Timeless early 1970s radio sounds, four Top 40 hits!

180-gram numbered LP; limited to 3,000 copies

Mastered from the original master tapes, pressed at RTI

Any way you slice it, the template for the mellow sounds that dominated AM radio in the 1970s starts with Baby I'm-A Want You. Bread's finest effort stands the test of time by way of the band's sturdy melodies, the former studio professionals' finessed playing, and some of the choicest harmonizing to ever come out of Los Angeles. Anchored by four Top 40 hits, the pop-rock classic radiates with golden-hued textures and pitch-perfect tones — particularly on this long-overdue analog reissue.

Mastered from the original master tapes, pressed at RTI, and strictly limited to 3,000 copies, Mobile Fidelity's numbered-edition 180-gram vinyl LP delivers engrossing levels of warmth, nuance, and smoothness that elevate Bread's 1972 release to audiophile heights. For the first time, the quartet's polished musicianship and vocal blends come across as if you're hearing them happen live in the studio. Previously muddled elements are clarified, and the band's choruses and treble-ringing notes opened up so they can fully blossom, pulling you closer to the combination of serious emotion and comically infused romance. In particular, leader David Gates' quasi-falsetto and other vocal touches get their just due.

Baby I'm-A Want You spills over with vocal goodness on par with the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel. The evidence arrives in the form of a quartet of songs that dominated the Billboard Top 100 charts — the title track (which climbed to No. 3), "Everything I Own," "Diary," and "Mother Freedom." Throughout, melodramatic strains, complementary keyboard lines, and a fine equilibrium of poised grit and well-crafted instrumentation dot the music with sequin-like detail that glistens anew and rewards repeat listening. Bread's mix of sentimental ballads and revved-up rock tracks ("Down on My Knees," "Nobody Like You") furthers the appeal of a record teeming with sweet and sour flavors.