5 Things to Know About Patti Smith’s Record Deal With Clive Davis

Clive Davis offered Patti Smith a seven-album deal after seeing her perform at CBGB. He was president of Arista Records at the time.

She signed the contract in April 1975. The deal was a bet on her raw artistic vision rather than commercial polish.

The offer came immediately after her set. Davis did not wait for demos or market research.

The deal was unusually large for an avant-garde artist. Seven albums gave Smith the freedom to develop her sound without pressure.

It paid off for both sides. Smith’s debut, Horses, became a landmark album, and Arista profited from her credibility.