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Today, Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is 68.

This reminded me—I recently read the Slits guitarist Viv Albertine's fascinating memoir Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. It's full of engrossing stories and memories of her life before and after the first punk scene (I'll try to properly review it soon), but one chapter that sticks out is titled "Horses."

In 1975, a year or so before the Slits formed, Albertine sees a photo of Patti Smith for the first time via the cover of Smith's forthcoming album, Horses, in an issue of NME.

I have never seen a girl who looks like this. She is my soul made visible, all the things I hie deep inside myself that can't come out. She looks natural, confident, sexy and individual. I don't want to dress like her or copy her style; she gives me the confidence to express myself in my own way.

Albertine buys the record on the day it's released and listens to it immediately.

Up until now girls have been so controlled and restrained. Patti Smith is abandoned. Her record translates into sound, parts of myself that I could not access… Listening to Horses unlocks an idea for me—girls' sexuality can be on their own terms, for their own pleasure or creative work, not just for exploitation or to get a man.

Patti Smith plays the Moore Theatre on January 19.