Patti Smith Horses - Legacy Edition

Art-punk, punk, or whatever you want to call it started showing its teeth back in the’70s.  One of the forerunners of this style of music, ex-Chicagoan and Creem magazine writer living in The Big Apple was NYC-cool Patti Smith.  She tagged up with Lenny Kaye and eventually recorded “Hey Joe,” and “Piss Factory,” releasing the tracks independently.  Forming the strong Patti Smith Group, she, like others of her era and musical persuasion, and buoyed by essential appearances in the NYC scene, most notably CBGB, helped to reshape a seemingly stagnant rock era back into a fresh and dynamic force. 

The elements of Smith's music is her poetic intensity and 4 very good musicians, together touching off a firestorm of a new way to listen to music. With Clive Davis as her champion and a new upstart label, Arista, run by Davis, Patti Smith’s debut album, Horses, appeared to strong critical acclaim.  Her credibility was helped by NYC-savvy, John Cale, ex of The Velvet Underground, who produced this potent debut.

Recorded and released in 1975, Horses, with its blend of frenetic guitars and “in touch” lyrics provided by the beatnik poetess, the album can only be described as one of the best of its generation.  Most know of this album and would likely not argue the importance of Horses, especially on a historical level.  Artistically, the album’s power can keep one enthralled, even 30 years later.

Legacy teamed with Arista to produce an honoring anniversary issue of Horses along with a bonus disc of the album performed live in early 2005, London.  Remastered, an added bonus cover track of “My Generation,” and a reproduction of the original cover, protected in an O-card slipcover, along with a bonus disc, and an expansive booklet with photos, lyrics, and insightful essays (one a 1975 Creem dialogue from esteemed critic, Lester Bangs), make this reissue a no-brainer in the “update your library” department.

The remastered original album tracks sound excellent here as well as the added bonus track of “My Generation,” itself recorded in 1975 and produced by Cale (he plays bass on the track).  The lesbian-themed encounter of “Gloria,” which borrows lightly from Van Morrison’s song of the same name, makes her poetry and sneers the new music, creating a build that escalates into a speeding train.  She does the same with the epic 3-part “Land.”  The descriptive poignancy of “Birdland” also is a standout.  Much of Horses is remarkable for its blend of poetry, new music style, and influence.  A new star of rock was born in 1975.

The included live disc, recorded in London at the Royal Festival Hall in June of 2005, 30 years later and showing, not only the importance of the album but also Patti Smith’s ability to communicate the album after a long time away from it as a whole.  Smith’s performance is as impassioned as her original work, right down to the sneer at the beginning of “Gloria.”  30 years later, Horses stand well among classics.  This anniversary reissue from Legacy is the definitive issue of Horses, classic in every way.

Every way.