David Bianculli

This is Fresh Air.

I'm David Bianculli.

Patti Smith is now considered one of the wise women of rock and roll, an eloquent chronicler of her life in music and in a series of acclaimed memoirs.

But 50 years ago, she was a scrounging poet who wanted to be a rock star on her own very literary terms, and her debut album, Horses, announced a unique artist.

Today, we're going to listen back to portions of two of Terry's interviews with Patti Smith about her early days as a poet and performer.

But first, rock critic Ken Tucker takes a look back and tells us about the new anniversary edition of Horses, which is supplemented with previously unreleased music.

Ken Tucker reviewed the new 50th anniversary edition of Horses.

It was released last month by Legacy Recordings.

After a break, we'll listen to a portion of Terry's 1996 interview with Patti Smith.

This is Fresh Air.

November 10th marks 50 years since Patti Smith released her debut album, Horses.

One of the biggest influences on Smith was her friendship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe.

They both were 20-year-old aspiring artists when they met in 1967 in New York City.

They soon moved in together and helped nurture each other's artistic development.

Mapplethorpe became one of the most controversial artists of his time.

His photographs of nudes, often in erotic and sadomasochistic poses, put him at the center of a battle over censorship and federal funding of the arts.

Mapplethorpe died of AIDS in 1989 at the age of 42.

Terry first spoke with Patti Smith in 1996 when Smith had published a book of short prose poems dedicated to and inspired by Mapplethorpe.

The book was called The Coral Sea.

Terry asked Smith about a famous photograph he had taken of her.