ARTIST: Patti Smith 
TITLE: Horses
YEAR RELEASED: 1975
CHART ACTION: #47 US. #157 UK
SINGLES: Gloria
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Redondo Beach
LINEUP: Patti Smith, Jay Dee Daugherty, Lenny Kaye, Ivan Krai, Richard Sohl
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: An album that lives up to the hype.
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: If you read any history of rock-and-roll worth its salt, the sections that lead to punk and new wave inevitably gush about Patti Smith, and her debut album. A jaundiced ear may reserve judgement on so many accolades for a seminal album, since critic’s darling from certain times don’t always translate.
Well, don’t worry. This is worth the hype.
On their own, Smith’s poetry may be looked at as totally pretentious, but her delivery, along with the musical accompaniment make them pop and sound fresh. Smith and her band are tight, and play off of each other quite well.
It’s astonishing, really, that this album works, but not only does it work, it’s a touchstone of an entire movement. This is a debut that sparked a revolution, and that’s not hyperbole.
NOTES & MINUTIAE: Smith had released a single before being signed.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: Yes, a live cut/.
GRADE: A+: A movement was crystallized by this record.
But Is It Any Good? 