I had the much belated privilege (besides Bread's reunion tour in 1996) of FINALLY seeing David Gates in solo concert at the Orange County Fair in August 1998 and the Crazy Horse in Irvine, CA in January 2000. Much to my surprise before he played the "Clouds, Rain" suite at the Irvine concert, he apologized to his audience as to the length of this piece.... something I believe he never should have felt he had to do. He said his inspiration or motivation for this extended song came from the lengthy pieces that came from the Moody Blues, another of my favorite groups and a contemporary of Bread.

"first" has always struck me as showing David Gates' most inner, introspective side more than any of his Bread songs or his remaining five solo albums. Some of the songs like "Clouds," "Sail Around the World," and "Soap" have almost a "mourning" quality they are so personal in nature and tone. Somehow this does not come as total surprise as this album was in production at the time Bread disbanded and Gates was embarking on his solo career. This album of songs can make me think, motivate me, feel content, and feel sad, and give me an inner peace like no other.

I have three "first" albums as the many times I played them, the sound quality is less than good. I was elated to see this album finally released on CD format. My only disappointment is that this is an English import as the only other Gates solo album from his '70's/early 80's releases on CD is "Goodbye Girl" as a Japanese import. David Gates has so many other fine songs on all his other solo albums that have not been transfered to CD. Many of his solo songs can be found on the Bread 2-CD set, "Retrospective... four songs from "first"; two songs from "Never Let Her Go"; two from "Goodbye Girl"; and, sadly, only one song each from his "Falling In Love Again" and "Take Me Now" albums. "Falling In Love Again," and "The Rainbow Song" (yeah!) from the former and "It's You,"; "Still In Love: and "Vanity" from the latter pop out in my mind as wonderful songs that will pull you in and are not yet available on CD to my knowledge. Also, anyone who loves Karen Carpenter's, "Merry Christmas Darling," will at least tie it or move it to second place after hearing David Gates' "Come Home For Christmas."

It is very disappointing that Elektra and/or Artista hasn't been more motivated to release a "Best of David Gates" compilitation of these five solo albums. (I can name eighteen songs I'd like to see on such a project- hint, hint.) Of these five albums though, I would recommend "first." If you want to hear David Gates open himself up in song and verse like no other artist I have ever heard, buy this CD. I promise you will not be disappointed.


David Gates "First" - A Gem of Pop, Rock and Classical   November 8, 2000
Raymond Pilch (Piscataway, NJ USA)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

This album is my all-time favorite. For those who know of David Gates only as a pop music star with Bread this album shows what wide range of talent David has in composing, producing and performing music. The embodiment of David's talent is brought out in the classic Suite: Clouds and Rain. Listen to it in a dark room and turn the volume up for an incredible experience. It starts with soft piano accompanied by background rolling thunder. The song explores how one's melancholy feelings can be in stark contrast to seeing God's natural beauty (clouds) while riding in an airplane. The words are deep and spiritual. Midway through the uncut version of this song the storm ends, the plane lands, and the music progresses from the slow piano to an upbeat, rocking melody performed on a Moog synthesizer once the rainbow appears. The mood of the words and music are now positive and inspiring.

Another song showing David's incredible range of styles is "Help Is On The Way". This is a rocking song about how so many of us are trying to stay one step ahead of the crowd in our rushed lives. A buddy of mine in college was a drummer in a rock band and he was floored when he heard the drums in this song. You'll also find great romantic songs in this album, especially "Sight and Sound". Finally, my life's philosophy was crystallized from the song "Sail Around The World". It's a song about how you can feel content with your life without needing to achieve fame and fortune. Whenever life gets crazy I love to listen to this song to get my bearings straight.

In summary, if you love music with great words about life and love this is the album for you.


"first" best describes the music and this artist   April 19, 2003
CWC (Long Beach, CA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

... This album of songs can make me think, motivate me, feel content, and feel sad, and give me an inner peace like no other. I have three "first" albums as the many times I played them, the sound quality is less than good. I was elated to see this album finally released on CD format. My only disappointment is that this is an English import as the only other Gates solo album from his '70's/early 80's releases on CD is "Goodbye Girl" as a Japanese import. ... If you want to hear David Gates open himself up in song and verse like no other artist I have ever heard, buy this CD. I promise you will not be disappointed.


"First" Rate Gates   June 20, 2006
T. Atkins (Baltimore, MD USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Being a diehard Breadhead for the last God-knows-how-many years, I finally found this true gem of a debut CD less than a year ago, and I must say I'm not the "Last", I mean, least bit disappointed. Obviously the term "disappoint" has never been in David's vocabulary - his bulging resume' is proof enough of that fact.

Granted, I had already heard three-and-a-half tunes from this album on the essential Bread Retrospective 2-CD set (which are all "First"-rate), but I felt I just had to listen to the rest of his 1973 session activities. And for the most part he sounds revitalized and fresh, especially when you take into account his initial newfound freedom from a powerhouse vehicle such as Bread: Rockers including "Help Is On The Way" and "Sight & Sound" as well as the "Oye Como Va"-sounding "Lorilee" truly introduce to the listener a nicely refined Gates recipe.

Of course, the album's centerpiece, the near-nine-minute "Suite: Clouds/Rain," really gives this album the potential to get off the ground (though saleswise, unfortunately, it didn't - and that's a darn shame). For instance, the "Rain" verse, both melodically and lyrically, bears an interesting resemblance to something like "Martha My Dear" or anything done by the White-Album-era Paul McCartney. And, of course, the closing up-tempo Moog solo (I'm not quite sure whether that was played by Gates or Larry Knechtel - if anyone knows please tell me), which allows the entire band to stretch out, leaves the listener wanting more and more ...

There are other fine songs on the album as well; not all of them work, however. "Do You Believe He's Comin', in particular, sounds like a Neil Young cop-off whose subject matter borders on the overwrought - but hey, whoever said musical geniuses were perfect? (I sure as heck didn't ... oh well).

All told, a remarkable solo debut from a remarkable artist. Two more standouts were to follow: "Never Let Her Go" (despite its 26-minute-short brevity) and the respectable 1994 comeback "Love Is Always Seventeen," but "First" is the "Best" place to start ... CIAO Breadheads!!