This is my favorite Bread album. Earlier in the 70's they produced a string of hits as well as solid album cuts. As Sir George Martin once noted, .. we look to an album to encapsulate a period of time, usually fond, by which we can associate... . This album works on that level, and some other levels. Fortunately, these songs stand up to many of Bread's finest. Opening with the catchy melody of "Hooked On You" the listener is intrigued enough to pay attention to all the cuts. Even years after their last release, the definitive Bread sound is there- and still sounding fresh! "She's The Only One" is also a good moving tune followed by the name sake title song, "Lost Without Your Love". If the melody here, simple and sweet, is not enough, then do catch the final lyric- "if we had love before ... we can have it back once more." Tough to beat that. "Change Of Heart" is a nice change of pace- very listenable-a la Bread. Without being too long winded, I will focus on one last tune- "Belonging". This starts as it might be a David Gates solo as Lennon's "Working Class Hero" or Marley's "Redemption Song". Gates could have made it work too. However the Bread signature instrumentation is beautifully woven into the fabric of the song, raising it to an even higher level. Gates has come a long way since he penned The Murmaids' "Popsicles and Icicles" a dozen or so years earlier. This album is classic Bread.
No doubt Wounded Bird Records knew the CD buying public would eat this release up as they chose to skimp on the "extras" (the reason I withheld a star). At slightly more than 36 minutes for 11 songs, an out take or two or an alternate version would have been welcomed. Perhaps some liner notes, recording dates, etc. could help justify the price of the CD. Oh well, at least we get a gatefold which is more than Clapton gets on many of his releases.
In summation, this is a very GOOD Bread release from 1976. Buy it- you won't be disappointed.

I was elated when I found out (3 months later, but better late than never) that "Lost Without Your Love" had finally seen the light of CD. Every music fan surely has their "last holdout(s)" when they can say everything from vinyl they care to own has finally been released on compact disc, and this album is mine.

I'm making a space for it between "Guitar Man" and Jackson Browne's "Late For the Sky"!

I can't be objective about this album - during the winter holidays of my senior year I found the LP in the racks at the local record store and lovingly carried it home (after dropping off my girlfriend) and dropped the needle into the groove with great anticipation. I had already worn out my 45 single of "Lost Without Your Love / Change Of Heart" purchased 6 weeks earlier, and as a long time fanatic of the songs and vocals of David Gates (and partner James Griffin) from their start in 1969, I was completely captivated by hearing new songs from these guys. Since their breakup in 1973, there had been great solo albums by Gates (First & Never Let Her Go) and Griffin (Breakin Up Is Easy), so I wasn't totally starved, but it was a BREAD album! Like most, I was captivated by David Gates work, and LOST WITHOUT YOUR LOVE includes some of his very best. The hit title song and the 2nd single "Hooked On You" are killer, and he dropped in a classic with "Chosen One" as well. James Griffin's fantastic "She's The Only One" has been on most of the Bread CD compilations, and "Change Of Heart", a rare songwriting collaboration between Griffin & Gates is one of his classics. Griffin's vocal "Lay Your Money Down" was actually recorded by Bread in 1973 for their "next" album (unfinished/unreleased). LOST WITHOUT YOUR LOVE is a great late 70's classic with wonderful songs by a talented and creative band.
NOTE: James Griffin and Mike Botts have both recently passed away. Griffin released a 2nd solo album in Europe on Polydor ("James Griffin" - 1977), and recorded many great songs with Terry Sylvester, Black Tie, and The Remingtons post-Bread. David Gates has released 4 more solo albums since Bread disbanded (again) in late 1977. BREAD toured in support of the Lost Without Your Love album in 1977 (great show!) and also in 1995-1996 with the original lineup (still great!).

This album is definitely the best release by bread, and it is about time it was released on CD. With 'guitar man' (1972),there was quite a bit of experimentation and genre swapping, but this album really keeps to what the band does best, in terms of quality ballads and melodic soft rock. Gates is the main composer with the ballad 'hooked on you' to start things off, which is a typical melodic bread love ballad, with soft guitars and orchestra. His classic piano ballad 'lost without your love' has an incredible verse and beautiful uplifting chorus, with a great electric guitar solo. The synths at the end are quite simply ethereal. 'Belonging' is a stripped down ballad, with acoustic picking and orchestra, similar in style to other Gates numbers like 'diary' and 'aubrey', a fantastic track. 'The chosen one' is also amazing, with a solid band effort and excellent keyboards and bass and a lovely lead vocal. Another soft rock song. 'Hold tight' is a happy discoish rock song, which is ever so slightly twee, but enjoyable nonetheless. Gates also composes the Griffin sung 'lay your money down', which is the only rock song on the album, and is fantastic, with multi layered vocals and great instrumentation, although the drums seemed to be panned extreme left, which somewhat lessens the potential heaviness of the track.
Griffin co-writes with Gates on 'change of heart' which is another delicious ballad, with great high vocals from Griffin, and some nice acoustic guitar and flute work. He composes with Royer, who was previously in bread on the remaining tracks. 'She's the only one' is a great country-esque ballad, and 'fly away' has some climactic vocals that really reach into the high notes and this melody sticks in the head, accompanied by lots of acoustic strummed guitars. The album has yet two more Griffin/Royer ballads at the end, 'today's the first day' which has a beautiful verse and nice backing vocals and, another lovely falsetto performance in places for 'lady of sorror', which closes out the album.
A fantastic album, chock full of ballads. Definitely their greatest release ever. Highly recommended.

Discography Complete, thanks Wounded Bird Records. David Gates only CD`s availables First and Goodbye girl, i have CD`s Never let her go, Falling in love again, Take me now, but they were not recorded by Elektra, but by different labels.