By mid-1975, Patti Smith and her band had established themselves as a popular act within the New York City underground rock music scene. In the spring of that year they shared a two-month residency at the New York club CBGB with the band Television, gradually developing a sizable following. Smith eventually caught the attention of music industry executive Clive Davis, who was scouting for new talent to sign to his recently-launched label Arista Records; he later offered her a record deal, which she accepted. Arista made arrangements for Smith to begin recording her debut album in August 1975. Smith initially suggested that the album be produced by Tom Dowd, and there were initial talks of booking studio time with Dowd in Criteria in Miami. These plans were complicated by Dowd's association with rival label Atlantic Records. Nonetheless, Smith had a change of heart and instead set her sights on enlisting Welsh musician John Cale, formerly of the Velvet Underground, to serve as the album's producer, as she was impressed by the raw sound of his solo albums, such as 1974's "Fear". Cale, who had previously seen Smith perform live and was acquainted with Smith's bassist Ivan Král, accepted. The recording of "Horses" ultimately took place at Electric Lady Studios in New York, with Smith retaining the same backing band with whom she performed live—Jay Dee Daugherty on drums, Lenny Kaye on guitar, Ivan Král on bass guitar, and Richard Sohl on keyboards.