Music Milestones, 1975: Patti Smith – Horses

Alongside with other acts such as the New York Dolls, the Ramones, Television, Talking Heads and Blondie, Patti Smith was part of the thriving musical scene of New York City in the 1970s that led to the emergence of punk rock in the United States. Although Smith is widely regarded as the godmother of punk rock, her music embraced elements of poetry and improvisation that were foreign to the basic aesthetics of punk. Despite the sophistication of Smith’s approach to music, her songs are delivered with seemingly primitive energy in Horses. In the opening track of the record, Smith recreates Van Morrison’s standard “Gloria” to yield something altogether new and greater than the original. The record contains two lengthy improvisational jams, namely “Birdland” and “Land”, where Smith gives free rein to her surreal stream-of-consciousness storytelling. “Redondo Beach” is a story of female homosexuality and death told at rocksteady pace, while “Break It Up”, co-written by Smith and Tom Verlaine, is a more conventional tune where Smith’s passionate vocals struggle with dueling guitars. I leave you with “Gloria”, which is my favorite Horses song: