Track Listing

1. Frederick
2. Dancing Barefoot
3. Citizen Ship
4. Hymn Revenge
5. Seven Ways Of Going
6. Broken Flag
7. Wave
8. So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48583 in Music
• Released on: 1996-07-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

CD Description
With the success of the hit 1978 album EASTER and its single, "Because the Night", most fans assumed that The Patti Smith Group would continue their successful streak for years tocome. Before sessions began for the follow-up to EASTER, Patti Smith met ex-MC5 guitarist Fred 'Sonic' Smith--the pair quickly fell in love and eventually married. Soon after, Smith decided that she wanted to retire from the music biz altogether to start a family, but agreed to record one last album, 79's WAVE.
Produced by pop master Todd Rundgren, the album was more abstract than its predecessor, but another strong set of tunes were featured. The album-opening pop rocker, "Frederick", is a tribute to Patti's new love, while a pair of songs would receive greater exposure when covered by other bands--"Dancing Barefoot" (later performed by U2) and the bonus track "Fire of Unknown Origin" (covered by Blue Oyster Cult). Also featured was an uptempo rendition of The Byrd's "So You Want To Be (A Rock N' Roll Star)", "Citizen Ship", and the title track. Although Patti Smith would later comeout of retirement, WAVE was the last album to include the complete, original Patti Smith Group.

Customer Reviews

Great in parts, like all her others
OK everyone knows that Patti Smith albums have great bits and "difficult" bits. This is no exception. If you want rock'n'roll Patti, set your CD player to play Frederick , Dancing Barefoot and So You Want To Be A Rock'n'Roll Star. Maybe Broken Flag too. Rock'n'Roll Star is the most kickass cover version ever, specially considering the Byrds original was pretty good anyway.
I still listen to Frederick with tears not far away, maybe because I sing the lines "When I lay me down to sleep, Pray the Lord my soul to keep" to my kids now in the same way, and they take it as literally as maybe it was originally meant.
If you like poetess Patti (everyone has a time when they might) then Wave can still do it for you. And like the recent Q review (box set) said, who the hell these days could summon up the passion to claim that a good gig could be orgasmic, emetic and euphoric?
This record stands proud with all her others.

DIFFICULT THIRD ALBUM
After the spectacular "Horses" and "Easter" anything would have been a let-down. I love this album, however, for its great songs. Frederick is a poetic number with a lovely, hummable melody in the vein of Because The Night. Dancing Barefoot is more experimental and rather haunting with an interesting rhythm, whilst So You Wanna Be ... is a spirited version of the R&R classic and Hymn is a fragile lullaby with Patti accompanying herself on a harp or similar instrument - it reminds me of The Jackson Song on "Dream Of Life." For me the highlight of the album is Broken Flag, a solemn but powerful dirge about courage in adversity. The title track Wave is a spoken word delivery with gulls and ocean sounds and doesn't appeal to me. I would say this album is essential for fans but not the correct entry point for someone just starting to investigate the gorgeous Ms Smith.

Good by any standard
Wave was considered a disappointment by the critics upon its release in 1979. But after the spectacular Horses, Radio Ethiopia and Easter, anything would have been a letdown. I love this album, however, for its great songs like Frederick - a poetic love song with a memorable tune in the vein of Because The Night.

Dancing Barefoot is more experimental and rather haunting with an interesting tribal rhythm, whilst So You Wanna Be A Rock 'n Roll Star is a spirited version of the classic and Hymn is a fragile lullaby with Patti accompanying herself on a harp - similar to The Jackson Song on Dream Of Life.

For me the highlight of the album is Broken Flag, a solemn but powerful dirge about courage in adversity, about some early American heroine. The title track Wave is a spoken word delivery with gulls and ocean sounds and is probably the weakest track on the album.

I would say Wave is essential for fans but not the correct entry point for someone just starting to investigate the talented Ms Smith. When it was released, the critics were unecessarily harsh - it has stood the test of time very well.