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Twelve

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4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 271 ratings

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Audio CD, Import, April 24, 2007
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Track Listings

1 Are You Experienced?
2 Everybody Wants to Rule the World
3 Helpless
4 Gimme Shelter
5 Within You Without You
6 White Rabbit
7 Changing of the Guards
8 The Boy in the Bubble
9 Soul Kitchen
10 Smells Like Teen Spirit
11 Midnight Rider
12 Pastime Paradise

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

TWELVE features a collection of 12 diverse classic cover songs newly interpreted and handpicked by the rock legend for the important place they hold in her life as an artists. Guest artists include: Rich Robinson, Giovanni Sollima, Sam Shepard, John Cohen, and many more!

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Both a stopgap release until Patti Smith writes another album's worth of material and a way to keep her name in front of the public after her highly publicized 2007 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this set of a dozen covers finds the singer/poet in an unusually reflective mode. Some of the sources are obvious for those familiar with Smith's influences (the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan), some less so (Paul Simon, Nirvana, Jefferson Airplane, Neil Young), and a few come out of left field (the Allman Brothers Band, Stevie Wonder, Tears for Fears). Smith's innate class and approach guarantees there's nothing awful here, but there also isn't much that stamps these versions with her own vision. She does little more than deliver the words in her unique spoken/sung voice and--except for adding a banjo and her own poetry to an acoustic "Smells Like Teen Spirit"--keeps the arrangements close to the originals. At times she seems distant from the material, running through the Doors' "Soul Kitchen" and Young's "Helpless" with an oddly soulless detachment. Likewise, her band seems to be on autopilot, playing with little emotional involvement or attempts to bring fresh interpretations to tunes that are, with the exception of Dylan's "Changing of the Guard," surprisingly unimaginative choices. Considering the raging and extreme overhaul Smith did on Van Morrison's "Gloria" and the Who's "My Generation" in her younger days, this quieter, gentler approach seems flaccid, even bland in comparison. --Hal Horowitz

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.52 x 4.94 x 0.33 inches; 2.72 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Sony Legacy
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 2196418
  • Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2007
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 57 minutes
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ February 22, 2007
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Sony Legacy
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000NDEXIE
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 271 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
271 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2014
    I was surprised to find that Patti Smith, an alternative artist if ever there was one, would do something as conventional as release an album of covers. But she did, in 2007, with good results. For the most part, Patti stays with the same vocal arrangements as the originals. Her voice, three decades after her peak of popularity, is in very good shape, one reason why I find the lyrics easier to understand than in some of the originals. However, the instrumental arrangements are in many cases quite different from the originals. Some of them, helped by modern technology, give the songs a bigger, thicker quality, as if they have been "magnified". There is excellent guitar work of varying styles throughout the album. Most of the songs are iconic classics - I own 9 of the 12 originals - so I am not saying this album is better than the originals, just a different take.

    The first track is "Are You Experienced?" (original by Jimi Hendrix). It is slower and more bluesy than the original, and the slowness amplifies it, makes it heavier. When Patti answers her own question "Have you ever been experienced?" by singing "Well, I HAVE", the drums kick in, and it is electric. "Gimme Shelter" (Stones) and "Soul Kitchen" (Doors) are likewise magnified by being louder and heavier. Jefferson Airplane/Grace Slick's "White Rabbit" is given a stronger psychedelic aura through elaborate guitar and techno effects. "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (Tears For Fears) is not really that much heavier than the original, but is it slightly slower, making it sound closer to blues than pop.

    The Beatles/George Harrison's "Within You Without You" is more accessible because the Indian instruments are replaced by guitars. But it flows just as it should, just as the original does, just as life does, in Harrison's own words: "...and the time will come when you see we're all one, and life flows on within you and without you". The Allman Brothers track "Midnight Rider", Neil Young's "Helpless" and Bob Dylan's "Changing Of The Guards" are, as far as I can recall, pretty close to the originals. Patti's vocal is especially good on "Changing Of The Guards". For Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", there's good news and bad news. The good is that Patti's vocal makes the song more personal than the anthem it became for Nirvana. The bad is that it is backed by a banjo and fiddle (?!?), and that certainly would not have been my choice.

    I was not familiar with two of the tracks. "The Boy In The Bubble" is from Paul Simon's 1986 album "Graceland". It is straightforward old-style rock with a very noticeable, active bassline. And although I don't believe I ever heard Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise", I do recognize parts of it from being sampled by Coolio in "Gangsta's Paradise" in the mid-90's. It is a somber song about our materialistic and pleasure-seeking society, with a hypnotic repeated piano line.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2013
    Twelve is an amazing album by a amazing artist Patti Smith. It is collection of cover songs. Patti and the amazing group of musicians that appear on this album. I'm totally floored.

    Tracks

    01. Are You Experienced - Jimi Hendrix - I loved it! I liked the arrangement and the intro was awesome.
    02. Every Body Wants To Rule The World - Again Patti is right on the note with this 80's classic. I want to do a cover of this too.
    03. Helpless - Neil Young - Very nice Patti is amazing on this tune and I know Neil Young would be proud of her.
    04. Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones - I believe this is the best version of this song that I have ever herd. The blending of the music is out of this world.
    05. With In You Without You - George Harrison - Hunting but delicious and so playful. Love It.
    06. White Rabbit - Grace Slick - Poetic dark but great Patti is once again amazing.
    07. Changing Of The Guards - Bob Dylan - This album would not have complete without this song. Once again I love it!
    08. Boy In A Bubble - ? - Driving and soulful.
    09. Soul Kitchen - Jim Morrison - Patti and the musicians on this track knock this one out of the park.
    10. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Love it this arrangement is so good. If Kurt had not died he would surely loved it.
    11. Midnight Rider - Gregg Allman - What is not to love here? Damn Patti you are so cool. I love the Allman Brothers and you knocked this one out the park too.
    12. Past Time Paradise - Stevie Wonder - I haven't herd this song in a long time. Once again Patti displays her un-tamed talent.

