Bread Winners (album)
| Bread Winners | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1972 | |||
| Studios | RCA's Music Center of the World, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Labels | RCA Victor (SF8280; LSP 4692) | |||
| Producer | Joe Reisman | |||
| Jack Jones chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Bread Winners | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |   [1] |
Bread Winners is a studio album by American singer Jack Jones released in early 1972 by RCA Victor Records. The album was released as a tribute to the American soft rock group Bread. It brought Jones to the UK pop top-10 right after his previous album.
Background
Jack Jones was a popular easy listening and pop singer in the 1960s, recording with Kapp Records and gaining several hits.[2] In late 1967 he moved over to RCA Victor and started recording more contemporary material, starting with the album Without Her.[1] Jones would continue with material like this up to 1972 as well, with several charting albums.[3] Even before Bread Winners, Jones performed Bread material like "Baby I'm-A Want You" and "If", eventually culminating into an album.[4]
Release and content
Bread Winners was the second of three albums Jones recorded in 1972, recorded in the spring. It followed the highly successful A Song for You. The album was dedicated to the group Bread,[5] with the single and album being primarily cover songs of Bread's hit singles.[6] A lead single titled "Games of Magic" was released in June 1972, paired with "Coming Apart". Both songs were from the LP. While it did not chart, Cashbox said that it's a "Lesser known Bread slice given the fine Jones touch," noting that "MOR's could hardly ask for more."[7] The album was reissued in 1982 under RCA International.[8]
Chart performance
The album debuted on the United Kingdom Official Albums Chart in the issue dated June 3, 1972, breaking into the top-10 and reaching No. 7 during a thirty-six-week run on the chart. Reaching its peak position in mid June, it became his best-charting album in his career.[9] Bread Winners dropped out of the charts completely in early 1973.[9] The album was certified to as having over 100,000 sales, and was certified Gold in the UK.[10]
Reception
The album received a positive critical reception upon its release. Billboard stated that "The first concept package of beautiful material penned by David Gates and made into giant hits by Bread, is one of the finest and most commercial Jones albums." The publication noted that "Jones is at his best with sensitive readings of 'If,' 'Everything I Own,' 'Make It With You,' 'Baby I'm-a Want You,' and the current smash hit of Bread, 'Diary.' This one should prove a giant programmer that will induce heavy sales for Jones."[11]
One of the mentioned Bread's members, David Gates, said that he was "impressed and flattered" by the album and that the album is special, because it was the first album dedicated to their songs, adding "Most of all it's special because Jack rendered such beautifully sincere interpretations of the songs – and it's special because its gifted producer (Joe Reisman) and I have known each other for a long time, and he wanted to do his finest work to please an old friend. I can assure you, he succeeded."[12]
Track listing
Bread Winners track listing
All tracks are written by David Gates, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Arranged by | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Make It with You" | Harry Betts | 2:18 | |
| 2. | "Baby I'm-A Want You" | Larry Muhoberac | 2:21 | |
| 3. | "Coming Apart" | Griffin, Royer | Harry Betts | 3:30 |
| 4. | "If" | Harry Betts | 3:27 | |
| 5. | "Daughter" | Joe Kloess | 3:09 |
All tracks are written by David Gates, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Arranged by | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Games of Magic" | Griffin, Royer | Harry Betts | 2:37 |
| 7. | "Everything I Own" | Harry Betts | 2:56 | |
| 8. | "Diary" | Harry Betts | 3:30 | |
| 9. | "It Don't Matter to Me" | Larry Muhoberac | 2:33 | |
| 10. | "Come Again" | Larry Muhoberac | 2:16 |
Personnel
All credits are adapted from the liner notes of Bread Winners.[12]
- Jack Jones – vocals
- Harry Betts – arranger, conductor
- Larry Muhoberac – arranger, conductor
- Mickey Crofford – arranger, mixing engineer
- Joe Kloess – arranger, conductor, piano
- Rick Ruggieri – recording engineer
- Ken Whitmore – cover photo
- Frank Bez – liner photo
- Chuck Hughes – drums
- Chino Valdes – congas
- Bob Thomas – guitar
- Steve Swallow – bass
Charts
| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Official Albums Chart[9] | 7 |
Certification
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[13] | Gold | 100,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 766. ISBN 9781846098567. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn presents Billboard top adult songs, 1961-2006. Menomonee Falls, Wis. : Record Research Inc. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-89820-169-7.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1973). Top LP's, 1945–1972. Record Research. p. 76. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Talent In Action: Jack Jones" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 84, no. 3. May 6, 1972. p. 16. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ Anonymous (October 29, 2026). "Jack Jones obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ↑ Friedwald, Will (November 2010). A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers. Pantheon Books. p. 258. ISBN 9780307379894. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link) - ↑ "Choice Programming (selections are singles which, in the opinion of reviewing staff, are deserving of special choice programmer consideration)" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. XXXIII, no. 52. May 6, 1972. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ↑ Jones, Jack (1982). Bread Winners (UK LP Liner Notes and other Album Information). RCA International. INTS 5169; NL 43804.
- 1 2 3 "Jack Jones – Official UK Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Jack Jones – Album sales and rankings". BestSellingAlbums.org. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Album Reviews; A Billboard Pick: Bread Winners by Jack Jones" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 84, no. 19. May 6, 1972. p. 52. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- 1 2 Jones, Jack (1972). Bread Winners (LP Liner Notes and other Album Information). RCA Victor Records. LSP-4692.
- ↑ "British album certifications – PJack Jones – Bread Winners". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Bread Winners PJack Jones in the "Search:" field.