Thank you. I remember my shock at hearing that Richard had died. I never knew why. But even I, who never knew him, will never forget him, and never not have him with me.
Absolutely beautiful words. I’m left speechless with the images the Formica and the dancing. Richard was obviously a very special man. Thank you Patti much love from London 🙏
Oh Beloved Richard - I always Adored Richard *oh those keyboards) and so fortunate to see you live as The Patti Smith Group -WAVE - Mother's Day 1979 at The Tower Theatre - a momentous evening
Richard was an exquisite player and human. I felt blessed to sit with him one day while we went through a bunch of Shostakovitch pieces trying to find the one that I remembered as loving the most. It was Piano Sonata no. 2 in B minor, Op. 61. Richard was sooo beautiful. gone way too soon. I always loved that you called him DNV. didn't know about Middy. thanks for this. the dancing. beautiful. tears as pale liquid dressed in light. dear poet, thank you. ❤️❤️
It occurs to me that the interplay between Richard and Patti here is a little bit like the Jack Kerouac and Steve Allen, with Kerouac reading poetry and Allen improvising jazz on the piano. Birdland is obviously more of a rock ensemble performance, but the rock elements are layered under and around the binary dialogue between Patti's poetry and Richard's piano at the center. The Patti Smith Group was unique in this regard, with Patti as more of a poet on some songs, more of a singer on others, sometimes within the same song, with some of the songs being more traditionally songlike, and others being poetry jams on top of a rock band jamming, again, sometimes going back and forth within the same song. Horses starts as a poem, then there is that magnificent rocket ignition where Patti sings "Do you know how to pony!" and we are launched into the rock'n'roll universe. Having Lenny on hand, who was a bridge between his immersion in Patti's poetry and groove, on one side, and the entire history of garage punk in his bones and in his guitar hands on the other, and a powerful rock rhythm section to propel the whole thing, gave Patti and the group a huge range of artistic options. And Patti herself is a living bridge between the history of decadent poetry, the American beatniks and postwar poetry and literature and art, and the whole exuberant jungle of American pop music, especially the New York music scene. So much going on, so many roots and ancestors, so many peers and influences, all coming together ... Lucky us, that we get to listen to it.
The video, the performance of the song, the 2004 post provided by Lawrence French below, the tribute to Richard Arthur Sohl - all are wonderful. I loved the little video segment with your father! And seeing you at different times, in different places. Beautiful. Thank you. 💜
Brilliant!
Oh Dear Patti. thank you for sharing the beautiful poem, Middy, with us. XO
♥️♥️♥️♥️
Really loved your poem for Middy. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. xx
Thank you. I remember my shock at hearing that Richard had died. I never knew why. But even I, who never knew him, will never forget him, and never not have him with me.
🦋
What a treat, thank you dear Patti and Richard 💖
Crying. I’ve just watched the Birdland video. Thank you so much Patti 🙏
Absolutely beautiful words. I’m left speechless with the images the Formica and the dancing. Richard was obviously a very special man. Thank you Patti much love from London 🙏
Beautiful Patti and beautiful Richard. Such a pleasure to enjoy these slow dances with you, without touching. ❤️🙏
Oh Beloved Richard - I always Adored Richard *oh those keyboards) and so fortunate to see you live as The Patti Smith Group -WAVE - Mother's Day 1979 at The Tower Theatre - a momentous evening
Richard was an exquisite player and human. I felt blessed to sit with him one day while we went through a bunch of Shostakovitch pieces trying to find the one that I remembered as loving the most. It was Piano Sonata no. 2 in B minor, Op. 61. Richard was sooo beautiful. gone way too soon. I always loved that you called him DNV. didn't know about Middy. thanks for this. the dancing. beautiful. tears as pale liquid dressed in light. dear poet, thank you. ❤️❤️
It occurs to me that the interplay between Richard and Patti here is a little bit like the Jack Kerouac and Steve Allen, with Kerouac reading poetry and Allen improvising jazz on the piano. Birdland is obviously more of a rock ensemble performance, but the rock elements are layered under and around the binary dialogue between Patti's poetry and Richard's piano at the center. The Patti Smith Group was unique in this regard, with Patti as more of a poet on some songs, more of a singer on others, sometimes within the same song, with some of the songs being more traditionally songlike, and others being poetry jams on top of a rock band jamming, again, sometimes going back and forth within the same song. Horses starts as a poem, then there is that magnificent rocket ignition where Patti sings "Do you know how to pony!" and we are launched into the rock'n'roll universe. Having Lenny on hand, who was a bridge between his immersion in Patti's poetry and groove, on one side, and the entire history of garage punk in his bones and in his guitar hands on the other, and a powerful rock rhythm section to propel the whole thing, gave Patti and the group a huge range of artistic options. And Patti herself is a living bridge between the history of decadent poetry, the American beatniks and postwar poetry and literature and art, and the whole exuberant jungle of American pop music, especially the New York music scene. So much going on, so many roots and ancestors, so many peers and influences, all coming together ... Lucky us, that we get to listen to it.
Thank you for sharing "Middy" with us, Patti. So grateful for you and your art.
Loved the reading! Thank you.
The video, the performance of the song, the 2004 post provided by Lawrence French below, the tribute to Richard Arthur Sohl - all are wonderful. I loved the little video segment with your father! And seeing you at different times, in different places. Beautiful. Thank you. 💜