5 (Lenny Kravitz album)
Encyclopedia
5 is the fifth studio album by American
rock musician
Lenny Kravitz
, released on May 12, 1998 by Virgin Records America.
The album contained hits such as "Fly Away," and "I Belong to You", which helped Kravitz to expand his success in Europe
. The album won two Grammys.
It was re-issued in 1999, including Lenny Kravitz's latest single from the soundtrack of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
, "American Woman
," plus a bonus track called "Without You"- initially a B-side to the lead single "If You Can't Say No."
5 reached #28 on the Billboard 200
and #18 on the UK Album Chart. As of March 2008, 5 has sold 3 million units in the U.S, over 6 million units worldwide, becoming Kravitz's most successful studio album in commercial sales. Initially, the album received mediocre reviews by some critics and its rise to commercial success was quite slow up until the point were it gained tremendous success towards the end of 1998 and throughout 1999. However, the album received multi-platinum certifications in many countries, producing a mass string of worldwide hits and becoming one of the most successful albums of 1999. Despite paling in comparison in US chart position with the artist's other albums, it managed to have a remarkably long chart-life, charting for nearly three years straight on the Billboard 200, two of which were spent in the Top 100.
The album gained Kravitz multiple awards nominations and gave him his first two Grammy Award
s in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category for the hits "Fly Away" and "American Woman".
It was reported that Kravitz used some instruments and products, such as:
Recorded at Ghetto Lounge Studios and Compass Point Studios
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
, released on May 12, 1998 by Virgin Records America.
The album contained hits such as "Fly Away," and "I Belong to You", which helped Kravitz to expand his success in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The album won two Grammys.
It was re-issued in 1999, including Lenny Kravitz's latest single from the soundtrack of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, released in 1999, is the second film in the Austin Powers series that began with 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and continued with Austin Powers in Goldmember. The film was directed by Jay Roach, co-written by Mike Myers and screenwriter...
, "American Woman
American Woman (song)
"American Woman" is a song by Canadian rock band The Guess Who, first released in January 1970 on the album of the same name and later in March as a single, which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been covered by many rock artists, including Lenny Kravitz, Krokus, and The Butthole...
," plus a bonus track called "Without You"- initially a B-side to the lead single "If You Can't Say No."
5 reached #28 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and #18 on the UK Album Chart. As of March 2008, 5 has sold 3 million units in the U.S, over 6 million units worldwide, becoming Kravitz's most successful studio album in commercial sales. Initially, the album received mediocre reviews by some critics and its rise to commercial success was quite slow up until the point were it gained tremendous success towards the end of 1998 and throughout 1999. However, the album received multi-platinum certifications in many countries, producing a mass string of worldwide hits and becoming one of the most successful albums of 1999. Despite paling in comparison in US chart position with the artist's other albums, it managed to have a remarkably long chart-life, charting for nearly three years straight on the Billboard 200, two of which were spent in the Top 100.
The album gained Kravitz multiple awards nominations and gave him his first two Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category for the hits "Fly Away" and "American Woman".
Album information
In the production of the album, Kravitz worked with digital technology sounds such as synthesizers and tape loops providing the album with better modern sound. The album contained more of his 70's inspired songs, funk and soul, mixed with his rock style.It was reported that Kravitz used some instruments and products, such as:
- Jim Dunlop Products
- D'Addario Strings
- La Bella Bass Strings
- E-Mu Systems Products
- Damon Cable
- DigiDesign Pro Tools
Original edition
| Track | Title | Songwriter(s) | Production credits | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Live" | Lenny Kravitz, Craig Ross Craig Ross Craig David Ross is an American guitarist best known for performing and recording with Lenny Kravitz.-Biography:Ross was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Craig Ross picked up the guitar at age 8, following a path that he hasn't deviated from since... |
Lenny Kravitz | 5:12 |
| 2. | "Supersoulfighter" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:58 |
| 3. | "I Belong to You I Belong to You (Lenny Kravitz song) "I Belong to You" is the third single by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz from his 1998 album 5. It was released on September 22, 1998 by Virgin Records America... " |
Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:17 |
| 4. | "Black Velveteen Black Velveteen "Black Velveteen" is the sixth and last single to be released from the 5 album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz. It was released on November 16, 1999... " |
Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:48 |
| 5. | "If You Can't Say No If You Can't Say No "If You Can't Say No" is a song by Lenny Kravitz, released as the first single from his album 5. The song was written by Kravitz and reached #48 in the UK Singles Chart, while in the US, it peaked at #39 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Dance producer Brian Transeau remixed the track... " |
Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 5:17 |
| 6. | "Thinking of You Thinking of You (Lenny Kravitz song) "Thinking of You" is the second single released from the album 5 album by Lenny Kravitz. It was released in August, 1998. The song was dedicated to his mother, Roxie Roker, who died of cancer in 1995.-Single track listing:# Thinking of You... " |
Lenny Kravitz, Lysa Trenier Lysa Aya Trenier Lysa Aya Trenier is a London-born singer, songwriter and actress. She most notably is associated with the Naked Music recording label. She is of Singaporean/Irish/Scottish descent.... |
Lenny Kravitz | 6:24 |
| 7. | "Take Time" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:31 |
| 8. | "Fly Away Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz song) "Fly Away" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, the fourth single from his 1998 album 5.-Chart performance:"Fly Away" is one of Kravitz's most successful songs to date. The song was a hit in both the United Kingdom and United States... " |
Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 3:41 |
| 9. | "It's Your Life" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 5:02 |
| 10. | "Straight Cold Player" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:19 |
| 11. | "Little Girl's Eyes" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 7:44 |
| 12. | "You're My Flavor" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 3:48 |
| 13. | "Can We Find a Reason" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 6:24 |
New edition (1999)
| Track | Title | Songwriter(s) | Production credits | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Live" | Lenny Kravitz, Craig Ross Craig Ross Craig David Ross is an American guitarist best known for performing and recording with Lenny Kravitz.-Biography:Ross was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Craig Ross picked up the guitar at age 8, following a path that he hasn't deviated from since... |
Lenny Kravitz | 5:12 |
| 2. | "Supersoulfighter" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:58 |
| 3. | "I Belong to You I Belong to You (Lenny Kravitz song) "I Belong to You" is the third single by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz from his 1998 album 5. It was released on September 22, 1998 by Virgin Records America... " |
Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:17 |
| 4. | "Black Velveteen Black Velveteen "Black Velveteen" is the sixth and last single to be released from the 5 album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz. It was released on November 16, 1999... " |
Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:48 |
| 5. | "If You Can't Say No If You Can't Say No "If You Can't Say No" is a song by Lenny Kravitz, released as the first single from his album 5. The song was written by Kravitz and reached #48 in the UK Singles Chart, while in the US, it peaked at #39 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Dance producer Brian Transeau remixed the track... " |
Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 5:17 |
| 6. | "Thinking of You Thinking of You (Lenny Kravitz song) "Thinking of You" is the second single released from the album 5 album by Lenny Kravitz. It was released in August, 1998. The song was dedicated to his mother, Roxie Roker, who died of cancer in 1995.-Single track listing:# Thinking of You... " |
Lenny Kravitz, Lysa Trenier Lysa Aya Trenier Lysa Aya Trenier is a London-born singer, songwriter and actress. She most notably is associated with the Naked Music recording label. She is of Singaporean/Irish/Scottish descent.... |
Lenny Kravitz | 6:24 |
| 7. | "Take Time" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:31 |
| 8. | "Fly Away Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz song) "Fly Away" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, the fourth single from his 1998 album 5.-Chart performance:"Fly Away" is one of Kravitz's most successful songs to date. The song was a hit in both the United Kingdom and United States... " |
Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 3:41 |
| 9. | "It's Your Life" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 5:02 |
| 10. | "Straight Cold Player" (Instrumental) | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:19 |
| 11. | "Little Girl's Eyes" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 7:44 |
| 12. | "You're My Flavor" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 3:48 |
| 13. | "Can We Find a Reason?" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 6:24 |
| 14. | "American Woman American Woman (song) "American Woman" is a song by Canadian rock band The Guess Who, first released in January 1970 on the album of the same name and later in March as a single, which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been covered by many rock artists, including Lenny Kravitz, Krokus, and The Butthole... " |
Bachman, Cummings, Kale, Peterson The Guess Who The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"... |
Lenny Kravitz | 4:21 |
| 15. | "Without You" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:47 |
Singles
- "If You Can't Say No" #48 UK
- "I Belong To You" # 71 US #75 UK
- "Thinking Of You"
- "Fly Away" #1 UK #12 US
- "American Woman" #49 US
- "Black Velveteen"
Certifications
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
Platinum |
| Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
2× Platinum |
| France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
2× Gold |
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
Gold |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
3× Platinum |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
2× Platinum |
Personnel
- Lenny Kravitz – vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, piano, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, programming
- Craig RossCraig RossCraig David Ross is an American guitarist best known for performing and recording with Lenny Kravitz.-Biography:Ross was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Craig Ross picked up the guitar at age 8, following a path that he hasn't deviated from since...
– guitar, slide guitar, keyboards - Terry ManningTerry ManningTerry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
– toy piano - Jack Daley – bass
- Michael HunterMichael HunterMichael Hunter or Mike Hunter may refer to:* Michael Hunter , professor of history at Birkbeck, University of London* Michael Hunter , composer of sounds for Grand Theft Auto...
– trumpet - Harold Todd – saxophone
- George Laks – keyboards
- Alix Alvarez – keyboards
Trivia
- The tracklist was printed in the left side of the back CD inlay, so it is shown in the front part of the case.
Album credits
- Engineered by Terry ManningTerry ManningTerry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
except "American Woman". - Recorded by Tom "T-Bone" Edmonds.
- Mixed by Terry ManningTerry ManningTerry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
and Lenny Kravitz. - Pro Tools Operator: Matthew Knobel.
- Programming by Lenny Kravitz, Terry ManningTerry ManningTerry Manning is a music producer, songwriter, photographer and recording engineer known for work in rock, rhythm and blues, and pop music genres....
, Mark Browne, Matthew Knobel and Eric Rehl. - Horn arrangements by Lenny Kravitz, Michael Hunter and Harold Todd.
- Art Direction and Design by Len Peltier.
- Photography by Mark Seliger
Recorded at Ghetto Lounge Studios and Compass Point Studios
Compass Point Studios
Compass Point Studios were founded in 1977 by Chris Blackwell, the owner of Island Records.In the late 1970s and mid-1980s, many musical artists from across the world came to the Bahamas to record music at its facilities. Many producers, including Chris Blackwell himself, used the studio to produce...
.