BANGA

by Patti Smith

Banga is Patti Smith's first collection of original material since 2004's critically-acclaimed Trampin'. The album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City and produced by Patti Smith and her band: Tony Shanahan, Jay Dee Daugherty and her long-time collaborator Lenny Kaye. Featured guests include Tom Verlaine, Jack Petruzzelli, Smith's son Jackson and daughter Jesse Paris.

Inspired by Smith's unique dreams and observations, Banga's poetic lyrics are a reflection of our complex world a world that is rife with chaos and beauty. Praised for her storytelling abilities, Smith has crafted an album that captures a wide range of human experience. There is an exploratory spirit in the songs that make up Banga, including a melodic overture imagining the voyage of Amerigo Vespucci to the New World in 1497 ("Amerigo"), a rock song for the people of Japan in the wake of last years earthquake ("Fuji-san"), a classic ballad in memory of Amy Winehouse ("This Is The Girl"), an improvised meditation on art and nature ("Constantine's Dream") as well as a birthday song written for her friend Johnny Depp ("Nine"). The Banga Special Edition hard cover book includes 64 pages of original images, complete lyrics & liner notes by the artist plus an exclusive track, "Just Kids."

Genres: Poetry, Music

Hardcover

First published June 3, 2012

About the author

PATTI SMITH is a writer, performer, and visual artist. She gained recognition in the 1970s for her revolutionary merging of poetry and rock. She has released twelve albums, including Horses, which has been hailed as one of the top one hundred albums of all time by Rolling Stone.

Smith had her first exhibit of drawings at the Gotham Book Mart in 1973 and has been represented by the Robert Miller Gallery since 1978. Her books include Just Kids, winner of the National Book Award in 2010, Wītt, Babel, Woolgathering, The Coral Sea, and Auguries of Innocence.

In 2005, the French Ministry of Culture awarded Smith the title of Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, the highest honor given to an artist by the French Republic. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

Smith married the musician Fred Sonic Smith in Detroit in 1980. They had a son, Jackson, and a daughter, Jesse. Smith resides in New York City.

Reviews

[Lizzy Harker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never listened to the album but I found a singed copy at the thrift store..

[Darrell Grizzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a special hardcover book-with-CD edition of my favorite Patti Smith album, BANGA (named after the dog in the novel The Master and Marguerita, by Mikel Bulgakov). The singer/author/poet provides background notes on the making of the album, as well as notes about each song, adding a richness to the listening experience. The book also contains lyrics to the songs. The centerpiece of the book and the album is Constantine's Dream, a 10-minute poem read by Patti while her band improvises music in the background. The poem contrasts the spirituality of Constantine ("in this sign shall thou conquer") with the more humane spirituality of Saint Francis. Guess which side Patti is on. This special edition includes an exclusive bonus track, Just Kids. There is much of Patti Smith the poet here, and lots of literary references. To me, the most haunting lines are in the song Maria:

We didn't know
The precariousness
Of our young powers
All the emptiness

[Julián Orduña Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patti Smith's eleventh studio album in a Special Edition format: "Banga" on CD +book containing a little bit of background, alusive photographies, and all the lyrics to the record. Signed by Jay Dee Daugherty in Mexico City on May 10th, 2013.

[Sofie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry, words, lyrics.

[John Millard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Less a book and more an expanded cover with explanations about the process, the inspiration, the time and place of conception and creation Patti shares with us her process. I first heard Horses when I was 17 so I have been a lifelong fan. I have never seen Patti perform but dined one table away with my wife while in Cape May one sunny morn. She was with her sister and her box camera and I respected her privacy and said nothing to her. That was difficult. She is worth it. I like Banga as a music cd. I appreciate her sharing the thoughts, emotions and parts of her that went into the creative process that is palpable upon listening to the sounds of her soul. One day I would like to enjoy a coffee with her and ask her a couple questions. For now I will just wish her well.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can one say? It's Patti!