The Fat Angel Sings

This engrossing live broadcast captures Patti Smith at a pivotal moment in her career. Her stunningly original debut, ‘Horses’, had been released just a few weeks earlier. Although the record has since become a landmark release, and widely cited as one of Rock music’s greatest albums,  at the time Patti Smith was still performing in small clubs such as New York City’s 400-capacity Bottom Line, located at 15, West Fourth Street, and venue for this very gig. One of a string of seven sell-out performances Smith gave at this legendary Greenwich Village club in December 1975, they were intended as warm-ups for her first major tour of the USA, planned to begin in early 1976. In 1975 the group expanded to include second guitarist Ivan Kral and drummer Jay Dee Daugherty. The Patti Smith Group was signed to Arista Records by label supremo Clive Davis, allegedly on a recommendation from Lou Reed. Another ex-Velvet, John Cale, was bought in to produce ‘Horses’ at New York’s Electric Ladyland Studios. The sessions began in August 1975 and were completed the following month. Despite the records release being just a few months prior to this gig, the set features an eclectic mixture of material, opening with some quite extraordinary poetry recitals. From ‘Horses’ versions of Redono Beach, Free Money, Birdland and a medley of Land and Patti’s interpretation of Van Morrisons Gloria are included. Gloria was also issued as a single in 1976 together with a live version of The Who’s My Generation, a number that also closes this performance. The set also features two songs that would feature on 1976’s ‘Radio Ethiopia’, Ain’t It Strange and Pumping My Heart. Looking further ahead, both Privilege (Set Me Free) and Space Monkey remained unreleased until 1978’s ‘Easter’. There are also acknowledgements of Patti’s disparate musical influences in the shape of covers of the Velvets Pale Blue Eyes, Time Is On My Side, written by Jerry Ragovoy but immortalized by The Rolling Stones, and the perennial garage band classic Louie Louie. This is available through Amazon now.