Redondo Beach (song)
"Redondo Beach" | |
---|---|
Song by Patti Smith | |
from the album Horses | |
Released | December 13, 1975 |
Recorded | 1975 |
Genre | |
Length | 3:26 |
Label | Arista |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) | John Cale |
Horses track listing | |
8 tracks
|
"Redondo Beach" is a rock/reggae song written by Patti Smith, Richard Sohl, and Lenny Kaye. It first was released on Patti Smith's 1975 album Horses. It also was published as a poem in Smith's 1972 book kodak under the title "Radando Beach".
The lyrics relate the suicide by drowning of a young woman following an argument with the song's narrator. It frequently has 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".[1]
She later said that she wrote the lyrics in 1971 following a fight with her sister Linda; the latter 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.[2][3]
Morrissey version
"Redondo Beach" | ||||
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Single by Morrissey | ||||
from the album Live at Earls Court | ||||
A-side | "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (live) | |||
Released | March 28, 2005 | |||
Recorded | December 18, 2004 | |||
Venue | Earls Court, London | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 4:03 | |||
Label | Attack | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Peter Asher | |||
Morrissey singles chronology | ||||
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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.[4] 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
Chart (2005) | Position |
---|---|
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[5] | 41 |
Ireland (IRMA)[6] | 45 |
Scotland (OCC)[7] with "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" |
15 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[8] | 33 |
UK Singles (OCC)[9] with "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" |
11 |
UK Indie (OCC)[10] with "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" |
1 |
US Hot 100 Singles Sales (Billboard)[11] | 10 |
Release history
Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
---|---|---|---|---|
UK | 2005 | Attack Records | 7" vinyl | ATKSE011 |
UK | 2005 | Attack Records | CD #1 | ATKXS011 |
UK | 2005 | Attack Records | CD #2 | ATKXD011 |
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
- ^ Allmusic.com review of Redondo Beach
- ^ Smith, P. (1998) "Patti Smith Complete 1975-2006". Bloomsbury, London.
- ^ "Even as a child I felt like an alien" - Patti Smith interview The Observer, 22 May 2005
- ^ "Redondo Beach / There Is A Light That Never Goes Out". Archived from the original on 2008-02-24. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- ^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. 2005-04-16. Retrieved 2008-04-02.[dead link]
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Morrissey". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ "Morrissey – Redondo Beach". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ "Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. 2005-04-30. Retrieved 2008-04-02.[dead link]
External links
- 1975 songs
- 2005 singles
- Patti Smith songs
- Morrissey songs
- Songs about beaches
- Songs about suicide
- Songs written by Patti Smith
- Songs about Los Angeles
- LGBT-related songs
- Redondo Beach, California
- Songs written by Lenny Kaye
- Songs written by Richard Sohl
- Song recordings produced by Peter Asher
- Song recordings produced by John Cale
- UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles