Are You Gonna Go My Way Explained

Are You Gonna Go My Way
Type:studio
Artist:Lenny Kravitz
Cover:Lenny Kravitz-Are You Gonna Go My Way.gif
Released:March 9, 1993
Recorded:1992–1993
Studio:Waterfront Recording Studios
Length:46:14
Label:Virgin
Producer:Lenny Kravitz
Prev Title:Mama Said
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:Circus
Next Year:1995

Are You Gonna Go My Way is the third studio album by American singer Lenny Kravitz, released on March 9, 1993, by Virgin Records. It was recorded at Waterfront Studios, Hoboken, New Jersey, by Henry Hirsch. It became Kravitz's first top 20 album on the United States Billboard 200, and his first number one album in both Australia and the United Kingdom, achieving worldwide success that helped to establish his popularity as a performer.[1]

Album information

The album had a good reception by fans and music critics and it is still considered one of Kravitz's best works.[2]

Musically, it contained songs inspired by classic rock artists such as Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Curtis Mayfield, Sly and Robbie, and Prince.[3]

Additional guitars were contributed by Craig Ross.[4]

Singles

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" was released as the lead single. The song peaked at number one on the Australian Singles Chart, and also peaked at number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart, becoming his first number one single in both countries, while it peaked at number 2 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks. It was only released for airplay in the US and therefore did not chart on the Hot 100,[1] but was a worldwide hit, peaking at number 4 in both the United Kingdom and France. The song is not only considered to be one of Kravitz's greatest hits as an artist, but also as one of the biggest anthems of the 1990s. Appears in the video games (in a GT Remix) and Guitar Hero World Tour as well as Guitar Hero Live.

"Believe" was the second single from the album. It is a rock ballad that speaks of faith and freedom. The song was another major success from the album, peaking at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 15 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, number 10 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks, number 30 on the UK, and number 8 in Australia.

"Heaven Help", the third single from the album, is an R&B and soul song. It originally entered at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 but later peaked at number 80, being charted as a double A-side single along with "Spinning Around Over You". The double A-side format also peaked at number 92 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while in the United Kingdom, it became Kravitz's second top 20 single from the album, reaching number 20.

"Is There Any Love in Your Heart" was released as the final single from the album. It peaked at number 19 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, number 52 in the UK, and number 32 in Australia.

"Spinning Around Over You" charted as a double A-side single along with "Heaven Help", peaking at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 37 on the Hot Mainstream Rock tracks chart. The single was originally featured on the soundtrack to the film Reality Bites and was featured on the album as a bonus track, thus being the final single from the album.

Chart performance

Are You Gonna Go My Way has been very successful not only in the United States, but also worldwide, particularly in the major markets of Europe and South America. It reached number 12 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the UK Albums Chart and the Australian Albums Chart. As of March 2008, the album has sold 2.2 million units in the US.

The title track has been considered one of Kravitz's signature songs and was nominated for two Grammy Awards. It was also voted in at number 28 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of 1993, an Australian music poll run by the radio station Triple J.

Track listing

Original edition

  1. "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (Lenny Kravitz, Craig Ross) – 3:31
  2. "Believe" (Kravitz, Henry Hirsch) – 4:50
  3. "Come on and Love Me" (Kravitz) – 3:52
  4. "Heaven Help" (Gerry DeVeaux, Terry Britten) – 3:10
  5. "Just Be a Woman" (Kravitz) – 3:50
  6. "Is There Any Love in Your Heart" (Kravitz, Ross) – 3:39
  7. "Black Girl" (Kravitz) – 3:42
  8. "My Love" (Kravitz, Ross) – 3:50
  9. "Sugar" (Kravitz) – 4:00
  10. "Sister" (Kravitz) – 7:02
  11. "Eleutheria" (Kravitz) – 4:48

