Horses

by

Patti Smith

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I saw Patti read poetry alone. I saw Patti & Lenny at St. Marks Church. I saw Patti, Lenny & Richard at Max's. I was there at her last gig at the Academy of Music before a long hiatus. I rejoiced at her comeback performance at the Ritz after Fred "Sonic" Smith's passing. I saw Patti so often she once told me at a CCNY poetry reading, "You've seen me more than my manager!" All that I love about rock & roll is embodied in "Horses." When I listen I hear the Shangrilas in her girl-group vocals. Early Stones with Brian Jones in her swagger. Hardly ever do poetry and 3-chord rock marry so seamlessly. When she intones, "Suddenly, Johnny, gets the feeling, he's surrounded by horses, horses, horses...do you know how to pony?" it still makes my heart beat faster. Patti Smith is the original Riot Grrrl. The first woman, after Grace Slick, to not be a "my man done left me" victim. She hit a home run out of the ballpark with this record, uneclipsed even 30 years later. I still listen to everything she records, and see her & the band as often as they play live. She set the bar high. It hasn't dated in all these years.

As a work of art, Patti Smith's "Horses" is most impressive. Full of passion and undeniably the creative work of a masterful visionary, it is startling, remarkable, and always compelling.

Having said that, however, I've got to admit that it seldom goes for a spin inside my CD player. Perhaps it remains in my collection for the prestige and panache it represents, but on those few occasions I do give it a listen it is only in bits and pieces given its rather somber, dour and monotonous tone and its relentless seriousness. Even its few attempts at flat out rock and roll (covers of "Gloria," "Land of A Thousand Dances," and the bonus cut cover of "My Generation") come across just a little too arty.

There is no denying Patti Smith's impact on the music scene of the past quarter century, and for that she will always have my unyielding admiration, awe, and respect, but if one wants to catch a glimpse of good old fashioned rock and roll a la punk, one is best to stick with debut albums by The Clash and The Pretenders both of whom, of course, are unimaginable without Patti Smith's remarkable vision.