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{{Infobox album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name name = Radio Ethiopia
| Type type = studio
| Artist artist = [[Patti Smith|Patti Smith Group]]
| Cover cover = Patti_Smith_Group_-_Radio_Ethiopia.jpg
| Releasedalt = {{start date|1976|10}}=
| Recorded released = {{start date|1976|10}}
| recorded = 1976
| Studio = [[Record Plant Studios]], [[New York, New York|New York City]]▼
| venue =
| Genre = [[Punk rock]], [[hard rock]]<ref name="allmusic"/>
▲| Studio studio = [[Record Plant Studios]], ([[New York, City|New York|]], New York City]])
| Length = 41:15 <small> (original)</small><br /> 48:10 <small> (1996 reissue)
| genre = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]<ref name="rs"/>|[[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<ref name="crg"/>|[[hard rock]]<ref name="allmusic"/>}}
| Label = [[Arista Records|Arista]]
| length = {{duration|m=41|s=15}}
| Producer = [[Jack Douglas (record producer)|Jack Douglas]]▼
| Lastlabel album = ''[[HorsesArista (album)Records|HorsesArista]]''<br/>(1975)
▲| Producer producer = [[Jack Douglas (record producer)|Jack Douglas]]
| This album = '''''Radio Ethiopia'''''<br/>(1976)
| Next album prev_title = ''[[EasterHorses (Patti Smith Group album)|EasterHorses]]''<br/>(1978)
| Miscprev_year = =1975
| next_title = [[Easter (Patti Smith Group album)|Easter]]
{{Singles
| next_year = 1978
| Name = Radio Ethiopia
| Type misc = studio{{Singles
| name | single 1 = [[Pissing in aRadio River]]Ethiopia
| type | Single 1 date = 1976studio
| single 2 single1 = [[PumpingPissing in (Mya Heart)River]]
| Single 2 datesingle1date = 1976
| single 3 single2 = [[AskPumping the(My AngelsHeart)]]
| Single 3 datesingle2date = 19771976
| single3 = [[Ask the Angels]]
}}▼
| single3date = 1977
▲ }}
}}
 
'''''Radio Ethiopia''''' is the second studio album by theAmerican musician [[Patti Smith|]], and her first album credited to Patti Smith Group]]. ItThe album was released in October 1976 through [[Arista Records]].
 
== History Background==
''Radio Ethiopia'' was the follow-up record to Smith's widely acclaimed debut ''[[Horses (album)|Horses]]''. In interviews surrounding the album's release, Smith explained that she chose producer [[Jack Douglas (record producer)|Jack Douglas]] in hopes of making the album acommercially commercial successsuccessful. Smith co-wrote much of Thethe album waswith negativelybassist received[[Ivan whenKrál]], itthe wasband releasedmember andkeenest for commercial success.<ref>{{cite book |title=Break It Up: Patti Smith's wasHorses attackedand bythe criticsRemaking forof whatRock they'n' perceivedRoll to|last=Paytress be|first=Mark laziness,|publisher=[[Piatkus self-indulgenceBooks]] and|year=2006 selling|isbn=0-7499-5107-9 out.|page=260}}</ref>
 
==Music==
The title track of the album is one of Smith's most notorious songs, almost legendary for appearing to be "10 minutes of noise". Critics often described live renditions of the song as negative moments of Smith's concerts. Patti herself spoke highly of the track and of how the lyrics refer to [[Arthur Rimbaud]]'s dying wishes. Arguments both for and against the song have been advanced by critics, fans and music listeners over whether the song truly is an example of the Patti Smith Group's boundary-pushing or merely self-indulgence. Critics in negative reviews cited that Douglas' production placed more emphasis on creating a heavy sound through numerous guitar parts which smothered Smith's vocals<ref>{{cite web |title=rollingstone.com |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pattismith/albums/album/227777/review/5941548/radio_ethiopia }}</ref> and, at times, lamented that all of the album's songs were originals of the group (Smith co-wrote much of the album with bassist Ivan Kral, the band member keenest for commercial success <ref>{{cite book |last=Paytress |first=Mark |title=Break It Up: Patti Smith's Horses and the remaking of Rock 'n' Roll |series=[[Record Collector]] |year=2006 |publisher=Portrait |isbn=0-7499-5107-9 |ref=http://books.google.com/books?id=hjbBAAAACAAJ |page=260}}</ref>). "Ain't It Strange" and "Distant Fingers", the latter co-written with Smith's long-time boyfriend [[Allen Lanier]], had both been staples of the Group's concerts long before the recording of ''Horses''.
The title track of the album is one of Smith's most notorious songs, almost legendary for appearing to be "10 minutes of noise". Critics often described live renditions of the song as negative moments of Smith's concerts. Smith herself spoke highly of the track and of how the lyrics refer to [[Arthur Rimbaud]]'s dying wishes. Arguments both for and against the song have been advanced by critics, fans and music listeners over whether the song truly is an example of the Patti Smith Group's boundary-pushing or merely self-indulgence.
 
"Ain't It Strange" and "Distant Fingers", the latter co-written with Smith's long-time boyfriend [[Allen Lanier]], had both been staples of the Group's concerts long before the recording of ''Horses''.
The album's cover photograph is by Judy Linn, the back of the album features a photo by [[Lynn Goldsmith]]. The album was dedicated to [[Arthur Rimbaud]] and [[Constantin Brâncuși]]. The back cover of the album bears the legend: "Free [[Wayne Kramer (guitarist)|Wayne Kramer]]", who at the time was incarcerated in [[Kentucky]] following his conviction for dealing cocaine. "[[Pissing in a River]]" was released as a single the same year. It was also featured in the 1980 movie ''[[Times Square (film)|Times Square]]''.▼
 
==Artwork==
In 2001, the album listed in ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'''s "Ultimate CD Buyers Guide".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A2625.htm |title=Best of All-time Lists |accessdate=2008-02-29 |publisher=[[Acclaimed Music]]}}</ref>
▲The album's cover photograph is by Judy Linn, while the back of the album features a photo by [[Lynn Goldsmith]]. The album was dedicated to [[Arthur Rimbaud]] and [[Constantin Brâncuși]]. The back cover of the album bears the legend: "Free [[Wayne Kramer (guitarist)|Wayne Kramer]]", who at the time was incarcerated in [[Kentucky]] following his conviction for dealing cocaine. "[[Pissing in a River]]" was released as a single the same year. It was also featured in the 1980 movie ''[[Times Square (film)|Times Square]]''.
 
==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.allmusic.com/album/radio-ethiopia-mw0000200386 |title=Radio Ethiopia – Patti Smith Group / Patti Smith |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdateaccess-date=January 2, 2010 |last=Ruhlmann |first=William}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| rev2Score rev2score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=httphttps://articleswww.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-06-17/features/9606170040_1_fred-sonic9606170040-smith-patti-smith-lenny-kaye/3story.html |title=Back For More |worknewspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=June 17, 1996 |accessdateaccess-date=SeptemberOctober 1211, 20162020 |last=Kot |first=Greg |authorlinkauthor-link=Greg Kot}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums =of ''[[the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
| rev3Score rev3score = A−<ref name="plebcrg">{{cite book |chapter=Patti Smith Group: Radio Ethiopia |chapter-url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=2679 |chapter=Patti Smith: Radio Ethiopia |accessdateaccess-date=January 2, 2010 |title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies |title-link=Christgau'70ss Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies |last=Christgau |first=Robert |authorlinkauthor-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=[[Ticknor and Fields]] |year=1981 |isbn=0-89919-026-X |page=360}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Rolling Stone AlbumMojo Guide(magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev4Score rev4score = {{Rating|3.54|5}}<ref>{{cite bookmagazine |chaptertitle=PattiDancing Smithwith |last=AbowitzGhosts |first=Richard |titlemagazine=[[TheMojo Rolling Stone Album Guide(magazine)|The New Rolling Stone Album GuideMojo]] |publisherissue=[[Simon & Schuster]]263 |editiondate=4thOctober |year=20042015 |editor1-last=BrackettAston |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |isbn=0-7432-0169-8Martin |pagespage=751–5283}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Patti Smith |last=Abowitz |first=Richard |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/751 751–52]}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev6score = 7/10<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Patti Smith |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |page=363}}</ref>
}}
In a contemporary review of ''Radio Ethiopia'', ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' critic [[Dave Marsh]] felt that Smith "seems to lack the direction necessary to live up to her own best ideas."<ref name="rs">{{cite journal|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pattismith/albums/album/227777/review/5941548/radio_ethiopia |title=Patti Smith: Radio Ethiopia |work=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=January 13, 1977 |accessdate=September 12, 2016 |last=Marsh |first=Dave |authorlink=Dave Marsh |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002032926/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pattismith/albums/album/227777/review/5941548/radio_ethiopia |archivedate=October 2, 2007 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> In ''[[Creem]]'', [[Richard Meltzer]] was more enthusiastic and wrote that "there really no way I'm gonna be anything but thrilled to my shorthairs by a Patti LP and this one's no exception."<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.oceanstar.com/patti/crit/rereview.htm |title=A Certified Good 'un, Y'Know? |work=[[Creem]] |date=January 1977 |accessdate=September 12, 2016 |last=Meltzer |first=Richard |authorlink=Richard Meltzer}}</ref> Music critic [[Robert Christgau]] stated that the album's sound "delivers the charge of heavy metal without the depressing predictability; its riff power has the human elan of a band that is still learning to play."<ref name="pleb"/>▼
 
''Radio Ethiopia'' was negatively received when it was released and Smith was attacked by critics for what they perceived to be laziness, self-indulgence and selling out. Critics in negative reviews cited that Douglas' production placed more emphasis on creating a heavy sound through numerous guitar parts that smothered Smith's vocals,<ref name="rs">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/radio-ethiopia-205286/ |title=Radio Ethiopia |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=January 13, 1977 |access-date=September 12, 2016 |last=Marsh |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Marsh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319015955/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/radio-ethiopia-205286/ |archive-date=March 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> and, at times, lamented that all of the album's songs were originals of the group.
[[AllMusic]] critic William Ruhlmann retrospectively described ''Radio Ethiopia'' as "a schizophrenic album in which the many elements that had worked so well together on ''Horses'' now seemed jarringly incompatible" and also noted that the Patti Smith Group "learned their craft and competence set in and lost some of the unself-consciousness that had made their music so appealing."<ref name="allmusic"/>▼
 
▲In a contemporary review of ''Radio Ethiopia'', ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' critic [[Dave Marsh]] feltopined that Smith "seems to lack the direction necessary to live up to her own best ideas"."<ref name="rs">{{cite journal|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pattismith/albums/album/227777/review/5941548/radio_ethiopia |title=Patti Smith: Radio Ethiopia |work=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=January 13, 1977 |accessdate=September 12, 2016 |last=Marsh |first=Dave |authorlink=Dave Marsh |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002032926/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pattismith/albums/album/227777/review/5941548/radio_ethiopia |archivedate=October 2, 2007 |deadurl=yes |df= }}</ref> In ''[[Creem]]'', [[Richard Meltzer]] was more enthusiastic and wrote that "there really ain't no way I'm gonna be anything but thrilled to my shorthairs by a Patti LP and this one's no exception."<ref>{{cite journalmagazine |url=http://www.oceanstar.com/patti/crit/rereview.htm |title=A Certified Good 'un, Y'Know? |workmagazine=[[Creem]] |volume=8 |issue=8 |date=January 1977 |accessdateaccess-date=September 12, 2016 |last=Meltzer |first=Richard |authorlinkauthor-link=Richard Meltzer}}</ref> Music''[[The Village Voice|Village Voice]]'' critic [[Robert Christgau]] stated that the album's sound "delivers the charge of [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] without the depressing predictability; its riff power ... has the human elan of a band that is still learning to play."<ref name="plebcrg"/>
== Track listing ==▼
 
{{tracklist
▲[[AllMusic]] critic William Ruhlmann retrospectively described ''Radio Ethiopia'' as "a schizophrenic album in which the many elements that had worked so well together on ''Horses'' now seemed jarringly incompatible", and also notednoting that the Patti Smith Group had "encountered the same development problem the punks would—as they learned their craft and competence set in, andthey lost some of the unself-consciousness that had made their music so appealing."<ref name="allmusic"/> In 2001, the album was listed in ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'''s "Ultimate CD Buyers Guide".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Mojo 1000: The Ultimate CD Buyers Guide |magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |year=2001}}</ref>
 
▲== Track listing ==
{{Track listing
| title1 = [[Ask the Angels]]
| writer1 = {{hlist|[[Patti Smith]], |[[Ivan KralKrál]]}}
| length1 = 3:07
| title2 = Ain't It Strange
| writer2 = {{hlist|Smith, Kral|Král}}
| length2 = 6:35
| title3 = Poppies
| writer3 = {{hlist|Smith, |[[Richard Sohl]]}}
| length3 = 7:05
| title4 = [[Pissing in a River]]
| writer4 = {{hlist|Smith, Kral|Král}}
| length4 = 4:41
| writing_credits = yes
| title5 = [[Pumping (My Heart)]]
| writer5 = {{hlist|Smith, Kral, |Král|[[Jay Dee Daugherty]]}}
| length5 = 3:20
| title6 = Distant Fingers
| writer6 = {{hlist|Smith, |[[Allen Lanier]]}}
| length6 = 4:17
| title7 = Radio Ethiopia
| writer7 = {{hlist|Smith, |[[Lenny Kaye]]}}
| length7 = 10:00
| title8 = Abyssinia
| writer8 = {{hlist|Smith, |Kaye, |Sohl}}
| length8 = 2:10
}}
{{Track listing
"Radio Ethiopia" and "Abyssinia" were recorded live on 9 August 1976.▼
| headline = 1996 CD reissue bonus track
| title9 = Chiklets
| writer9 = {{hlist|Smith|Král}}
| length9 = 6:23
}}
 
