Verities & Balderdash is the fourth studio album by the American singer/songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1974. "Cat's in the Cradle" was Chapin's highest charting single, finishing at #44 for the year on the 1974 Billboard year-end Hot 100 chart. The follow-up single, "I Wanna Learn a Love Song," barely entered the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. A third single, "What Made America Famous?", failed to chart. The album was certified gold on December 17, 1974.
The album was advertised with the slogan: "As only Harry can tell it."
The album was the first and only work by Chapin to exclusively use professional studio musicians, rather than his touring band, as had been the case in previous projects.
Track listing
Side One
- "Cat's in the Cradle" (Sandy Chapin, Harry Chapin) – 3:44
- "I Wanna Learn a Love Song" (Harry Chapin) – 4:19
- "Shooting Star" (Harry Chapin) – 4:02
- "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" (Harry Chapin) – 5:45
- "She Sings Songs Without Words" (Harry Chapin) – 3:31
Side Two
- "What Made America Famous?" (Harry Chapin) – 6:53
- "Vacancy" (Harry Chapin) – 4:00
- "Halfway to Heaven" (Harry Chapin) – 6:10
- "Six String Orchestra" (Harry Chapin) – 5:25