| Wave | |||||
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| Studio album by Patti Smith Group | |||||
| Released | May 17, 1979 | ||||
| Recorded | Bearsville, New York | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 37:45 | ||||
| Label | Arista | ||||
| Producer | Todd Rundgren | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
| Patti Smith Group chronology | |||||
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| Singles from Wave | |||||
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Wave is a 1979 album by Patti Smith Group.
Contents |
History
The title track was a tribute to Pope John Paul I, whose brief papacy coincided with the recording sessions. This was the least commercially successful of the Patti Smith Group's four albums, even though it continued, with Todd Rundgren's production, the band's evolution towards more radio-friendly mainstream pop. The first single off the album was "Frederick", a love song for her husband-to-be Fred "Sonic" Smith with a melody and structure bearing a strong resemblance to "Because the Night", the group's biggest hit. The second single, "Dancing Barefoot", has been covered by many artists. The back cover of the original LP bore a quote from Jean Genet:
Oh go through the walls; if you must, walk on the ledges
Of roofs, of oceans; cover yourself with light;
Use menace, use prayer...My sleepers will flee toward another America
The band broke up after this album was released, and Smith went on to marry Fred Sonic Smith and spend many years in semi-retirement following the birth of their children, Jesse and Jackson, until her 1988 solo comeback album, Dream of Life. The 1996 remaster/re-issue of Wave includes Smith's original version of "Fire of Unknown Origin." Blue Öyster Cult's version was released on their album of the same name in 1981.
Track listing
Side one
- "Frederick" (Patti Smith) – 3:01
- "Dancing Barefoot" (Smith, Ivan Kral) – 4:18
- "So You Want to Be (a Rock'n'Roll Star)" (James McGuinn, Christopher Hillman) – 4:18
- "Hymn" (Smith, Lenny Kaye) – 1:10
- "Revenge" (Smith, Kral) – 5:06
Side two
- "Citizen Ship" (Smith, Kral) – 5:09
- "Seven Ways of Going" (Smith)– 5:12
- "Broken Flag" (Smith, Kaye) – 4:55
- "Wave" (Smith) – 4:55
Bonus tracks (CD reissue)
-
- "Fire of Unknown Origin" (Smith, Kaye) – 2:09
- "5-4-3-2-1/Wave" (Live) (Paul Jones, Mike Hugg, Manfred Mann) – 2:43 Recorded May 23 1979, New York, produced by Thom Panunzio
Personnel
- Patti Smith - vocals
- Lenny Kaye - guitar, bass, vocals
- Jay Dee Daugherty - drums, consultant
- Ivan Kral - bass, guitar, cello, keyboards
- Richard Sohl - piano
Additional personnel
- Andi Ostrowe - percussion, timpani
- George Carnell - assistant engineer
- Maude Gilman - design
- Robert Mapplethorpe - art direction, photography
- Todd Rundgren - production, engineering, bass
- Tom Edmonds - assistant engineer
- Vic Anesini - mastering
Charts
Album
| Chart (1979)[1][2][3] | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Pop Albums | 18 |
| UK Albums Chart | 41 |
| Austria | 19 |
| Norway | 7 |
| Sweden | 17 |
Singles
| Single | Chart (1979)[4] | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Frederick | US Billboard Pop Singles | 90 |
| Frederick | UK Singles Chart | 63 |
Release history
| Year | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Arista | LP | 4221 |
| 1996 | Arista | CD | |
| 2007 | Sony BMG | CD | 37930 |
References
External links
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|---|---|
| Studio albums | Horses (1975) · Radio Ethiopia (1976) · Easter (1978) · Wave (1979) · Dream of Life (1988) · Gone Again (1996) · Peace and Noise (1997) · Gung Ho (2000) · Trampin' (2004) · Twelve (2007) |
| Live albums and EPs | Hey Joe / Radio Ethiopia (1977) · Set Free (1978) · Live aux Vieilles Charrues (2004) · Horses/Horses (2005) |
| Compilations | The Patti Smith Masters (1996) · Land (1975-2002) (2002) |
| Related articles | Discography |
