Quick quiz; what first formed the basis of your understanding of Patti Smith?
A. Her twisted, poetic mutation of rock n' roll on early songs like "Pissing in the River"
B. Her top 20 hit that she co-wrote with Bruce Springsteen, "Because the Night".
C. Gilda Radner's gob-smacking impersonation of her (as "Candy Slice") on SNL.
D. Her "totally awesome" eighties pop hit "The Warrior" with Scandal.
No way
If you chose A give yourself 20 Rock Nerd Points, for B take 5 RNP, for C take 1 and as for D, well the eighties was a looong time ago but if you STILL think that song is by the same woman that's -100 RNP's. (My answer? C naturally, and I am not ashamed because Gilda Radner (R.I.P), possibly the most gifted performer in the obscenely-talented Not Ready For Prime Time Players would be my nominee for Woman With the Greatest Right To Kick Christopher Hitchens in the Balls."
Here's a live Patti set from '79, certainly one of her peaks.
The Poet Princess Of The Parking Lot link is in the comments
(A SECOND LINK - SCROLL DOWN IN THE COMMENTS - HAS BEEN ADDED FOR ANYONE EXPERIENCING TROUBLE WITH THE FIRST ONE!)
Speaking of comments, tell us about your first encounter with Patti Smith.
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LEAVE SOME WORDS BEHIND!
http://www.mediafire.com/?2x2ydu2vju5ag3t
I was about 12 years old, and babysitting my cousin's kids. Saturday Night Live was on, and Patti and the band were the musical guests. I was riveted--I couldn't figure out if she was a guy or a girl, it rocked, and the drummer jumped over the kit at the end of the song! Took me years to find out who she was, but I never forgot it.
ReplyDeleteWhen unzipping it appears that track 4. is corrupt.
ReplyDeleteRijn B
Yeah BIG thanx for this (unfortunately) track 4 IS corrupt (any chance of a reup of that track?) I do remember watching her on the OLd Grey Whistle Test in the UK in what 77 and being knocked out while my Dad thought it was the biggest load of bollox of all time...that is how I knew it was great!
ReplyDeleteThanx again!
i remember that candy slyce skit- i can say that I first heard of patti smith with r nr r nggr.
ReplyDeleteone thing that has always pleased me about patti is how truly humble and warm of a person she is on stage and how absolutely thankful she seems.
good songs-political imbecile
ReplyDeleteFIXED !?!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mediafire.com/download.php?25l4csptn3hi07f
Lemme know
fuzz
Good yarn.
Mona
I've heard that performance divided the nation.
Nazz
Collect your well-deserved RNP at the door!
Anon
I'm gonna go with Nazz's take on her.
Thanks for this! Came across Patti when Horses made its debut in 1975 - she's a one-off and has always been an inspiration - great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, i've been with Patti a month ago,only for few minutes,but i remember this like a dream.
ReplyDeletethank you!!
ReplyDeleteI was a member of her fan club in the late 70s. I believe her sister ran it if I'm not mistaken. As much as I worship Horses Radio Ethiopia is still my favorite.
ReplyDeletei loved patti smith the first time i heard her, which was when 'horses' was released and i heard that unforgettable wail coming from a college radio show i enjoyed, but my introduction to her was years before. in 1973, she wrote an absolutely brilliant review of todd rundgren's "a wizard, a true star;" do a search, you can find it. i was already a todd fan, and i knew i would be buying the record when i was able, but reading patti's hallucinatory evaluation would have forced me to find it if i hadn't already been so inclined. when i did get the album months later, i was amazed to find, tucked inside the sleeve, a folded piece of paper, 3" x 7" maybe, a printed blow-up of a band-aid with a patti smith poem called "star fever" superimposed over the image. i treasure that album, not to mention everything that patti has touched since. and i saw gilda's candy slice the first it aired; she was and always will be one of snl's greatest gifts to the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, Jeffen.
ReplyDeleteI was already into Patti but seeing her open three shows for Dylan in Philadelphia in 1995, upon her return to live performance, was -- well, words are failing me right now. Short version is, if you have a chance to see her live, DO NOT MISS IT. Her shows start off at an energy level most shows never reach at all and go up from there. She keeps every promise rock 'n' roll ever made: musical, physical, emotional, sexual, spiritual. I've been blessed to see her five more times since. She's the closest thing our culture has to a high priestess.
On my blog, those interested can find a collection of Patti rarities, a powerful 2005 concert, and a great interview.
http://therarestuff.blogspot.com
E. None of the Above
ReplyDeleteOr: Every rock journalist (...or rock journalist wannabe), who was (...or ever wanted to be), from NYC and writing back in the 80's...
And I'll take Patty Smyth over her any day.
Thanks for the fix.
ReplyDeleteRijn B
Gilda Radner for me. Then, A. Then B.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic post-you made my (birth)day yesterday with that...Cheers!!
ReplyDelete1980 the soundtrack from the movie "Times Square" - cutout bin. Then the "Because The Night" single on 45. Then started collecting everything I could find by her.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Love your blog.. Never a dull post.
ReplyDeleteWhoops, forgot to give you the tracklisting, and to mention that Richard Hell had left Television the previous month.
ReplyDeleteFire Engine / Judy / Poor Circulation / Breakin' My Heart / Soldier Boy (Foxhole) / (Patti Smith then joins in) We're Going To Have A Real Good Time Together / Redondo Beach / Birdland / Space Monkey / Distant Fingers / Gloria / (Second set without Patti Smith) Venus / Marquee Moon / Friction
Cheers, Dave Sez.
Worth
ReplyDeleteWhat a pithy comment, bless you.
Dave
THANKS - cool addition and thanks all for your work over at KYC!
I read her new book a few months back. The Truth and honesty shine through every page. I just read here that she sang the song "warrior". I never knew.
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