Patti Smith is severely under appreciated

[IMMusicRulz]

I know a lot of people look up to her as an influence, but when it comes to women in music, she rarely gets mentioned. Everyone talks about Stevie Nicks, Madonna, Britney Spears et al. But not Patti Smith.

She’s collaborated with Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Stipe of REM and even dated Allan Lanier, the late guitarist/keyboardist for Blue Oyster Cult.

But what do you think is Patti Smith’s best song? I think Because The Night, Birdland, Gloria and the Land of a Thousand Dances/Horses medley are fantastic.

And her husband, Sonic Fred Smith of MC5, is a fairly underrated guitarist too. He rarely shows up on the Greatest Rock Guitarists of All Time lists. Even Morrissey claimed that as a teenager in England in 1975, he bought a copy of Horses and said that Patti Smith is intriguing without being boring.

If you have any favorite songs by Patti Smith, post them here. You’ll be glad you did.

 

[posttoastie]

 

[omahaaudio]

I've seen Patti Smith. She's not really any good live.

 

[hemingway]

Seems to me she gets plenty of respect and appreciation. Definitely has legend status.

I've enjoyed a few of her books recently, too, although the last one, Year of the Monkey was not great.

 

[nojazzhere]

I know a lot of people look up to her as an influence, but when it comes to women in music, she rarely gets mentioned. Everyone talks about Stevie Nicks, Madonna, Britney Spears et al. But not Patti Smith.

She’s collaborated with Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Stipe of REM and even dated Allan Lanier, the late guitarist/keyboardist for Blue Oyster Cult.

But what do you think is Patti Smith’s best song? I think Because The Night, Birdland, Gloria and the Land of a Thousand Dances/Horses medley are fantastic.

And her husband, Sonic Fred Smith of MC5, is a fairly underrated guitarist too. He rarely shows up on the Greatest Rock Guitarists of All Time lists. Even Morrissey claimed that as a teenager in England in 1975, he bought a copy of Horses and said that Patti Smith is intriguing without being boring.

If you have any favorite songs by Patti Smith, post them here. You’ll be glad you did.

I like Because the Night, which I understand she borrowed from Springsteen (with his permission) and "finished" writing it. Springsteen liked it, and gave her co-writing credits. Here's a great cover (IMHO).

 

[Matt Sarad]

I saw her a few years ago. Band was great. She likes to talk.

 

[JRapp]

I appreciate some of her material, but when people start talking about Rimbaud and Mallarme and play 4/4 garage rock I kinda blow it off. Helen Wheels was a lot more fun.

 

[Brad Pittiful]

dancing barefoot is a toe tapper

 

[TCA117]

RRHOF seems like recognition to me. Absent Because The Night - not so sure she'd be in though. That song gave her mainstream credit, and she's said as much.

 

[charlie chitlin]

I think she's one of those cool PEOPLE who can make some OK music, but her main art is being Patti Smith.
Because the Night just sounds like a fluffy Pop song to me...it could be Pat Benatar on an off day.

 

[tele_savales]

She is also severely over-rated.

 

[boris bubbanov]

I think she's one of those cool PEOPLE who can make some OK music, but her main art is being Patti Smith.
Because the Night just sounds like a fluffy Pop song to me...it could be Pat Benatar on an off day.

Yup.

I think she was in the right place at the right time, and there's a sort of empty space/missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle and she seems like she's the perfect fit for that spot. But not quite. Fair or not fair, she's recalled when others with more talent are forgotten. I'm not about to turn her off if she's on, but she's never sent a shiver down my spine as so, so many others have.

Also. Has anyone noticed, if you are part of the NYC scene, the credit you receive for pioneering this and writing this and doing that, is going to be 4X stronger than if you did it in Oklahoma City or Portland (any Portland)? Look at the mania around the Velvets or the Ramones. If the same music was created in Minneapolis or Atlanta, it would be ignored. I'm so glad that the NYC lifted Leonard Cohen and numerous others up to be found, but seems to me someone should acknowledge that our "music history" is massively NYC overweight.

 

[TokyoPortrait]

Hi.

Under appreciated? Not in the space between my ears.

I quite liked this. Makes me want to see more though. From the Rolling Thunder Review thing. On Netflix in many regions, I believe.






Also, noticed this in the side bar just now. Not watched it yet. So, no idea if it's any good.





Pax/
Dean

 

[greenhornet]

A legend in her own mind.

 

[StratDal]

She's a good artist. Not my cup of tea.

 

[peteycaster]

I know a lot of people look up to her as an influence, but when it comes to women in music, she rarely gets mentioned. Everyone talks about Stevie Nicks, Madonna, Britney Spears et al. But not Patti Smith.

She’s collaborated with Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Stipe of REM and even dated Allan Lanier, the late guitarist/keyboardist for Blue Oyster Cult.

But what do you think is Patti Smith’s best song? I think Because The Night, Birdland, Gloria and the Land of a Thousand Dances/Horses medley are fantastic.

And her husband, Sonic Fred Smith of MC5, is a fairly underrated guitarist too. He rarely shows up on the Greatest Rock Guitarists of All Time lists. Even Morrissey claimed that as a teenager in England in 1975, he bought a copy of Horses and said that Patti Smith is intriguing without being boring.

If you have any favorite songs by Patti Smith, post them here. You’ll be glad you did.

I never really "got" her but am much more of a fan of the artist in your avatar.

 

[aging_rocker]

The 'Easter' album was always a favourite of mine. If not for Patti, would we have Polly Harvey?

Here's a live version of 25th Floor, with Tom Verlaine on guitar!



I really wanted to post 'Rock 'n' Roll N.....' too but I might get in trouble...

 

[Chicago Matt]

Stevie Nicks, Madonna, Britney Spears and Patty Smith are the ones on the list? In that case I guess, I'm at least an equal-opportunity under-appreciator.

 

[warrent]

I like Because the Night, which I understand she borrowed from Springsteen (with his permission) and "finished" writing it. Springsteen liked it, and gave her co-writing credits.

Jimmy Iovine who was engineering Darkness and producing Easter at the same time gave Patti a tape of the music which she ignored for a few weeks. Finally when Fred was late calling her one night she listened to the tape and wrote the lyrics.

 

[aging_rocker]