'''Notes'''
=== Bonus track (1996 CD reissue) ===
▲* "Radio Ethiopia" and "Abyssinia" were recorded live on 9 August 9, 1976.
:*"Chiklets" (Smith, Kral) – 6:23
 
== Personnel ==
'''Patti Smith Group'''
* [[Patti Smith]] – [[singing|vocals]], guitar ([[Fender Duo-Sonic]]), design
* [[LennyJay KayeDee Daugherty]] – [[guitardrum kit|drums]], ([[Fenderpercussion Stratocasterinstrument|percussion]]), bassmixing, vocals, mixingconsultant
* [[Lenny Kaye]] – [[guitar]] ([[Fender Stratocaster]]), [[bass guitar|bass]], vocals, [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
* [[Jay Dee Daugherty]] – [[Drum kit|drums]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]], mixing, consultant
* [[Ivan KralKrál]] – [[Bass guitar|bass]], guitar
* [[Richard Sohl]] – [[Keyboardkeyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[synthesizer]], piano
 
'''Additional personnel'''
* [[Jack Douglas (record producer)|Jack Douglas]] -– [[Recordrecord producer|Productionproduction]]
* BobVic IrwinAnesini – [[Audio mastering (audio)|mastering]]
* BrianSam SperberGinsberg – [[audio engineer|engineering]] (assistant)
* [[Lynn Goldsmith]] – [[photography]]▼
* Nancy Greenberg – [[design]]▼
* VicBob AnesiniIrwin – mastering▼
* [[George Marino]] – mastering
* Jay Messina – [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]], engineerengineering
* Rod O'Brien – assistantengineering engineer(assistant)▼
▲* [[Lynn Goldsmith]] – [[photography]]
* [[Brian Sperber]] – engineering
▲* Nancy Greenberg – [[design]]
▲* Rod O'Brien – assistant engineer
* Sam Ginsberg – assistant engineer
▲* Vic Anesini – mastering
 
== Charts ==
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! Chart (19771976–77)
! data-sort-type="number"| Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |publisher=Australian Chart Book |edition=illustrated |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6 |page=278}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"| 93
|-
{{Album chart|Sweden|38|artist=Patti Smith Group|album=Radio Ethiopia|accessdate=October 11, 2020|rowheader=true}}
| [[Sweden]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?key=39146&cat=a |title=Swedish chart |accessdate=2008-02-28}}</ref>
| align="center" |38
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|122|artist=Patti Smith|accessdate=October 11, 2020|rowheader=true}}
| [[Billboard 200|U.S. Billboard 200]]<ref>{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r18300|pure_url=yes}} |title=Billboard chart |accessdate=2008-02-28 |publisher=Allmusic}}</ref>
| align="center" |122
|}
 
== Release history ==
{|class="wikitable"
! Date
! Label
! Format
! Catalog no.
|-
| October 1976
| rowspan="2"| [[Arista Records]]
| [[GramophoneLP record|LP]], 8-Track, Cassette
| 4097
|-
| 1996
| rowspan="2"| [[Compact Discdisc|CD]]▼
| Arista Records▼
▲| [[Compact Disc|CD]]
| 18825
|-
| 2007
| rowspan="2"| [[Sony BMG]]
| CD
| 37928
|-
| 2008
| "Original Album Classics" CD [[box set]]
| 88697313832
|}
 
== Notes References==
{{reflist|2}}
 
== External links ==
* {{Discogs master|name=Radio Ethiopia|type=album|40133}}
* {{Allmusic|class=album|id=r18300}}
* {{MusicBrainz release group|name=Radio Ethiopia|id=eb233fd7-0ae3-38c7-b8c2-61f21bc84a35}}
 
{{Patti Smith}}
{{Authority control}}
 
[[Category:Patti Smith albums]]▼
[[Category:Arista Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Jack Douglas (record producer)]]▼
[[Category:1976 albums]]
▲[[Category:Albums produced by Jack Douglas (record producer)]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Record Plant (New York City)]]
▲| [[Category:Arista Records albums]]
▲[[Category:Patti Smith albums]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Ethiopia"