On May 17, 1979, "Wave" was released, an album with which Patti Smith Group said goodbye as a band. They gave their last official concert on September 10, 1979 at the Comunale Stadium, Florence ,Italy.
After that, Patti Smith, got married with her boyfriend, the former guitarist of the Detroit rock band: MC5, Fred "Sonic" Smith, to whom she had dedicated two songs on the album "Frederick" and "Dancing Barefoot". Patti already alone, without her old band, gave three more performances, between June 1980 and October 1981, before saying goodbye to her fans, with no return date, to be a mother and to dedicate herself to the family.
The years went by without new material, but in 1983 the spoken single : "7 Ways of Going / Fire of Unknown Origin" was released with the participation from old friend: Lenny Kaye, who had been produced the Patti single ("Hey Joe / Piss Factory") in 1974; and had been part of "Patti Smith Group" between 1975 and 1979; at which time there was speculation about a hypothetical return of the band. That rumor brought plans for possible retrospective album and more when Arista Records published a promotional single with these line-up: :“Because The Night”, “Redondo Beach”, “Dancing Barefoot” and “Free Money”; something that was denied shortly after by Patti Smith, who was living in Detroit with her family and .Lennyhe was not interested either, because involved in other projects, such as musical producer, with future music stars as Suzanne Vega and her 1987 hit "Luka".
About the possible 1983 retrospective album ,out of the promotional EP, it never said more. Patti had one more child in 1987 and it seemed that her musical career it was a simple memory , but what nobody supposed is that Patti had been written new songs for her next album: "Dream of life" and "People have the power" hit, was ready. But that is another story. Today, I bring you a new and interesting reconstruction Bit.ly/83PSGg of what could have been and was not, following the original concept, to include all the greatest hits with material only available in singles or Ep's, something like this:
Part 1:
1.-Hey Joe.(5:08)
Single (1974) Mer Records, # 601
2.-Piss Factory.(4:42)
B -side “Hey Joe” Single (1974) Mer Records, # 601
3.-Gloria.(5:54)
From “Horses” album. Released Dec.13.1975.
Arista Records. -ARTY 122 (U.K) / AL 4066 (U.S)
4.- My Generation (live).(3:26)
B-side “Gloria“ single.
Arista Records AS 0171 (US) / ARISTA 135 (UK)
(Rrecorded live at Agora, Cleveland. OH.U.S on Jan.26.1976)
Early issues of the British single were released with "My Generation" censored.
5.- Pissing In A River.(4:52)
From “Radio Ethiopia” album. Released October.1976.
Arista Records. - AB4097
6.-Ask The Angels.(3:09)
From “Radio Ethiopia” album. Released October.1976.
Arista Records. - AB4097
7.-Time is On My Side (live).(3:28)
B-side “Ask the angles”Arista/Pathe Marconi/EMI 2C 006-98.529 (France)
This is available only as a French import for being considered a bad quality recording. Here it has been notably improved.
(Recorded live at Le Bus Palladium, Paris, France. Oct 21,1976)
8.-Pumping (My Heart).(3:21)
From “Radio Ethiopia” album. Released October.1976.
Arista Records. - AB4097
9.-Radio Ethiopia / Rock N´Roll Nigger (live).(13:57)
B-side “Hey Joe / Radio Ethiopia” EP (1977)
Arista/Pathe Marconi/EMI 2C 052-60.133 z (France)
This is available only as a French import
(Live at GBGs, New York, NY, U.S on June 5.1977)
10.-Babel Field (poem).(5:49)
B-side “Set Free” EP (1978)
Arista Records ARIST 12197 (UK)
(Live in London on Brian Jones' birthday, Feb. 28,1978).
Part 2:
1.- Because The Night.(3:25)
From “Easter” album. Released March 3.1978.
Arista Records.(SPART 1043)
2.- Godspeed.(6:10)
B-side “Because The Night” single (1978).
Arista Records (AS 0318)
3.- Privilege (Set Me Free).(3:29)
From “Easter” album. Released Marc 3.1978.
Arista Records. (SPART 1043)
4.- 25th Floor (live).(5:43)
B-side “Privilege (Set Me Free)” EP (1978).
Arista Records ARIST 12197
(Live at Pavillon, Paris, France. March 26.1978)
5.-So You Want to Be (A Rock N' Roll Star).(4:00)
Alternate version “So You Want To Be (A Rock N´Roll Star)” EP (1979).
Arista Records AS 0453 Promo
6.-Kimberly (live).(6:09)
Unreleased B-side “So You Want To Be (A Rock N´Roll Star)” EP (1979).
Arista Records AS 0453 Promo
(Live at GBGs, New York, NY, U.S on August 11.1979)
7.-Frederick.(3:06)
From “Wave” album. Released May 17.1979.
Arista Records. (AB 4221)
8.-Fire Of Unknown Origin.(2:09)
B-side “Frederick” single (1979).
Arista Records ARIST 264
9.-Dancing Barefoot.(4:16)
From “Wave” album. Released May 17.1979.
Arista Records. (AB 4221)
10.-54321- Wave (Live).(2:43)
B-side “Dancing Barefoot” single (1979).
Arista Records ARIST 281
(Live at The Palladium, New York, NY, U.S on May 23.1979)
- bonus tracks -
11.-Frederick (live).(5:55)
B-side “Frederick” promo single (1979).
Arista Records SP-62
(live at the Capital Theatre, in Passiac, NJ. U.S on November 5th, 1979).
12.-Chicklets.(6:37)
(Outtake from “Radio Ethiopia” sessions. June/August 1976).
For a perfect homogenization of the sound, some recordings have been digitally restored.For artwork, I used discarded photos taken for her last album.
That´s all., see you next week.