    Folks this album is a sure to be rock classic and if you are a Patti Smith fan you need to have this classic in your collection. If your new to Patti Smith I say to you that you go wrong whit this album.- Richard Phish Glenn
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2007
    Patti's always had a way with cover songs. In the early days, she'd begin her gigs with the Velvet Underground's "We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together." She's always had a tendency towards wacky - I've seen her cover "Tomorrow" from Annie and "You Light Up My Life" in concerts. She's always paid homage to her musical influences - the Who's "My Generation", Manfred Mann's "5,4,3,2,1". Even Prince's "When Doves Cry". Not every cover song can be deconstructed & reinvented like "Gloria." That she pulled that off at all is a feat few would dare, little less succeed at.

    I was looking forward to this set of cover songs just to see what was going on in Patti's mind. Her appreciation of rock music, heroes, and history is comprehensive. With Lenny Kaye at her side, a musical encyclopedia, it proves to be quite a collection.

    Most of the criticism seems to center around the fact that she doesn't take the bait and tear the songs apart to reinvent them. While that critique is correct, in my opinion, it misses the point. There is a warmth, almost a reverence, to the collection of songs. There is true affection, and a personal connection, to each of these songs that makes Twelve unique in her canon. Never has Patti & Company sounded so relaxed, confident, and warm. There is none of her trademark urgency or stridence.

    Instead, her voice shows a new maturity. When did Patti learn to sing? She practically croons Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Personally, I never much cared for the song, but find myself hitting replay for her version. Soul Kitchen has the same relaxed vibe - somehow it's much, much sexier with her singing the song than Jim Morrison's version. I also like the garbage truck story in the booklet about how it came to be included.

    I'm glad that the connection between Grace Slick and Patti isn't just in my head. There actually IS a connection between these two maverick queens of rock & roll, these two non-R&B chick singers that stand alone amongst all the great women vocalists of rock. Patti's take on White Rabbit is wonderful - complete with feedback, spoken word poetry, and then the crisp bass & drum bolero.

    Even more telling is the unplugged retake on Smells Like Teen Spirit. Truthfully, I never had a clue what Kurt Cobain was singing lyrically. Patti enunciates the lyrics (which are formidible.) I love the banjo, dulcimer, accoustic guitars and upright bass. The bass is the only thing that ties this version to the original. Outstanding!

    Partime Paradise is also performed beautifully. I hadn't thought of that song in years, maybe even a decade. There are no out & out misses here. Just a couple where it would be impossible, by anybody, to improve upon the original - Gimme Shelter, The Boy in the Bubble, Are You Experienced?, Helpless, Changing of the Guards (OK, point well taken by the reviewer who mentioned the elimination of the background singers on Street Legal. But I've always felt Dylan is the best interpreter of Dylan - despite everybody's best efforts.)

    There are also a couple that were pretty mediocre to begin with - Within You Without You, and Midnight Rider. Patti puts her stamp on them, and I find them evocative, but ultimately placeholders until she gets around to another song I like better.

    As befitting a poet, it's mostly about the words and their power. Patti puts the emphasis on the lyrics with ALL the songs - she bites the liness out, enunciates, emphasizes, emotes. There are unexpected musical flourishes with clarinets, dulcimers, mandolins, banjos. This is what elevates the collection for me. With only a couple of exceptions, she feels no need to add her own lyrics or poetry. Considering her own talent in this area, her omission is telling.

    Take it for what it is - a bedroom slippers, glass of cognac, late night CD of memories, reminders, and mile posts of one person's life in rock & roll. Who would make up your Twelve?
    56 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Oliver
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ok
    Reviewed in Italy on October 13, 2023
  • fab
    5.0 out of 5 stars ouaaa
    Reviewed in France on July 19, 2023
    super album de reprise personnalisé et interprété par la très talentueuse patty smith
  • Jose Diaz
    4.0 out of 5 stars Todo perfecto
    Reviewed in Spain on January 3, 2023
    Muy buen disco como todos los de Patti Smith, aunque sea de versiones.
    Impecable embalaje y presentación del CD.
    Ha llegado un poco tarde, pero no es culpa de quien lo envía.
    Es culpa de Correos.
  • S. RUB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cover-versions and by a personal selection by artist
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2021
    Very well performed and stylish easy listening, and the voice, singing and compositions are clear. The vinyl needs to be available ( because it it an album that one would enjoy repeatedly, and deserves the formal Hi-Fi experience ) . Also Like the Live at Montreux DVD recording it would be nice to have some of these songs as a performance. I first liked Patti Smith because of the "Because The Night" single and listened to both sides again and again. And I saw her live during student days in 1970s. The best part is of course "Changing of The Guards" which could have been the 7 minutes but is about 5-30. I hope she will keep making this sort of music. Artistically the voice can not go wrong, especially if the songs chosen are like these ones. CD quality is quite good also.
  • Sergio Dominguez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Todo bien.
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 9, 2020
    Todo bien.