The 10 Best Patti Smith Songs of All-Time
Patti Smith is one of the most influential musicians in the history of rock music. She may not be as famous as she once was, but her impact on punk and art rock is certainly something to behold. Patti Smith will forever be remembered for her stunning album Horses, a haunting work of art that contains some of the best songs she has ever written. “Gloria” is one of those tracks. “Gloria” was initially written by legendary Italian songstress Patti Smith Group is a simply beautiful piece about finding hope in tough times. “Redondo Beach” is another one of Patti Smith’s greatest songs ever written and has become a staple for her live shows. The song tells the story of a girl murdered by her lover and features some of the most haunting lyrics ever written by Smith. It is easy to see why Patti Smith is considered one of the most excellent musicians in rock history. She is a hero for anyone looking to break into rock or punk music and has a career spanning decades. Patti Smith may not be as big as she once was, but there is no denying she will forever be remembered as a true rock visionary. Below are the top 10 Best Patti Smith Songs of All-Time.
10. People Have the Power (1988)
“People Have the Power” is one of Patti Smith’s most inspirational songs ever. The lyrics are inspiring and uplifting, while the music has a beautiful melody that will stick in your head for days at a time. “People Have the Power” is considered by many fans to be one of her best songs ever recorded. It is pure poetry set to music and should be regarded as one of the best songs written in the 1980s.
9. Because the Night (1978)
“Because the Night” is another one of Patti Smith’s greatest songs ever written and has become one of her most beloved tracks among fans of all ages. The lyrics are beautiful and will be stuck in your head for days at a time. Patti Smith is one of the few artists in music history to have a song written by her become a hit record. “Because the Night” was originally written for The Pointer Sisters, but they passed on it, and it ended up being released under Patti Smith’s name instead. Although most people know Patti Smith for her work in music, she has also had a legendary career as an author. Her book Just Kids was shortlisted for the 2010 National Book Award and won the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography in 2010.
8. Free Money (1975)
“Free Money” is one of the top 10 Best Patti Smith songs ever recorded. The lyrics are pure poetry set to music and will leave you singing in your head for days at a time. Patti Smith was inspired to write “Free Money” after watching a television show called The Millionaire, which featured a millionaire who would give away a large sum of money to a poor person. Smith did not have any money, but she always wondered what it would be like to get free cash and wrote this fantastic song about the topic.
7. Birdland (1975)
“Birdland” is another one of Patti Smith’s most inspiring songs ever. The lyrics are powerful, and the chorus is nothing short of amazing. “Birdland” was inspired by Smith’s trip to St. Petersburg in Russia with her future husband, Fred “Sonic” Smith of the MC5 fame. She wrote this song about the trip and recorded it on her classic album, “Horses.”
6. Ask the Angels (1976)
“Ask the Angels” is one of Patti Smith’s most beloved songs ever written. The lyrics are brilliant, and the music has a very catchy beat that will leave you singing for hours at a time. “Ask the Angels” was inspired by William Blake’s poem, “The Angel.” It is also considered one of her most spiritual songs ever written and features some of her best lyrics.
5. Dream of Life (1988)
“Dream of Life” is another one of Patti Smith’s most beloved songs ever written. The lyrics are beautiful and inspiring, while the music will leave you parked in your seat listening to it over and over again for hours at a time. “Dream of Life” became an anthem for many fans suffering from AIDS since it was released shortly after Smith’s husband Fred “Sonic” Smith passed away in 1994 due to complications from the disease.
4. Redondo Beach (1975)
“Redondo Beach” is another of Patti Smith’s most famous songs ever recorded. The lyrics are brilliant, and the chorus will leave you singing it for days at a time. “Redondo Beach” was inspired by the murder of James Cornell, who committed suicide after murdering two other people on a beach in Redondo, California. Smith and her bandmate Lenny Kaye would visit the site of the murder, and they wrote a song about it. Patti Smith has also had one iconic album cover for this classic disc, “Horses.”
3. Gloria: In Excelsis Deo(1975)
“Gloria: In Excelsis Deo” is one of the top 10 Best Patti Smith songs ever recorded. The lyrics are brilliant, and the chorus will leave you singing it for days at a time. “Gloria: In Excelsis Deo” was inspired by many things, most notably The Shangri-Las version of the song that Smith saw performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.
2. Frederick (1979)
“Frederick” is another of Patti Smith’s most beloved songs ever recorded. The lyrics are brilliant, and the music will leave you singing for hours at a time. “Frederick” was inspired by poet Allen Ginsberg, who took her on a road trip to visit U.S. military prisons in New York City Governors Island. They would end up getting arrested for disturbing the peace.
1. Dancing Barefoot(1979)
“Dancing Barefoot” is one of Patti Smith’s most beloved songs ever recorded. The lyrics are brilliant, and the music has a very catchy beat that will leave you singing for hours at a time. “Dancing Barefoot” was inspired by listening to records in her basement when she lived in New York City before she became famous.
Conclusion
Patti Smith is a rock music legend and has inspired listeners since 1975 when she broke onto the scene. Some say her best work was recorded in the 1970s, but she continued making amazing music throughout her career. This article covered 10 of Patti Smith’s best songs ever written in honor of her 75th birthday, which occurred last year on December 30th. Patti Smith was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 for her contributions to the genre. She has been celebrated for many things, but her music is what she will always be remembered for most fondly by fans worldwide.