Vinyl edition bonus CD track listing

  1. "Ascension" (Kravitz, Hirsch) – 3:45
  2. "Brother" (Kravitz) – 4:16
  3. "Good Lovin'" (DeVeaux, Britten) – 3:34
  4. "Someone Like You" (Kravitz, Ross, Hirsch) – 4:14
  5. "All My Life" (Kravitz) – 6:24
  6. "Spinning Around Over U" (Kravitz, Ross) – 3:35
  7. "For the First Time" (Kravitz) – 3:38
  8. "Lonely Rainbows" (Kravitz, Hirsch) – 2:26

20th anniversary edition bonus tracks

Disc one[5]

Bonus Tracks (The B-Sides)

  2. "Spinning Around Over You" (Kravitz, Ross) – 3:35
  3. "Ascension" (Kravitz, Hirsch) – 3:44
  4. "All My Life" (Kravitz) – 6:25
  5. "Brother" (Kravitz) – 4:18
  6. "Someone Like You" (Kravitz, Ross, Hirsch) – 4:15
  7. "For the First Time" (Kravitz) – 3:41
  8. "B-Side Blues" (Kravitz) – 3:32

Disc two
The Acoustic Versions

  1. "Believe" (acoustic version) (Kravitz, Hirsch) – 4:07
  2. "Sister" (acoustic version) (Kravitz) – 6:07
  3. "Heaven Help" (acoustic version) (DeVeaux, Britten) – 3:58

Work in Progress: Demos & Outtakes

  2. "Work Like the Devil" (Kravitz) – 4:46
  3. "Feeling Alright" (instrumental) (Kravitz) – 3:49
  4. "Getting Out (Will You Marry Me)" (Kravitz, Ross) – 4:16
  5. "Good Lovin'" (Kravitz) – 3:34
  6. "Blood/Papa (A Long and Sad Goodbye)" (instrumental) (Ross, Hirsch) – 10:59
  7. "Early Morning Blues" (instrumental) (Kravitz) – 4:33

The Vanessa Paradis Demos

  2. "I May Not Be a Star (Light Piece for Vanessa)" (Kravitz) – 4:43
  3. "Travelogue (Your Love Has Got a Handle On My Mind)" – 4:21
  4. "Lonely Rainbows" (Kravitz, Hirsch) – 2:26

Bonus Interview

  2. "BBC Interview with Mick Wilkojc" – 15:28

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[6]

Musicians

Production

Charts

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Are You Gonna Go My Way! Chart (1993)! Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] 11
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[9] 13
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[10] 26
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] 35
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[12] 6
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)[13] 36
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 8
US Billboard 200[15] 37

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lenny Kravitz Breaks Through With 'Are You Gonna Go My Way'. Ultimate Classic Rock. Joseph. Mark. March 9, 2018. September 9, 2018.
  2. http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-k/lennykravitz_main.htm Rock On The Net: Lenny Kravitz
  3. http://www.lenny-kravitz.com/album/id_3_Are_You_Gonna_Go_My_Way.html Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz (buy online, get all lyrics, infos, chords, guitar tabs, audio, mp3)
  4. http://craigross.net/ The Official Web Site of Guitarist Craig Ross
  5. Are You Gonna Go My Way (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) . 2013 . booklet . Virgin.
  6. Are You Gonna Go My Way . 1993 . booklet . Virgin.
  7. Web site: 自由への疾走. Oricon. June 24, 2020. ja. https://archive.today/20130501032054/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/184377/products/music/297645/1/. May 1, 2013. dead.
  8. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1993. Australian Recording Industry Association. November 23, 2020.
  9. Web site: Jahreshitparade Alben 1993. austriancharts.at. November 23, 2020.
  10. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 1993. dutchcharts.nl. November 23, 2020.
  11. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. November 23, 2020.
  12. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1993 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart . . November 2, 2021 .
  13. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120818120257/http://www.anuariossgae.com/1999/pdfs/grabada/grabada%20anexos.pdf#page=3. August 18, 2012. LOS 50 TÍTULOS CON MAYORES VENTAS EN LAS LISTAS DE VENTAS DE AFYVE EN 1993. es. Anuarios SGAE. May 21, 2022.
  14. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993. hitparade.ch. November 23, 2020.
  15. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993. Billboard. November 23, 2020.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Are You Gonna Go My Way".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.