5 (Lenny Kravitz album)
5 | ||||
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Studio album by Lenny Kravitz | ||||
Released | May 12, 1998 (US) | |||
Recorded | 1997–98 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Virgin | |||
Producer | Lenny Kravitz | |||
Lenny Kravitz chronology | ||||
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Singles from 5 | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | link |
Entertainment Weekly | C link |
Robert Christgau | C link |
Rolling Stone | link |
5 is the fifth studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on May 12, 1998 by Virgin Records. The album featured hits such as "Fly Away" and "I Belong to You", which helped Kravitz to expand his success in Europe. The album won two Grammy Awards.
5 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 number 28 on the Billboard 200 and number 18 on the UK Albums Chart. As of March 2008, 5 has sold 3 million units in the US and over 6 million units worldwide, becoming Kravitz's highest-selling studio album. Initially, the album received mediocre reviews by some critics and its rise to commercial success was quite slow until it gained significant success towards the end of 1998 and throughout 1999. The album received multi-platinum certifications in many countries, producing a string of worldwide hits and becoming one of the most successful albums of 1999. Despite paling in comparison in US chart position with Kravitz'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 Awards 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 such as synthesizers and tape loops providing the album with a more modern sound. The album contained more of his '70s-inspired songs, funk and soul, mixed with his rock style.
Track listing
Original edition (1998)
Track | Title | Songwriter(s) | Production credits | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Live" |
| Lenny Kravitz | 5:12 |
2. | "Supersoulfighter" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:58 |
3. | "I Belong to You" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:17 |
4. | "Black Velveteen" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:48 |
5. | "If You Can't Say No" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 5:17 |
6. | "Thinking of You" |
| Lenny Kravitz | 6:24 |
7. | "Take Time" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:31 |
8. | "Fly Away" | 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 | 5:12 |
2. | "Supersoulfighter" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:58 |
3. | "I Belong to You" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:17 |
4. | "Black Velveteen" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:48 |
5. | "If You Can't Say No" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 5:17 |
6. | "Thinking of You" |
| Lenny Kravitz | 6:24 |
7. | "Take Time" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:31 |
8. | "Fly Away" | 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" | Lenny Kravitz | 4:21 | |
15. | "Without You" | Lenny Kravitz | Lenny Kravitz | 4:47 |
Singles
- "If You Can't Say No" number 48 UK
- "I Belong to You" number 71 US, number 75 UK
- "Thinking of You"
- "Fly Away" number one UK, number 12 US
- "American Woman" number 49 US
- "Black Velveteen"
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[1] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[2] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
France (SNEP)[3] | 2× Gold | 200,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[4] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Poland (ZPAV)[5] | Gold | 50,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[7] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Personnel
- Lenny Kravitz – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, programming
- Craig Ross – guitar, slide guitar, keyboards
- Terry Manning – toy piano on "I Belong to You"
- Cindy Blackman - drums on "Straight Cold Player"[8]
- Jack Daley – bass
- Michael Hunter – trumpet
- Harold Todd – saxophone
- George Laks – keyboards
- Alix Alvarez – keyboards
Album credits
- Engineered by Terry Manning except "American Woman".
- Recorded by Tom "T-Bone" Edmonds.
- Mixed by Terry Manning and Lenny Kravitz.
- Pro Tools operation by Matthew Knobel.
- Programming by Lenny Kravitz, Terry Manning, 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.
References
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – 5". Music Canada.
- ↑ "French album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – 5" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Lenny Kravitz; '5')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ↑ "Polish album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – >> 5" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
- ↑ "British album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – 5". British Phonographic Industry. Enter 5 in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
- ↑ "American album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – 5". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
- ↑ Nala and the team (December 2005). "Reportage: Cindy Blackman". La Toile des Batteurs. Retrieved September 27, 2014.