Guest DJ Patti Smith : All Songs Considered This edition of All Songs Considered welcomes Patti Smith to talk about some of the artists who have influenced her over the years, as well as songs that inspired her to leap up out of her seat.

Guest DJ Patti Smith

Guest DJ Patti Smith

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Clockwise from upper left: Neil Young with Patti Smith, Hank Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Maureen Gray. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

On this edition of All Songs Considered, poet and singer Patti Smith joins host Bob Boilen to talk about her musical passions, including doing fancy dance steps with her siblings in South Jersey. She talks about meeting Jimi Hendrix as a young journalist and later recording in his dream studio Electric Lady Studios, where she and her band made their latest album, Banga. Smith connects her South Jersey drawl with the sounds of Hank Williams, and plays the songs that make her want to leap out of her seat.

"It's my one regret in all of my work," Smith says. "I don't know if I was ever successful to give the people a song where they had to leap up," But Bob immediately proves her wrong with her 1976 rocker, "Ask the Angels."

As Bob and Patti Smith play songs from the album, she talks about what influenced Banga, why she loves singing and playing Neil Young's songs, and what inspired her to write songs as disparate as a prayer to the Japanese people and Amy Winehouse.

Listen to Smith tell stories about seeing a young Stevie Wonder join Smokey Robinson live on stage, and going to her very first rock concert: The Rolling Stones.

Guest DJ Patti Smith

Cover for Best of Philly Soul, Vol. 3

Guest DJ Patti Smith

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Maureen Gray

  • Song: Today's the Day
  • from Best of Philly Soul, Vol. 3

Cover for Radio Ethiopia

Guest DJ Patti Smith

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Patti Smith Group

  • Song: Ask the Angels
  • from Radio Ethiopia

Cover for 40 Greatest Hits

Guest DJ Patti Smith

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Hank Williams

  • Song: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
  • from 40 Greatest Hits

Cover for Americana

Guest DJ Patti Smith

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Neil Young & Crazy Horse

  • Song: Jesus' Chariot
  • from Americana

Cover for Banga

Guest DJ Patti Smith

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Patti Smith

  • Song: Fuji-san
  • from Banga

Cover for Banga

Guest DJ Patti Smith

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Patti Smith

  • Song: After the Gold Rush
  • from Banga

Cover for Banga

Guest DJ Patti Smith

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Patti Smith

  • Song: This Is the Girl
  • from Banga

Cover for Electric Ladyland

Guest DJ Patti Smith

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The Jimi Hendrix Experience

  • Song: 1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)
  • from Electric Ladyland