James, he and Royer wrote the lyrics for "For All We Know," which won the Oscar for Best Song in 1969 (trivia fans will recall that the movie was "Lovers and Other Strangers").

All three joined together in a group called "Pleasure Faire", which rose yeast-like into the first Bread album, recorded in 1969 with Jim Gordon on drums. The double- entendre of "Make It With You" became their first claim to fame, released in August of 1970 and lodging promptly at Number One. For those who might have been decieved by the group's simple verse-and-chorus approach, the intricate scoring of the orchestral string break testifies to their musical abilities. The next three years would see no less than ten chart smashes, including "Baby-I'm A Want You," "If," "It Don't Matter To Me," "The Guitar Man," and "Diary."

The band added drummer Mike Botts when it became clear they would have to satisfy the clamor of their fans for live appearances. In 1973, Larry Knechtel brought his impressive studio credentials to Bread when Royer decided he wanted to concentrate on songwriting. Knechtel had served an apprenticeship for five years in Duane Eddy's back-up band, and as a top session man, had worked for everyone from Phil Spector to Simon and Garfunkle (he played piano on "Bridge Over Troubled Water"). His guitar solo can be heard in "The Guitar Man," and it was during his tenure that Bread recorded such classics as "Sweet Surrender" and "Aubrey."

The band broke up in 1973, but reformed in 1976 for a reunion album, "Lost Without Your Love." Their togetherness was short-lived, however, and by 1978, David Gates was riding high as a solo artist with his hit (and winner of 1978 Oscar for Best Song), "Goodbye Girl."

10. Dismal Day (c1969). DG (=David Gates).
 9. Lost Without Your Love (c1977). Title track on the last group
    album. DG
 8. Sweet Surrender (1974). DG
 7. Diary (1972). What a great song, with a great twist in the story.
    DG.
 6. If (1972). IF you really listen to the lyrics, you realize there's
    almost nothing in them...the melody carries the song. DG.
 5. Everything I Own (1972). DG.
 4. Baby I'm-A Want You (1972). An English teacher's nightmare. I used
    to sing this song to my first daughter as a lullabye. DG.
 3. Make It With You (1970). I was such a naif when this came out, I
    didn't get the double entendre. I thought in 1970 that "make it
    with you" meant "work on a meaningful relationship". Needless
    to say, I was once the oldest virgin in Illinois. DG
 2. Aubrey (1974). Lovely song. Though it didn't affect me as much
    as my sister-in-law, who always said she was going to name her
    first daughter "Aubrey Lynn". She has given birth to five boys. DG
 1. The Guitar Man (1974). Take that, Eric Clapton. DG

11. Fancy Dancer (1974). B/G.
12. Truckin' (1971). G/R.
13. Anyway You Want Me (1970). G/R.

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