Patti Smith’s Horses: When Poetry Met Punk Rock

In 1975, Patti Smith's "Horses" was one of the first albums to drop from the newly burgeoning CBGB scene. This debut fused poetry, punk, and rock into something entirely new. Recorded at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios and produced by John Cale of The Velvet Underground, the album channeled the raw energy of New York’s CBGB scene into artful rebellion. Its opening line—“Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine”—set the tone for a record that rejected guilt and convention, blurring the lines between literature and rock performance. With songs like “Gloria” and “Land,” and an androgynous cover photo by Robert Mapplethorpe, Horses redefined what a rock artist could be: intellectual, spiritual, and unapologetically free. It's time to look at the story behind "Horses," dig into its cover (shot by Robert Mapplethorpe), explore the songs within, and look at its lasting legacy. 👉 Subscribe for More Videos: https://youtube.com/c/AndyFenstermaker/?sub_confirmation=1 ✉️ Read the transcript & hear the music on the Poetic Wax Substack: https://poeticwax.substack.com WATCH NEXT: ✓ The Failed Television & Brian Eno Demo Sessions: https://youtu.be/tGWKqeSjNN4 ✓ The Fall of the Mercer Arts Center: https://youtu.be/GxkZ8dQp51E ✓ How the Velvet Underground Met Andy Warhol: https://youtu.be/s1L8-BHh64g 🎥 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLylroYWVYWWXL84MH1T4Qr0wrRzjwlGMR Get Horses on Vinyl 🎧 ✓ Regular Pressing: https://amzn.to/4oNpQWD ✓ 50th Anniversary Edition: https://amzn.to/4oNpQWD Poetic Wax is hosted by Andy Fenstermaker. CHAPTERS: 0:00 The Story of Patti Smith's Horses 1:27 From Poet to Punk Pioneer 4:51 The Iconic Album Cover Through Mapplethorpe's Lens 7:57 Recording at Electric Lady Under Hendrix's Watchful Spirit 11:10 Exploring The Music of Horses 17:02 Rimbaud, Burroughs, and Rock Heroes #pattismith #johncale #1975 #cbgb #classicalbum #1970srock #vinylcommunity #vinylrecords #vinylcollection #andyfenstermaker #fensepost #vinylchannel #poeticwax #musicessay #musicstory #albumstory #musichistory #albumhistory #musicdocumentary