Speakers Corner Records SMITH PATTI - Horses

Patti Smith, "the first published poet to turn her poetry entirely into rock 'n roll and lure experimental rock fans into the forbidden cinema of her hallucinating imagination" (New York Times), started out as a career changer. Initially, Lenny Kaye accompanied her author readings on guitar, and star photographer Robert Mapplethorpe contributed money for the underground cult single "Hey Joe." Emboldened by success, Smith delivered "Horses" in 1975, an album in which she fused rock riffs and speech rhythms to create a punky, trashy blend of sounds. The scene was electrified, fantasizing about the "best garage sound of the '70s" ("Creem") and speculating that Smith had taken the "stuff of Rimbaud, Burroughs, Dylan and the Velvet Underground on a hot shot and squeezed it under her skin" ("Sounds"). In later productions, dismissed as sentimental and self-indulgent outpourings, the rock lyricist was unable to match "Horses'" metallic hard-edged and unembellished language. Thus, this record remains the impressive one-off of a singing visionary of rock 'n roll. This Speakers Corner production was made using 100% pure analog master tape and mastering. All licenses and GEMA contributions have been paid. We recommend the use of "L'Art du Son" LP cleaner for wet washing your vinyl. Even new records from high-quality production will benefit from it once again.

Line-up:
Patti Smith - Vocals, Guitar
Richard Sohl - Piano
Lenny Kaye - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Tom Verlaine, Allen Lanier - Guitars
Ivan Kral - Bass, Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals
Jay Dee Daugherty - Drums

Title:
Side A
1. Gloria: In Excelsis Deo/Gloria 5:54
2. Redondo Beach 3:24
3. Birdland 9:16
4. Free Money 3:47

Side B
1. Kimberly 4:26
2. Break It Up 4:05
3. Land: Horses/Land, Of A Thousand Dances/La Mer (De) 9:36
4. Elegy 2:42

Technique: Recorded: January 1975 at Electric Ladyland Studios, New York City, by Bernie Kirsh. Production: John Cale.