Redondo Beach (song)
{{short description|1975 song by Patti Smith}}
{{About|the song|the subject of this song|Redondo Beach, California}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Redondo Beach
| cover =
| alt =
| type =
| artist = Patti Smith
| album = Horses
| released = {{Start date|1975|12|13}}
| recorded = 1975
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = *Reggae
- punk rock{{cite web |last1=Ritland |first1=Erik |title=The 25 Best Punk Songs to Help You Stick it to the Man |url=https://www.musicinminnesota.com/best-punk-songs/ |website=Music in Minnesota |date=11 January 2023 |access-date=13 May 2023}}
| length = 3:26
| label = Arista
| writer = *Patti Smith
| producer = John Cale
| tracks = {{Hidden
| title = 8 tracks
| text =
;Side one
- "Gloria: In Excelsis Deo / Gloria"
- "Redondo Beach"
- "Birdland"
- "Free Money"
;Disc two
- "Kimberly"
- "Break It Up"
- "Land: Horses / Land of a Thousand Dances / La Mer (De)"
- "Elegie"
}}
}}
"Redondo Beach" is a song by Patti Smith. It was first released on Smith's 1975 album Horses, with band members Richard Sohl and Lenny Kaye credited as co-writers. The lyrics were originally published as a poem in Smith's 1972 book kodak under the title "Radando Beach".
Song
The lyrics relate the suicide by drowning of a young woman following an argument with the song's narrator. It has frequently been interpreted as a lesbian-themed song; Smith appeared to encourage this interpretation in her live performances, often introducing the song with "Redondo Beach is a beach where women love other women".[http://www.allmusic.com/song/redondo-beach-mt0007074236 Allmusic.com review of Redondo Beach]
She later said that she wrote the lyrics in 1971 following a fight with her sister Linda; Linda had disappeared for the day, causing Patti to worry that she had come to harm. Smith also stated that she considers herself "beyond gender" in her artistic expression. Smith's lyrics were set to a reggae arrangement.Smith, P. (1998) "Patti Smith Complete 1975-2006". Bloomsbury, London.[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/may/22/popandrock1 "Even as a child I felt like an alien" - Patti Smith interview] The Observer, 22 May 2005
Morrissey version
{{Infobox song
| name = Redondo Beach
| cover = Thereisalight2.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Morrissey
| album = Live at Earls Court
| A-side = "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (live)
| released = {{start date|2005|3|28}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=35|date=March 26, 2005}}
| recorded = December 18, 2004
| studio =
| venue = Earls Court, London
| genre = Alternative rock
| length = 4:03
| label = Attack
| writer = *Patti Smith
| producer = Peter Asher
| prev_title = I Have Forgiven Jesus
| prev_year = 2004
| next_title = You Have Killed Me
| next_year = 2006
}}
The song was part of Morrissey's live set list throughout his December 2004 arena tour. "Redondo Beach / There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" was a double A-side single released by Morrissey to promote his live album Live at Earls Court in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.passionsjustlikemine.com/disc/moz-d48tial.htm |title=Redondo Beach / There Is A Light That Never Goes Out |access-date=2008-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224223904/http://passionsjustlikemine.com/disc/moz-d48tial.htm |archive-date=2008-02-24 |url-status=dead }} The double A-side reached number 11 in the United Kingdom, and "Redondo Beach" reached number 33 in Sweden.
=Track listings=
7" vinyl
- "Redondo Beach" (live) (Patti Smith, Richard Sohl, Lenny Kaye) – 4:07
- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (live) (Johnny Marr, Morrissey) – 4:50
CD single
- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (live) (Johnny Marr, Morrissey) - 4:50
- "Redondo Beach" (live) (Patti Smith, Richard Sohl, Lenny Kaye) – 4:07
- "Noise Is the Best Revenge" (Janice Long session 2004) (Morrissey, Boz Boorer) - 4:03
DVD single
- "Redondo Beach" (live) (Patti Smith, Richard Sohl, Lenny Kaye) – 4:07
- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (live) (Johnny Marr, Morrissey) – 4:50
- "It's Hard to Walk Tall When You're Small" (Janice Long session 2004) (Morrissey, Alain Whyte)
- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (live promotional video)
- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (video taken from Manchester Evening News Arena)
=Charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Chart (2005) !scope="col"|Position |
| scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=349&cfgn=Singles&cfn=European+Hot+100+Singles&ci=3057992&cdi=8305760&cid=04%2F16%2F2005|title=European Hot 100 Singles|access-date=2008-04-02|publisher=Billboard|date=2005-04-16}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
|41 |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Ireland3|45|artist=Morrissey|rowheader=true|access-date=28 January 2020}} |
| {{singlechart|Scotland|15|date=20050409|rowheader=true|access-date=17 January 2019|note=with "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"}} |
| {{singlechart|Sweden|33|artist=Morrissey|song=Redondo Beach|rowheader=true|access-date=17 January 2019}} |
| {{singlechart|UK|11|date=20050409|rowheader=true|access-date=17 January 2019|note=with "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"}} |
| {{singlechart|UKindie|1|date=20050409|rowheader=true|access-date=17 January 2019|note=with "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"}} |
| scope="row"|US Hot 100 Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=353&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Singles+Sales&ci=3058148&cdi=8311775&cid=04%2F30%2F2005|title=Hot Singles Sales|access-date=2008-04-02|publisher=Billboard|date=2005-04-30}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
|10 |
=Release history=
Other cover versions
The song was performed by Angel Corpus Christi on I Love NY, her 1984 album of cover versions that were originally recorded by New York-based artists.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Allmusic|class=song|id=t829999|label=Redondo Beach by Patti Smith}}
- {{Allmusic|class=album|id=r740771|label=Redondo Beach by Morrissey}}
{{Patti Smith}}
{{Morrissey singles}}
Category:Songs written by Patti Smith
Category:Songs about Los Angeles
Category:Lesbian-related songs
Category:Redondo Beach, California
Category:Songs written by Lenny Kaye
Category:Songs written by Richard Sohl
Category:Song recordings produced by Peter Asher