I was fifteen when I fell in love with Patti Smith. I was too young for punk and the likes of Duran Duran and the other new romantic poseurs did nothing for me. I saw the record sleeve and I just knew. It was the icy gaze and the stick thin frame; the black pelmet of hair, the sheer arrogance of the stance. The photograph was taken by the art house photographer, Robert Mappleforth.
The thing with Patti was that she made worlds collide. New York art school sensibilities, the poetry of Rimbaud and visceral rock and roll met to produce a melange that is inimitable and indespensable. 'Horses' was an album that predated punk rock. It also transcended it. A combination of churning garage rock and vocals of power, range and complexity that haven't been matched by anyone since.
It was a one off. Everything just gels. The Patti Smith group never produced anything so startlingly original again. She personified everyhing that is good about New York. That arrogant New Jersey twang and the refusal to believe that anything is impossible. Raging against the world yet able to contemplate the sublime.
Some music is unclassifiable; it can't be imitated or improved upon. This is as good as it gets.
6 comments:
I agree 100% A work of genius - and she was kinda hot - I have this thing for Winona Ryder - who isn't dissimilar.
Wow Garfer! You came out of the blocks all cocky and loud, but this is a really great blog, and I'm ALWAYS surprised about what you write.
Nice one. Keep it up.
(Was that patronising? I don't mean to be)
Oh yeah, just realised that I have linked to you. Tis now done.
Ta Herge
This blogging is quite compulsive. I never have any idea what I'm going to post, something just pops up (no Bo Selecta jokes please).
Thanks for the link.
I echo Herge. Tina was right about you. You're a good man. Keep it up!! :-)btw: you're linked on mine as well.
mhn
ta for the link. will link to you also.
;-)
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