The Guitar Man: Difference between revisions

"The Guitar Man"
"The Guitar Man"
Single by Bread
from the album Guitar Man
B-side	"Just Like Yesterday"
Released	July 1972
Genre	Rock, soft rock
Length	3:46
Label	Elektra
Songwriter(s)	David Gates
Producer(s)	David Gates
Bread singles chronology

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"The Guitar Man" is a song written by David Gates and originally recorded by the rock group Bread. It first appeared on Bread's 1972 album, Guitar Man. It is a mixture of the sounds of soft rock, including strings and acoustic guitar, and the addition of a wah-wah effect electric guitar, played by Larry Knechtel. It peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and was their third No. 1 hit on the easy listening chart,^[2] (following "If" and "Baby I'm-a Want You").

Record World called it a "superfine superhit" with a "beautiful tune, apt lyric, full, rich production."^[3] Cash Box said "this ballad proves [Bread's] versatility and ability to handle a lyric that says a bit more than 'I love you.'"^[4] Cash Box also said the song "is about performers, but is bound to be a listener's dream."^[4]

Chart performance

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Australia (KMR)	22
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[5]	6
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[6]	7
Ireland (IRMA)^[7]	14
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[8]	8
UK Singles (OCC)^[9]	16
US Billboard Hot 100^[10]	11
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[11]	1
US Cash Box Top 100^[12]	10

Personnel

David Gates - lead vocals, bass, violin
James Griffin - acoustic guitar, harmony vocals
Larry Knechtel - lead guitar
Mike Botts - drums

Cover versions

The song has been covered by David J on his 2003 album Estranged, Cake on their 2004 album Pressure Chief, Starflyer 59 on their 2007 vinyl collection Ghosts of the Future, and Bobby Bare Jr. on his American Bread EP. Hank Marvin released his album Guitar Man with a cover version of the song. In 2012 Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby recorded a version for a fund raising CD titled Super Hits of the Seventies for radio station WFMU. In 2020, The Wild Feathers included a version of the song on their album "Medium Rarities".

References

^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2013-08-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 39.
^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 15, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
^ ^a ^b "Cash Box Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. July 15, 1972. p. 20. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
^ "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
^ "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Guitar Man". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
^ "Bread – The Guitar Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
^ "Bread: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
^ "Bread Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
^ "Bread Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
^ "Cash Box Top 100 9/23/72". Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-11-01.

[1] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2013-08-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[2] Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 39.

[rw-3] "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 15, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-30.

[cb-4] "Cash Box Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. July 15, 1972. p. 20. Retrieved 2023-03-30.

[5] "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2021.

[6] "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2021.

[sc_Ireland2_-7] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Guitar Man". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 1, 2018.

[sc_New_Zealand_Bread-8] "Bread – The Guitar Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 24, 2018.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Bread-9] "Bread: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2018.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Bread-10] "Bread Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Bread-11] "Bread Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.

[12] "Cash Box Top 100 9/23/72". Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-11-01.

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@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 | B-side     = Just Like Yesterday
 | released   = July 1972
-| format     = [[7" single|7"]] 45 RPM
 | recorded   =
 | studio     =
 | venue      =
-| genre      = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[soft rock]]<ref>[http://oldies.about.com/od/70spopandsoul/g/Oldies-Music-Encyclopedia-Soft-Rock.htm Soft Rock Music - What is Soft Rock? - Oldies Music Songs and Artists]</ref>
+| genre      = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[soft rock]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://oldies.about.com/od/70spopandsoul/g/Oldies-Music-Encyclopedia-Soft-Rock.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-08-20 |archive-date=2012-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121101504/http://oldies.about.com/od/70spopandsoul/g/Oldies-Music-Encyclopedia-Soft-Rock.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | length     = 3:46
 | label      = [[Elektra Records|Elektra]]
@@ Line 24: / Line 23: @@
 }}
-"'''The Guitar Man'''" is a song written by [[David Gates]] and originally recorded by the [[rock music|rock]] group [[Bread (band)|Bread]]. It first appeared on Bread's [[1972 in music|1972]] album, ''[[Guitar Man (Bread album)|Guitar Man]]''. It is a mixture of the sounds of [[soft rock]], including strings and acoustic guitar, and the addition of a [[Wah-wah pedal|wah-wah effect]] electric guitar, played by [[Larry Knechtel]]. The melody of the song is complex and is played by using 12 different chords, which is a rather high number for a pop song.
+"'''The Guitar Man'''" is a song written by [[David Gates]] and originally recorded by the [[rock music|rock]] group [[Bread (band)|Bread]]. It first appeared on Bread's [[1972 in music|1972]] album, ''[[Guitar Man (Bread album)|Guitar Man]]''. It is a mixture of the sounds of [[soft rock]], including strings and acoustic guitar, and the addition of a [[Wah-wah pedal|wah-wah effect]] electric guitar, played by [[Larry Knechtel]]. It peaked at No. 11 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart in the United States and was their third No. 1 hit on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|easy listening]] chart,<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=39}}</ref> (following "[[If (Bread song)|If]]" and "[[Baby I'm-a Want You (song)|Baby I'm-a Want You]]").
+''[[Record World]]'' called it a "superfine superhit" with a "beautiful tune, apt lyric, full, rich production."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=July 15, 1972|accessdate=2023-03-30|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/72/Record-World-1972-07-15.pdf}}</ref> ''[[Cash Box]]'' said "this ballad proves [Bread's] versatility
-It peaked at No. 11 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart in the United States and their third No. 1 hit on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|easy listening]] chart,<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=39}}</ref> (following "[[If (Bread song)|If]]" and "[[Baby I'm-a Want You]]").
+and ability to handle a lyric that says a bit more than 'I love you.'"<ref name=cb>{{cite magazine|magazine=Cash Box|date=July 15, 1972|accessdate=2023-03-30|title=Cash Box Singles Reviews|page=20|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1972/Cash-Box-1972-07-15.pdf}}</ref>  ''Cash Box'' also said the song "is about performers, but is bound to be a listener's dream."<ref name=cb/>
 ==Chart performance==
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 | style="text-align:center;"|22
 |-
-|align="left"|Canada Top Singles ([[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']])<ref>[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4193&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4193.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4193 "Canada Top Singles"]</ref>
+|align="left"|Canada Top Singles ([[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4193&URLjpg=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f4/nlc008388.4193.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4193|title=Image : RPM Weekly|date=17 July 2013|website=Bac-lac.gc.ca|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|6
 |-
-|align="left"|Canada Adult Contemporary ([[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']])<ref>[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4200&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4200.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4200 "Canada Adult Contemporary"]</ref>
+|align="left"|Canada Adult Contemporary ([[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4200&URLjpg=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f4/nlc008388.4200.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4200|title=Image : RPM Weekly|date=17 July 2013|website=Bac-lac.gc.ca|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|7
 |-
-|{{singlechart|Ireland2|14|song=Guitar Man|accessdate=July 1, 2018}}
+|{{singlechart|Ireland2|14|song=Guitar Man|access-date=July 1, 2018}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|New Zealand|8|artist=Bread|song=The Guitar Man|accessdate=November 24, 2018}}
+{{singlechart|New Zealand|8|artist=Bread|song=The Guitar Man|access-date=November 24, 2018}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|16|artist=Bread|accessdate=November 24, 2018}}
+{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|16|artist=Bread|access-date=November 24, 2018}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|11|artist=Bread|accessdate=November 24, 2018}}
+{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|11|artist=Bread|access-date=November 24, 2018}}
 |-
-{{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=Bread|accessdate=November 24, 2018}}
+{{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=Bread|access-date=November 24, 2018}}
 |-
-|align="left"|US ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720923.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018215939/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720923.html |archive-date=2016-10-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
+|align="left"|US ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720923.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 9/23/72 |access-date=2016-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018215939/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720923.html |archive-date=2016-10-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|10
 |}
@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 ==Cover versions==
-The song has been covered by [[David J]] on his 2003 album ''Estranged'', [[Cake (band)|Cake]] on their 2004 album ''[[Pressure Chief]]'', [[Starflyer 59]] on their 2007 vinyl collection ''Ghosts of the Future'', and [[Bobby Bare, Jr.]] on his ''American Bread'' EP. [[Hank Marvin]] released his album ''[[Guitar Man (Hank Marvin album)|Guitar Man]]'' with a cover version of the song.  In 2012 [[Wreckless Eric]] and [[Amy Rigby]] recorded a version for a fund raising CD titled ''Super Hits of the Seventies'' for radio station [[WFMU]].
+The song has been covered by [[David J]] on his 2003 album ''Estranged'', [[Cake (band)|Cake]] on their 2004 album ''[[Pressure Chief]]'', [[Starflyer 59]] on their 2007 vinyl collection ''Ghosts of the Future'', and [[Bobby Bare Jr.]] on his ''American Bread'' EP. [[Hank Marvin]] released his album ''[[Guitar Man (Hank Marvin album)|Guitar Man]]'' with a cover version of the song.  In 2012 [[Wreckless Eric]] and [[Amy Rigby]] recorded a version for a fund raising CD titled ''Super Hits of the Seventies'' for radio station [[WFMU]]. In 2020, [[The Wild Feathers]] included a version of the song on their album "''Medium Rarities''".
 ==See also==
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
-==External links==
-* {{MetroLyrics song|bread|the-guitar-man}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
 {{Bread (band)}}
+{{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Guitar Man, The}}
 [[Category:1972 singles]]
 [[Category:Bread (band) songs]]
-[[Category:Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one singles]]
 [[Category:Songs written by David Gates]]
 [[Category:Rock ballads]]
 [[Category:Songs about music]]
+[[Category:Songs about musicians]]
+[[Category:Songs about guitars]]
 [[Category:1970s ballads]]
 [[Category:1972 songs]]
 [[Category:Cake (band) songs]]
 [[Category:Elektra Records singles]]
-{{1970s-pop-song-stub}}

v t e Bread
David Gates Jimmy Griffin Robb Royer Mike Botts Larry Knechtel
Studio albums	Bread On the Waters Manna Baby I'm-a Want You Guitar Man Lost Without Your Love
Compilation albums	The Best of Bread The Best of Bread, Volume 2 The Sound of Bread Anthology of Bread
Hit singles	"Make It with You" "It Don't Matter to Me" "If" "Baby I'm-a Want You" "Everything I Own" "Diary" "The Guitar Man" "Sweet Surrender" "Aubrey" "Lost Without Your Love" "Hooked on You"
Other songs	"Hold Tight"