Patti Smith Group
Wave

Artist: Patti Smith Group
Title: Wave
Release Year: 1979
Pressing Year: 1979
Label: Arista Records
Catalog Number: AB 4221
Runout Etchings: AB 4221-SA-CT1 1979 YEAR OF THE CHILD gc
Runout Stampings: STERLING
Format: 33 RPM • 12” LP • Stereo
UPC: none

The Patti Smith Group’s most conventional album, this recording was given a bright pop/rock sound by producer Todd Rundgren. It was the last album Smith made before marrying and retiring from record-making for nine years, and it can be heard as a farewell to the music business, from Frederick, the love song to her husband-to-be, Fred "Sonic" Smith, that leads it off, to the cover version of The Byrds’ So You Want to Be (A Rock 'n' Roll Star), among the most bitter accounts of fame on record. But Smith also achieves a sense of charm and sincerity on this album that she hadn't even attempted on her earlier albums, even to the point of her imagined small-talk encounter with the late Pope John Paul I on the title track.

Personnel: Patti Smith (vocals); Richard Sohl (keyboards); Jay Dee Daugherty (drums, percussion); Ivan Kral, Lenny Kaye (guitar, bass, backing vocals).

NOTE: I base the condition of my vinyl records on Ebay's Grading System.

VINYL GRADE: VG+
Notes: Minimal surface noise. A good cleaning is all this one needs. No warping.

LABEL GRADE: VG+
Notes: Neither side has ring wear, writing, spindle wear, or tape. Gray ARISTA “A” art text on light turquoise/gray gradient background. Several small ghosted “A” art images on blue gradient portion. Text is black on light turquoise/gray.

SLEEVE GRADE: VG
Notes: Original plain blue paper. Circles cut in centers to display labels. No writing, no stains, no tape, some crinkling, no rips. One-inch split at center of bottom edge. Half-moon cut-out at top right corner matches the one cut in the jacket.

JACKET GRADE: VG+
Notes: No ring wear, no marks, no stains, no tape, some crinkles, no splits. Edges, corners, and spine (readable) are in good shape. Original shrink wrap is open but still tightly clinging. (See my original scan.)

Shipping is $4.00. NOTE: I will NOT be responsible for items lost or damaged in the mail.

Combined shipping: I will be happy to combine multiple items. If you buy more than one item from me, the shipping cost will be the highest original shipping fee plus $1 per additional item.

Payments managed by eBay.

This is not a record-club pressing. It is the original issue.

Note: I haven't cleaned this 44-year-old record because everybody seems to prefer their own methods. I'll leave the cleaning up to the buyer. Also, I'm not a professional vinyl seller or buyer. This comes from my own collection. Bought at Hills Dept. Store, Christiansburg VA.

Enjoy the auction — and good luck!