Lenny Kravitz discography explained

Artist:Lenny Kravitz
Studio:12
Live:3
Ep:2
Compilation:5
Video:8
Soundtrack:6
Singles:62
Music Videos:54

American singer Lenny Kravitz has released 12 studio albums, one greatest hits compilation album, four box set compilation albums, two extended plays, 62 singles, and eight video albums, including three live albums. His debut album, Let Love Rule (1989), peaked at number 61 in the US, and while receiving generally positive reviews, it became a huge success in Europe but took a long time to reach success in the US. Its followers, Mama Said (1991) and Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993), sold better overall than his debut, achieving platinum and multi-platinum status respectively, establishing Kravitz in the music industry and expanding his success in Europe and South America. However, despite only two years between albums, personal issues such as substance abuse problems, the aftermath of divorce, and his mother Roxie Roker's illness led to a decline in commercial sales with Circus (1995).

With 5 (1998), Kravitz embraced a fresh outlook towards his career and also experimented with electronic equipment such as Pro Tools. Initially, the album received only mediocre reviews, and slowly and steadily achieved worldwide success after spinning off hits such as "I Belong to You" and "Fly Away" to ultimately become Kravitz's most successful studio album to date. The album established his career at a higher level, with increasing worldwide popularity, especially in Europe, and won him his first two Grammy Awards. Greatest Hits (2000) would become Kravitz's most successful album to date, going on to sell over 10.5 million copies worldwide, earning him yet another Grammy Award. While Lenny (2001) sold briskly, although not quite comparing to 5 or Greatest Hits, it won Kravitz his fourth consecutive Grammy Award. However, Baptism was somewhat of a commercial disappointment for the multi-platinum artist when compared to its predecessors. His 2008 release It Is Time for a Love Revolution had Kravitz realising some of the best debut positions and opening sales weeks worldwide in years, along with his best critical reviews since Lenny.

Some of his albums (Let Love Rule, Mama Said, 5 and Greatest Hits) have sold enough copies to be certified at the next level within the sales threshold, but RIAA still has them certified at the lower sales level, with no official word on whether/when the certifications may occur. In addition to writing and producing all of his own work, Kravitz has produced albums for other artists, some reaching great success. He personally has scored three top 10 albums in the US, while having reached number one in both the UK and Australia. Kravitz has scored hits in virtually every continent: North America (US and Canada), Central America (Bahamas), Europe (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Scandinavia), South America (Brazil, Argentina and Colombia), Asia (Japan), Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), and Africa (Republic of South Africa). Considered one of the most successful and best-selling rock artists of his time, Kravitz has had sales of approximately 40 million albums alone worldwide (not including singles and video releases).

Albums

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
US
[1]
AUS
[2]
AUT
[3]
CAN
[4]
FRA
[5]
GER
[6]
NLD
[7]
NOR
[8]
SWI
[9]
UK
[10]
Let Love Rule 61 45 35 23 12 12 56
Mama Said
  • Released: April 2, 1991
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
39 10 12 13 20 5 4 5 8
  • RIAA: Platinum
  • ARIA: Gold
  • BPI: Platinum
  • BVMI: Gold[17]
  • IFPI AUT: Gold[18]
  • IFPI SWI: Gold
  • MC: Platinum
  • NVPI: Platinum
  • SNEP: Platinum
Are You Gonna Go My Way
  • Released: March 9, 1993
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
12 1 3 1 7 3 6 1 1
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum
  • BPI: Platinum
  • BVMI: Gold
  • IFPI SWI: Platinum
  • MC: 4× Platinum
  • NVPI: Platinum
  • SNEP: Platinum
Circus
  • Released: September 12, 1995
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
10 2 3 7 8 1 7 1 5
  • RIAA: Gold
  • BPI: Gold
  • IFPI SWI: Gold
  • NVPI: Gold
  • SNEP: Gold
5
  • Released: May 12, 1998
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD, digital download
28 17 1 22 9 6 8 7 3 18
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum
  • ARIA: Platinum[19]
  • BPI: Gold
  • BVMI: Gold
  • IFPI AUT: Gold
  • IFPI SWI: Platinum
  • MC: Platinum
  • NVPI: Gold
  • SNEP: 2× Gold
Lenny
  • Released: October 30, 2001
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: CD, digital download
12 44 1 9 17 5 7 14 3 55
  • RIAA: Platinum
  • BVMI: Platinum
  • FIMI: 2× Platinum[20]
  • IFPI AUT: Gold
  • IFPI SWI: Platinum
  • MC: Platinum
  • NVPI: Gold
Baptism
  • Released: May 17, 2004
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: CD, digital download
14 42 4 12 8 2 3 17 3 74
  • RIAA: Gold
  • BVMI: Gold
  • IFPI AUT: Platinum
  • IFPI SWI: Gold
  • MC: Gold
It Is Time for a Love Revolution
  • Released: February 5, 2008
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: CD, digital download
4 47 2 5 5 3 2 28 1 42
  • BVMI: Gold
  • IFPI AUT: Gold
  • IFPI SWI: Gold
  • SNEP: Gold
Black and White America 17 59 2 45 7 1 2 1 75
  • IFPI SWI: Gold
  • SNEP: Gold
Strut 19 31 3 20 3 2 7 26 2 21
Raise Vibration
  • Released: September 7, 2018
  • Label: Roxie, BMG
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
43 4 3 3 8 3 19
  • SNEP: Gold
Blue Electric Light
  • Released: May 24, 2024[21]
  • Label: Roxie, BMG
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
84 4 7 5 17 2 73
"–" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

