Well, I couldn't resist taking a quick look at this thread on the way out the door this morning, and now I'm VERY SORRY. All the way to work, like a skipping record: "MOMMA'S got the power...MOMMA'S got the power...MOMMA'S got the power...MOMMA'S got the power..."
If I find myself whistling it, I must hunt you all down and cause you grave bodily damage.
You know, if there is a Rock-and-Roll Hell--and I'm convinced there is; a good God would not let these deeds go unpunished--if there's a Rock-and-Roll Hell, then David Gates and Bread will be consigned to the lowest depths.
Joining David Gates "of Hell" in the Bread-and-jam session will be: Mac Davis and Bobby Goldsboro (a package deal), Barry Manilow (big crescendo there, Bar), and . . . who only made bad songs? Joni Mitchell/Carole King (who are really the same person)?
It's tough, because even some of the worst singers/groups made at least one song I liked: Seals and Crofts, "Closer to You, Closer to Me" (or vice versa); America, "Sister Goldenhair Surprise" (OK, you may disagree with me on that one). But you see my point.
And so the only reason Neil Diamond gets off easy with only a few thousand years in Rock-and-Roll Purgatory is because for about his first two-three years (1966-68), he did make some rather catchy songs. That was before those hot August nights of songs sung blue with Cracklin' Rosie and Sweet Caroline in Brother Love's Travelin' Salvation Show.