Patti Smith Albums Ranked

Patricia Lee Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, and poet who became an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses. Called the “punk poet laureate”, Smith fused rock and poetry in her work. Her most widely known song is “Because the Night”, which was co-written with Bruce Springsteen. It reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978 and number five in the U.K. In 2005, Smith was named a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. In 2007, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On November 17, 2010, Smith won the National Book Award for her memoir Just Kids. The book fulfilled a promise she had made to her former long-time roommate and partner, Robert Mapplethorpe. She placed 47th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Artists published in December 2010 and was also a recipient of the 2011 Polar Music Prize. Here are all of Patti Smith albums ranked.

Don’t miss out on the CLASSIC music of Patti Smith below! Click to enjoy award-winning songs and timeless pieces from this master musician!

10. Dream Of Life (1988)

“This is a beautiful album, which hovers like a questing microscope over our ordinary mysteries, enlarging the fine grain of our lives that would otherwise be invisible. The instrumentation is structured with humility, but its precision is exquisite in execution. Every song pulsates with gentle transcendence into some dark, yet familiar space into which you too could travel if only you cut the strings that bind you to the mimetic impulse to bounce on the monkey trampoline. “

9. Peace And Noise (1997)

“The albums of her earlier output are icons of rock music heritage. And who would have guessed that a second coming of inspiration would follow those empty years in- between? This is a solid entry in her later ouvre, where her musings are matured and where she claims the crown of maternal watcher over the history of rock-and-roll. Here are her trademark song structures of celebrating the recently deceased, whirlpool explosions of poetry over the unhinged jamming of her brilliant band and the propulsion of hope in her belief that the people have the power.”

8. Trampin’ (2004)

“Trampin is one of the best I have heard from this decade.Jubilee is uplifting. Cartwheels is good Stride of the mind rocks Gandhi is intense vintage Patti. Tresspasses is beautiful so is My blakean year and Peaceable kingdom Cash is good. Radio Baghdad is the best song I’ve heard about the Iraq war it has great lyrics and music it reminds me of the Doors and zeppelin best new song in a while. Trampin is a soothing song. Trampin is great it is a class cd from a great artist”

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7. Gone Again (1996)

“Gone Again is an incredibly organic, sincere record. Though themes of death and loss are dealt with in every song, it is neither morbid nor depressing; rather, the underlying emotion seems to be recuperation, renewal of strength and the attempt to make peace with death and also create an adequate tribute to life.”

6. Outside Society (2011)

“The nine compiled songs give the listener the clearest possible idea of just how much the original Patti Smith Group was capable of in this period and how much they evolved as a recording unit in a 3 1/2 year period (Summer 1975 to Winter 1978-79). I’m not as enamored of the second half even though there are no clear weak tracks in this group. Collectively, I find them less exciting than the 1975-79 tracks. The inspiration is still there in Smith’s lyrics and vocal delivery but the sense of wild innovation so present in the 70s tracks is less in evidence.”

5. Banga (2012)

“Banga has a great mix of songs; rocking, mellow, swirling, soothing, in Patti’s unique punk/rock/trance shaman priestess way. She is a real national treasure, an artist’s artist, with a wonderfully earthy yet delicate voice, and great, tasteful rock solid backing. This recording is also impeccably produced.”

4. Wave (1979)

“The opening tracks–Frederic and Dancing Barefoot–are thoroughly “cooked” songs, well planned and excitingly performed with Smith’s band adopting a much lighter sound against which her complex lyrics sparkle. But of the remaining tracks only Seven Ways of Going lives up the album’s initial promise; the rest are a very mixed bag indeed. Some of these are of the almost-but-not-quite variety. Smith does a powerful cover of ‘So You Want To Be A Rock And Roll Star,’ but she adds no new dimension to the piece.”

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3. Easter (1978)

“”Easter remained the only Patti Smith album cover that is in full colour until the release of Twelve. The album is a Resurrection , a time of sorrow + joy , so what better than a sleeve shot that combines earthy browns (the soil of the grave) + soft flesh pinks (resurrection + life) he pose she strikes is defiant , assertive + above all strong. Gone is the vulnerable air of the previous album.”

2. Radio Ethiopia (1976)

“Radio Ethiopia is an enjoyable album and a must have for anyone getting into Patti Smith (Group). It’s not up to par with Horses, but with a full band behind her it’s definitely a more punk album. Radio Ethiopia is a mixed bag and I probably will only ever listen to it if I am listening to the album as a whole, the same goes for Abysinna. She has the punk attitude and I think that this demands respect for Radio Ethiopia/Abysinna, whether you like the pieces themselves or not.”

1. Horses (1975)

“A classic NYC punk scene album! Best album ever made by a female artist, enough said, and being a woman in love with rock myself I listen to plenty. Patti is beyond a rockstar or even an artist, she is a poet of the soul. Everyone should listen to this album at least once in their lives. As for the actual item, it was shipped in a timely fashion and is in perfect condition, I bought this years ago and am just now writing a review, I play this CD a LOT and it still does not skip.”