Patti Smith’s 1975 debut studio album was titled Horses.
Released on 13 November 1975 by Arista Records, Horses introduced Smith as a poet, singer and songwriter with a highly distinctive approach to rock music. The album was produced by John Cale, formerly of the Velvet Underground, and recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
The opening track, a reworking of “Gloria” that begins with the line “Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine,” became one of Smith’s signature recordings. The album also features “Redondo Beach,” “Birdland” and “Land.” Its combination of spoken-word intensity, garage-rock energy and literary imagery influenced punk and alternative rock.
Horses is often described as a landmark of the New York proto-punk scene, although Smith’s work does not fit neatly into one genre. The cover photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe is also widely regarded as one of rock music’s most recognizable album portraits.