Customer Reviews

Horses (Aniv) (Dlx) (Dig)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rolling Stone Magazine named "Horses" one of the top 50 rock albums of all time. You will understand why when you listen to this beautifully remastered 30th annivery CD. Patti Smith mixes poetry, parts of iconic rock and roll songs, double track lyrics and strong narratives always with a fine basic rock beat that draws you in if you get confused (the lyrics are also included in a booklet).

The real jem here is the live CD that expands on each song, especially "Land," my favorite. Thirty years later Patti is as sassy and spell binding as ever. I saw Patti Smith four times in person during the 1970s, but never heard her sing "Land." The live version of the song runs about 17 minutes and is worth the wait. Patti has added a brief prologue and additional lyrics that explain the meaning of the song more (and bashes cell phones and other distractions). I still don't comletely understand the song, but this version rocks so hard that it makes little difference. Others like the song "Birdland" better; this live concert has an excellent version of that song also. As with all good live albums, the music sounds better the louder you play it.

Other commnents: the remastered CD sounds great with high price earphone, the live CD less good. The price is too high, so high
that it will probably discourage all but hard core fans from buying this 30th Anniversery package.

Oh, I cannot believe my ears! Wow! I already had the previous remastered version of HORSES but I feel not guilty and I'm totally satisfied of having spent € 21,00 for this wonder! The first CD is History with capitol H and, since everything has been said about it in such beautiful and expressive ways I could never reach, I won't tell - except that it is my favourite foreign language album. But the second CD my friends...the second CD, uhhhhh! The entire HORSES album played live in London, last june... I have never had the fortune of seeing Patti and her Group playing live in my country - even though they come here in Italy quite often I always miss them for either the tickets are sold out or I come to know only the day after the concert in newspapers articles! sh..! - so now I finally know what she is about. And I'm beautifully upset. I mean, this Woman is 59 years old and she sings with such a rage, emotion, power, intensity, courage and, finally, love that vivid, sensual vibrations hit you when you listen. It's an incredible experience. "Gloria" is superb, "Birdland" (probably my favourite Patti song) nearly makes you forget about the original version and "Land" with its 17 minutes and an added speech introducing the song just gives you the creeps!
Oh, I'd just like to embrace Patti and hold her tight and just say "I salute thee", for all she did to me. She changed my way of seeing poetry, music and reality. She makes me dream of hope and beauty and...oh! so many things I would express but I have to go now.
So, I strongly recommed you this work of art.

Horses is one of the seminal "albums" from my youth. I loved it, and played it a lot, usually alone, since my peers didn't have the same reaction to it. One of my all-time, core favorites. For some reason, I've never replaced my original vinyl with a CD. When I saw the remastered version, I had to have it. I wished I could have gone to the 2005 concert, so thought I'd really enjoy the double CD with the live version. Reviews here and on iTunes talked of how amazing the live version was, and reinforced my thoughts, so I went for the double CD. Listening to the studio version was just as fantastic as remembered. Not at all faded by time. Unfortunately, I can't say that about the live version. I don't like the live version. At all. I feel a weird sense of disloyalty saying that, enough that I didn't want to admit it at first. I kept at it, with repeated listenings, hoping I'd warm to the differences. But...no. I'm forced to say that I much prefer the studio version. No, worse than that, I dislike the live version. So much so, that I no longer have the live versions on my iPod. Maybe it's that effect of liking whatever version of a song you hear first, or possibly, since this was such a central album in my formative years, the original sound has too much meaning for me to like anything else. Whatever. I would have been better served by the single CD version. Since that makes me feel older and more inflexible than I want to believe I am, I wish I hadn't bought it. Then, my reminisces wouldn't have any negative tinge. Oh well. I'll live. But, save yourself. The studio version is 5+ stars excellent. Buy it.

I bought this set because Horses needed to be in my 'Living in the Past' collection, but the live recording on CD2 blew me away. Patti Smith just sounds fantastic 30 years after; just as out there, angry, and insightful ("Our Generation" gave us George Bush!).
Just plain friggin' fantastic!

I've already reviewed the earlier version of Horses so no cheap recap. I was at BAM in NYC November 2005 to celebrate the 30th year. Was struck by the generational cross section & diversity -parents with teen children (maybe 'Boomers with grandkids, certainly Gen X & offspring,) twentysomethings, lesbians who cherish the message in "Gloria," curiosity seekers, the tragically hip who missed it on the first (or several)go-rounds. That we're even writing about an album thirty years old speaks to its importance. Can I quibble about the new version of "Land"? Sure. Do I care? No. When I first heard some of these songs 30+ years ago they had completely different lyrics entirely (like "Birdland" - which started with Patti's poem "bar stools were made for women like this...") Patti was, and is, not one to take the safe road. Other than having to put on reading glasses to read her poetry (I sympathize - sucks doesn't it?) she is still a most vital force. If you don't own "Horses," what are you waiting for? If you do, buy this version for the 2005 version live. Long may she Wave.

After an evening with friends playing Patti and many other 70's and 60's luminaries this album got a lot of votes. As we all treat Christianity as a stupidly unfunny joke the opening lyric "...Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine" followed by a lesbian eulogy to the joys of womankind seemed to work. Our general consensus was not only that this stands as one of the best 'dirty-boogie' records ever recorded, and one of the most influential in the world of rock, but also that it is exists as a near perfect smack in the face for religious crap in the defence of personal freedom.

So...

Altogether now...

G L O R I A

Definitely one of the best albums in the history of recorded music, made even BETTER than the original! What more can be said? What more can you ask for?

Highly recommended. Unfortunately, Patti will never better this one no matter how long she keeps recording.

I am a huge fan of Patti Smith. This album is the best; at least until I hear 'Easter' and then the discussion starts over. 'Gloria' projects the attitude that is Patti Smith. 'Free Money' is a song that always sounds good. Patti is a poet that wrote some of the best music history ever.

Patti is an inspiration and my goddess. Still going strong at 60 years old, the live album alone is reason to buy this. Patti conjures such amazing, shamanic energy in her performance of the songs. I find myself listening to this album much, much more often than to the 1975 studio version. Her voice is stronger, the band is tighter, and she's older and wiser - but still just as intense, and still an important artist. HIGHLY recommended!

Some friends and I saw Patti and her band while we were freshmen at college, circa 1975-76. GLORIA is a classic of the rock & roll canon, of course, and Patti's version cuts into the heart of that song like none other, into the soul of being human, into the bones of being young and on the prowl.