Open Up The Gates:The Early Years

I'll start by confessing that I *am* a die-hard David Gates fan, especially the songs he wrote from the first Bread album through his second solo album. So I'm always interested in hearing other music he has written.Just recently, two major CD collections have become available. One of them contains songs he wrote for other artists during the 60s, and THIS collection, which contains his own demos and singles starting with his early days in Oklahoma.What will strike you as you listen is how very derivative all the songs sound. Most of them seem to have been written before the British Invasion, and are sound-alikes for the Everly Brothers, Beach Boys, Four Seasons, etc. They are simple blues progressions, or the I-vi-IV-V progression so beloved by early rock'n'roll ballad writers. Many of the tracks are just about as good as songs that were hits during that period, but there are none that stand out and make you say, "Why wasn't that a top ten song!?!" There is an overall musical and lyrical shallowness which, fortunately, Gates worked his way out of by the time he hit his stride in the late 1960s.So, if you think you will enjoy listening to a very young David Gates imitating the top-10 sound of the early 1960s, this CD is for you. I got a kick out of it, but it will be a long time before I give it a second listen.

I am a BIG Bread Fan, so I have to hear it all.Ever read the poems you wrote when you were 10? Aloud?I have admired David Gates since the concert at Fredonia in 1970 - Great guitar fingers when I printed out my photos for the college paper and yearbook! Later finding out he worked with Captain Beefheart, LOL! How weird.This is the guy who could write the saddest love songs ever - teamed with Jimmy Griffin made a pairing like McCartney Lennon for their genre. Sadly, before they paired and after the egos broke the synergy, their work lacked the commercial and emotional magic of their productions with Mike Botts and Rob Royer (later Larry Knechtel)Gates has the rhymes and the cutesies and the commercial talents.You can here it in these tracks, and forgive me synchophants, but to me they are 50's dated. They will fade from my iPod while I still sing along with Dismal Day (yeah, hit THAT note in your 60's)

You will simply love this CD particularly if you like the group called BREAD. David Gates in his early years is for you.

This contains most every A and B side David Gates recorded between the late 50's and his creation of the group Bread in 1969, some under pseudonyms or group monikers like The Manchesters. Classic rockabilly and teen pop sides that are extremely rare on vinyl, on CD for the first time. Beautifully mastered CD compilation, although not in chronological order, which would have been nice.

Enjoyed this cd and was interested to hear the early David Gates.