Box sets

TitleAlbum details
Let Love Rule / Mama Said
  • Released: October 22, 2001
  • Format: CD box set
Let Love Rule / Mama Said /
  • Released: October 7, 2002
5 / Lenny
  • Released: September 15, 2003
  • Format: CD box set
Lenny / Baptism
  • Released: 2004
  • Formats: CD box set

EPs

Singles

As lead artist

YearSinglePeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[23]
AUS
AUT
CAN
[24]
FRA
[25]
GER
ITA
[26]
NLD
SWI
UK
1989"Let Love Rule"8936265939Let Love Rule
1990"I Build This Garden for Us"835183
"Be"
"Mr. Cab Driver"58
"Does Anybody Out There Even Care"46
1991"Always on the Run"435582541Mama Said
"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"21025229431211
  • BPI: Silver
"Fields of Joy"33
"Stand by My Woman"7646366655
"What the Fuck Are We Saying?"34
1992"What Goes Around Comes Around"
"Stop Draggin' Around"101
1993"Are You Gonna Go My Way"12454258124
  • ARIA: Platinum[27]
  • BPI: Gold
  • SNEP: Gold[28]
Are You Gonna Go My Way
"Believe"608933744030
  • ARIA: Gold
"Heaven Help"8025419820
"Spinning Around Over You"Reality Bites soundtrack
"Is There Any Love in Your Heart"325352Are You Gonna Go My Way
1994"Deuce"77
1995"Rock and Roll Is Dead"752616402422Circus
"Circus"8554
1996"Can't Get You Off My Mind"623354
"The Resurrection"
1998"If You Can't Say No"5535975239485
"Thinking of You"
"I Belong to You"7124814275
"Fly Away"128113561549191
  • ARIA: Gold
  • BPI: Platinum
1999"American Woman"49142688785935177 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack
"Black Velveteen"94835
2000"Again"430657191925 Greatest Hits
2001"Dig In"316487258Lenny
2002"Stillness of Heart"5122833816843144
"Believe in Me"4214101029
"If I Could Fall in Love"319885
"Yesterday Is Gone (My Dear Kay)"
2004"Show Me Your Soul"
(with P. Diddy, Loon and Pharrell)
45616235Bad Boys II soundtrack
"Where Are We Runnin'?"69522743133133Baptism
"Storm"
(with Jay-Z)
98
"California"56645762
"Lady"2799
  • RIAA: Gold
"Calling All Angels"723542
2005"Breathe"Non-album single
2007"Bring It On"52It Is Time for a Love Revolution
"I'll Be Waiting"73645276454104
  • BVMI: Gold
  • IFPI SWI: Gold
2008"Love Love Love"92
"Dancin' Til Dawn"96
2011"Come On Get It"Black and White America
"Stand"414410042
"Rock Star City Life"6298
"Black and White America"10092
"Push"
2012"Superlove"2549
2014"The Chamber"1611176629
  • FIMI: Platinum
Strut
"Sex"107
"New York City"
"Dirty White Boots"
2015"The Pleasure and the Pain"80
2018"It's Enough!"[31] 75Raise Vibration
"Low"9615369
  • FIMI: Gold
"5 More Days 'Til Summer"
2019"Johnny Cash"
"Here to Love"
2020"Ride"
2023"TK421"Blue Electric Light
"Road to Freedom"[32] Rustin soundtrack
"I Believe in Love Again"
[33]
I Hear You
2024"Human"[34] Blue Electric Light
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

