Horses
by Patti Smith
Barnes & Noble link
Patti Smith wasn't about to enter the world of punk rock, and later be crowned the Godmother, with a quiet beginning. No, the Chicago native was going on strong, taking Van Morrison's classic "Gloria" and turn it into a rocking blues jam with injections of her poetry, beginning famously with "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine". While the album is crowned with the iconic yet minimalistic photo of Smith in casual work attire, photographed by the late and great Robert Mapplethorpe, Horses reveals to have more than what the cover shows.
Smith leads the charge with her raspy vocals, an arsenal of famous names and faces helping her with her declaration. It helps to build your cred in the punk rock world with having John Cale producing the album with Tom Verlaine adding his guitar talent. But the proof would be in the pudding, or in this case, the songs. And Smith proved consistently through of her power.
"Birdland", named after the famous club, begins with a gentle piano and follows with Smith's soft voice narrating of a funeral procession. Throughout she would burst into singing, as if going into over-ecstatic joy, but stopping to sing-speak in a calm tone. The piano is joined by a wailing guitar, adding more mood to the piece. This time, a jarring sense of spirit beside the melancholy from the piano. Her poetry flows with ease, given that she had done plenty of readings.
"Free Money" is pretty much what it says, a song with a driving beat that makes you jump around, pretending you are at CBGB during a live show. Even when she shouts the title over and over, Smith isn't threatening. She just wants the money, who doesn't? She wants the nice things, make her loved ones happy. And you can't help but agree as you shout along with her.
"Land", probably the most well-known song from this album, becomes much like "Gloria". Quiet and with Smith's poetry, but launches into rock guitar with the hypnotic chant of "horses, horses, horses..." and segues beautifully into a cover of "Land of a Thousand Dances". Coupled with the poem, the song choice is perfect. It is all about freedom, and dancing is the universal symbol of that.
Smith becomes a veteran in one album, which is hard for most debuts to do. She honed her skills and waited for the right time. Not like most punk debuts at the time, edgy yet gentle, Horses established everything you ever needed to know on Patti Smith and what she was capable to do. The album leaves you with an aura of energy that will infect you with a sense of determination. As if in her own way, Smith wants to inspire as she had been inspired.
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