Horses  by Patti Smith

Patti Smith's Horses is considered one of the most important albums in rock history, serving as the bridge between New York's punk scene and poetry. John Cale, a former member of the Velvet Underground, took on the production. Their collaboration was intense, with Cale trying to give structure to Smith's raw sound.

The recording of Horses took place at Electric Lady Studios in New York in September 1975. Smith uses free verse, influenced by the French poet Arthur Rimbaud, mixing personal experiences with fictional narratives. The album was released on November 10, 1975, by Arista Records. It was initially scheduled for October 20 (Arthur Rimbaud's birthday), but was delayed due to a vinyl shortage (!). The sound of the compositions is a combination of punk rock, art punk, and garage rock, infused with improvisational jazz and beat poetry. Two standout songs were Gloria in a radical reinterpretation of Them's piece, starting with the iconic phrase: "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine," and Land, which is an epic triptych narrative incorporating Land Of 1000 Dances.

The black-and-white cover by Robert Mapplethorpe, depicting Patti Smith in an androgynous style, white shirt, and jacket over her shoulder, remains one of the most iconic and influential photographs in music history.