Although I love her hit with Bruce, I've never been a fan of her music but have so much respect for what an original she is in her music and writing. She's always been such a sponge for past and emerging trends in the arts and has used them to influence her own voice and sensibility. I find it fascinating reading her books and listening to her here on substack.
Love it Ellen. We are flipped on Patti Smith--I thought "Because the NIght" was terrible, and that kept me from discovering Smith until much later. I absolutely love "Horses"!
Understandable but I've never taken to punk except for a few songs here and there. You're much more of an educated and enlightened audiophile than I am. I'm what you could call a good bellwether for what the masses would like (except for novelty songs and earworms).
Thanks, Ellen. This one is taking me outside of my expertise but do feel (and I say this humbling) that it comes together quite nicely, and very glad you enjoyed it.
Have you any Kris Kristofferson albums? Beautiful, intricate songs written by a Rhodes Scholar whose focus was the mysterious William Blake, with an overlay of Shakespeare.
Kris lived so many lives - Golden Gloves champ, distance runner, rugby and football player, Army captain and Ranger, helicopter pilot and jumper, movie star - and was still a humble, generous man who, through music, showed his heart, soul, and honest spirit.
I agree wholeheartedly. I also think he's a better singer than most do - whatever technical limitations he had were more than off-set by his ability to express a lyric as deeply lived.
Thank you for the tour of the album. I think about "Gloria" fairly frequently, but haven't listened to the whole album in ages, and it's nice to have your thoughts about how it fits together.
Also, a funny coincidence that we both wrote about Horses this morning. . . .
Great post, Robert! And I think that the album cover, while being astoundingly good on its own, is a great representation of the music and its attitude.
By the way, I have a box set of Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings on CD! I can't remember where I got it from but you absolutely must get one whenever an opportunity arises.
I missed "Horses" when it first came out. My first exposure to Smith was through her big radio hit "Because the night", which, ironically, was co-written by Springsteen. I hated the song and still think it's terrible, and for that reason is was a couple of decades before I gave Smith another try. I picked up "Horses", and it was like being hit with a bomb and seeing the light all at once. It is for good reason that it's now considered one of the great albums of all time. It seems we both came to Smith late, for different reasons. Thanks for the excellent article!
Great post, Robert.
Although I love her hit with Bruce, I've never been a fan of her music but have so much respect for what an original she is in her music and writing. She's always been such a sponge for past and emerging trends in the arts and has used them to influence her own voice and sensibility. I find it fascinating reading her books and listening to her here on substack.
Love it Ellen. We are flipped on Patti Smith--I thought "Because the NIght" was terrible, and that kept me from discovering Smith until much later. I absolutely love "Horses"!
Understandable but I've never taken to punk except for a few songs here and there. You're much more of an educated and enlightened audiophile than I am. I'm what you could call a good bellwether for what the masses would like (except for novelty songs and earworms).
You are far too modest! Besides, what the masses like can be great--I give you the Beatles, for one!
Thanks, Ellen. This one is taking me outside of my expertise but do feel (and I say this humbling) that it comes together quite nicely, and very glad you enjoyed it.
Have you any Kris Kristofferson albums? Beautiful, intricate songs written by a Rhodes Scholar whose focus was the mysterious William Blake, with an overlay of Shakespeare.
Kris lived so many lives - Golden Gloves champ, distance runner, rugby and football player, Army captain and Ranger, helicopter pilot and jumper, movie star - and was still a humble, generous man who, through music, showed his heart, soul, and honest spirit.
I most certainly do and wrote about him a short while after he passed: https://www.listeningsessions.ca/p/what-would-kris-kristofferson-do.
Thank you. As influential as he was, Kris is often overlooked and unmentioned.
I agree wholeheartedly. I also think he's a better singer than most do - whatever technical limitations he had were more than off-set by his ability to express a lyric as deeply lived.
I agree. No one could interpret Kris’ songs the way he could. He lived them and knew the feeling and emotion behind every word.
Thank you for the tour of the album. I think about "Gloria" fairly frequently, but haven't listened to the whole album in ages, and it's nice to have your thoughts about how it fits together.
Also, a funny coincidence that we both wrote about Horses this morning. . . .
You're welcome - yes, your email is right next to mine in my inbox and noticed the connection right away!
The introductory confession dropped like a grenade. Very brave.
Great piece. Smith has the kind of integrity that cannot but win you over.
(But I implore you to pick up a copy of ‘Nina Simone Sings the Blues’.)
Thank you, Michalis! If I see a copy of it, I will buy it!
Great post, Robert! And I think that the album cover, while being astoundingly good on its own, is a great representation of the music and its attitude.
By the way, I have a box set of Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings on CD! I can't remember where I got it from but you absolutely must get one whenever an opportunity arises.
I come across them, I, for sure, will buy them!
I missed "Horses" when it first came out. My first exposure to Smith was through her big radio hit "Because the night", which, ironically, was co-written by Springsteen. I hated the song and still think it's terrible, and for that reason is was a couple of decades before I gave Smith another try. I picked up "Horses", and it was like being hit with a bomb and seeing the light all at once. It is for good reason that it's now considered one of the great albums of all time. It seems we both came to Smith late, for different reasons. Thanks for the excellent article!
Oh, you're welcome, Charles. It's an album that gets better with each listen.
I like Patti Smith as a wordsmith, but her music does nothing for me.
I appreciate that - it's all a matter of one's personal taste.
Not really...personal taste is a lazy reply.
Patti Smith is crap. That's my opinion.
I would disagree on the first point but am genuinely interested on the second point, and your reasoning.
Your disagreement is ignored