ALBUMS
- BREAD: THE BEST OF BREAD: 1973: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Has most of the hits they were known for- if you are into their soft rock you’d want to get the cd version which was released later that has all their hits on them. They were one of the best soft rock bands- at times leaning toward wimp rock but they were masters at what they did. A dozen Top 40 hits during their short career.
- LEON RUSSELL” BEST OF LEON: 1976: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Leon Russell only had two Top 40 hits- Tightrope #11 and Lady Blue #14 but was a successful session musician and songwriter for many years and recorded 33 albums in his career. Most of his success came in the 70’s. Near the end of his life he made a comeback when he made an album with a longtime fan of his Elton John and they were nominated for a Grammy. This is a good survey of his work up to the mid-70’s- Delta Lady, This Masquerade and A Song For You- along with the hits are the highlights.
Also listened to Sunday’s edition of Celtic Crush with host Larry Kirwan on The Loft.
slicethelife 
A fact that I’m not the proudest of…I probably know every word to Bread’s hits by heart. My sister would either break up with a guy or meet some new guy and the Bread album would be unleashed.
Those would have been the great break up songs of the era.. That song Diary is so LAME in my opinion of course. Those songs you hear them once and they stay with you.
Yes they do… I remember If, Baby I’m a Want You etc… Gates could write a catchy pop song… but some were just… ugh
I think that was the fatal flaw- they had great success for a short period of time and then people got tired of the same old thing.
It’s that formula that we have talked about. Some of the melodies are really good I will have to say that
Those songs kind of fit the early 70’s- I think everyone was kind of exhausted from the 60’s. The singer- songwriter period etc.. they are well crafted songs and I can’t say I dislike them all but some cross the line from ok- to wimpy.
Yes some are cringe worthy. Just too sugary. But yet I know the words!
Off topic I have the Roger Daltrey book. The audio book anyway and I’m starting it. I will let you know.
Hope it’s a good one!
I didn’t know which one to get the Kenney Jones or this one. I will get the Jones book next.
I haven’t seen reviews on either but I’d go with Roger from Oz first.
Just started to laugh when I remembered that. What excites me about Jones book is the small faces
I hope both are good books!
Funny memory about The Best of Bread. When I was in college and dating an athlete, he and some of his teammates were moving into a house together. I went over to help, and while they were getting everything in place, they had this album playing over and over on the record player, literally all day, haha. I thought at the time that they must not be worried about being laughed at for their music taste. The album was probably 10 years old by then. There are several songs on the album that I really love.
That is interesting- I just don’t see a bunch of athletes playing this album over and over!
I’m sure that’s why I remember it. They had plenty of other albums to be able to change things up throughout the day. At the same time, I was thinking, the music was really nice.