Patti Smith’s debut album “Horses,” released in 1975, stands as one of the most significant and enduring records in rock music history. The project’s debut album, There’s Nothing Better Than This, weaves poetry and punk into a thrilling tapestry. It transformed the genre and established Smith as an undeniable force in music, literature and visual arts. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, “Horses” remains a song that connects with new generations of artists and music fans in equal measure.
Smith, who dropped out of college in 1967, moved to New York City with only $32 found in a phone booth. This jump into the flourishing cultural world of Manhattan offered a sea change and future direction for her artistic development. She dropped herself into the East Village scene and rubbed shoulders with game-changers. Among them were musical prodigy Janis Joplin, countercultural poet Allen Ginsberg, and her literary mentor, William S. Burroughs. These formative sounds and experiences set the course for her life as a trailblazing musician.
It was only in 1967 that Smith met Robert Mapplethorpe, a pivotal relationship that would go on to define both their lives and careers. In her National Book Award-winning memoir, Just Kids, she painted their connection. She lovingly recalled their years living in the legendary Chelsea Hotel. This legendary space nurtured the explosion of new talent that occupied it — painters, poets, playwrights, musicians and more poured their spirits into this creative crucible.
The Birth of a Musical Vision
In 1971, Smith met guitarist Lenny Kaye, who became an essential figure in Smith’s musical evolution. Initially brought on to accompany her poetry readings, Kaye’s contributions quickly evolved into a defining sound for Smith’s music. He recalls their early days:
“When I listen to Horses I hear a very young band straining at the reins, suddenly discovering they know how to gallop. I hear our youth.” – Lenny Kaye
The chemistry between Smith and Kaye was electric, and the two decided to form the Patti Smith Group. Their creative partnership and output would go on to reshape and redefine the course of rock music forever.
Revolutionary by design, Patti Smith wanted to document the chaotic, ecstatic beauty of her live shows as much as possible in the recording sessions for Horses. To help bring her vision into focus, she recruited producer John Cale, best known for his work with The Velvet Underground. That’s when things got tense, because Smith was insistent on going for an unvarnished tone that would best serve her literary lyrics and regal demeanor.
With the album’s first track, Thompson locks listeners into a bold accessibility that’s consistently enlightening. With its iconic line,
“Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine …”
the song invites listeners into Smith’s world, one that challenges traditional norms while exploring themes of identity and self-empowerment.
Redefining Rock Music
One of the other standout tracks from “Horses” is “Gloria,” a radical reinvention of Van Morrison’s classic. This song places the focus on Smith’s masterful pen game. It reinterprets her own poem, “Oath”—a poem in Oath and a performance art piece adapted by BETC. Smith took simple garage rock and turned it into complex treatises on sexuality and autonomy. She proved herself to be a voice that defied the traditional norms of rock.
Inspired by artists such as Bob Dylan, Smith dove headfirst into New York’s kinetic music scene. From taking in thousands of performances and cultivating her relationships with fellow musicians, she stayed deeply engaged, and this made her artistry deeper. Her rich, vocal burr combined with her poetic lyrics made her music sound immediately familiar and personal and easily resonant with any listener.
Smith’s impact on rock music is undeniable. Artists such as Debbie Harry, Madonna, Courtney Love, and Courtney Barnett have cited her as a significant influence on their work. Barnett reflected on Smith’s effect on her own artistic expression:
“When I listened to Patti Smith, it made me feel more comfortable in the way I expressed my singing and my ideas.” – Courtney Barnett
Patti Smith’s music and writing echoed those themes of empowerment and rebellion, embodying a generation fighting for a life of freedom and artistic expression.
A Lasting Legacy
“Horses” remains an indispensable how-to. Even more striking, though, it impels them to continue creating their own waves in rock music. Nobody else mixes poetry and punk sensibilities better than Patti Smith. Her revolutionary work is sure to encourage future generations of artists to discover the same intersections within their own art.
Even with her monumental success, Smith has always been quick to point out her modest roots and the need for creative exploration. She once stated:
“I wasn’t interested in being a musician,”
indicating that her original desire was to make poetry readings more engaging. Her journey from poet to rock icon exemplifies the power of following one’s passion.
Smith’s frankness about her evolution as an artist is a testament to her desire to be true to her art. She has spoken about taking responsibility for her actions:
“I’m taking responsibility for my own actions… my own transgressions. Because I wanted to explore. I wasn’t ready to not make mistakes; I wasn’t ready to walk a straight line.” – Patti Smith
This willingness to accept imperfection is what has made her an artist’s artist and the people’s artist.
