PATTI SMITH GROUP.

Description

1978 European Arista Records promotional poster for “Easter”

Large original first printing Patti Smith Group promotional poster issued by Arista Records for the European market in 1978 to promote the release of the Easter album. Recorded at the Record Plant in New York under the guidance of producer Jimmy Iovine, who had previously worked with both John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen, Easter was released on 3rd March, 1978 by Arista Records. Unlike its two predecessors, Easter incorporated a diversity of musical styles, though still including classic rock and roll, folk, spoken word, and pop music. It is the only 1970s album of Smith’s that does not feature pianist Richard Sohl as part of the Patti Smith Group. In addition to the religious allusion of its title, the album is replete with biblical and specifically Christian imagery. “Privilege (Set Me Free)” is taken from the British fame- and authoritarianism-satirizing film Privilige; its lyrics are adapted from Psalm 23. The album insert reproduces a First Communion portrait of Frederic and Arthur Rimbaud, and Smith’s notes for the song “Easter” invoke Catholic imagery of baptism, communion and the blood of Christ. A solitary hand-drawn cross is placed below the group member credits on the sleeve insert, and the last sentence of the liner notes is a quote from Second Epistle to Timothy 4:7 — “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course …”. The album was highly acclaimed upon its release and is generally regarded as the group’s commercial breakthrough. Containing the singles “Because the Night” and “Privilege (Set Me Free)”, Easter reached #20 on the Billboard 200.The poster was for promotional purposes only, and was never made commercially available.

The poster measures 52.0 x 91.3 cm (approx. 20.5″ by 35.9″ inches) and is beautifully printed on thin, coated paper stock. In excellent unfolded and unmarked condition. Feel free to email us with any questions you may have concerning this item. Additional images of the poster available on request.