As featured artist

Music videos

Title!scope="col" style="width:3em;"
YearDirector(s)Ref.
"Let Love Rule" (version 1)1988Lisa Bonet[36]
"Be"1989Jean-Baptiste Mondino
"Let Love Rule" (version 2)Jim Gable
"I Build This Garden for Us"1990Geoff Barish
"Mr. Cab Driver"
"Always on the Run"
(featuring Slash)
1991Jesse Dylan
"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"
"Stand by My Woman"Paul Boyd
"Stop Draggin' Around" (live)Toru Uehara
"More Than Anything In This World"[37]
"Are You Gonna Go My Way"1993Mark Romanek[38]
"Believe"Michel Gondry
"Heaven Help" (version 1)Per Gustafson
"Heaven Help" (version 2)Joel Schumacher[39]
"Is There Any Love in Your Heart"Mark Romanek[40]
"Spinning Around Over You"1994Doug Nichol
"Rock and Roll Is Dead"1995Ruven Afanador
"Circus" (version 1)
"Circus" (version 2)1996Martyn Atkins
"Can't Get You Off My Mind" (version 1)Matthew Rolston
"Can't Get You Off My Mind" (version 2)Jim Gable
"If You Can't Say No"1998Mark Romanek[41]
"Thinking of You"Matthew Rolston
"I Belong to You"Mark Seliger, Fred Woodward
"Fly Away"Paul Hunter[42]
"American Woman"1999[43]
"Black Velveteen"2000Samuel Bayer
"Again"Paul Hunter
"Dig In"2001Samuel Bayer
"Stillness of Heart"2002Mark Seliger[44]
"Believe in Me"Matthew Rolston
"If I Could Fall in Love"Jonas Åkerlund
"Yesterday Is Gone (My Dear Kay)" [45]
"Where Are We Runnin'?"2004Philip Andelman, Lenny Kravitz
"California"Philip Andelman
"Storm" (remix)
(featuring Jay-Z)
Sanaa Hamri
"Lady"Philip Andelman
"Calling All Angels"Philip Andelman, Lenny Kravitz
"I'll Be Waiting"2008Philip Andelman[46]
"Love Love Love"[47]
"Dancin' Til Dawn"2009Jean-Baptiste Mondino[48]
"Let Love Rule" (remix)
(Lenny Kravitz vs. Justice)
Keith Schofield[49]
"Come On Get It"2011
"Stand"Paul Hunter[50]
"Push"Mathieu Bitton[51]
"Dream"[52]
"The Chamber"2014Anthony Mandler[53]
"New York City"Francesco Carrozzini[54]
"Sex"2015Dikayl Rimmasch[55]
"The Pleasure and the Pain"[56]
"It's Enough"2018Mikey Eaton[57]
"Low"Jean Baptiste Mondino[58]
"5 More Days til Summer"2019Noah Becker[59]
"Here To Love"Lenny Kravitz[60]
"Ride"2020Mark Seliger[61]
"Raise Vibration"2021[62]
"TK421"2023Tanu Muino[63]
"Human"2024Joseph Kahn[64]
"Paralyzed"Anthony Mandler[65]

Other appearances

Other notable works in Kravitz's repertoire are numerous charity albums and collaborations with artists of a wide range of genres. In 1990, he co-wrote and co-produced Madonna's "Justify My Love" single, for which he also provided background vocals. Kravitz sang a duet titled "Main Squeeze" with Teena Marie on her album Passion Play (Sarai Label, 1994). Upon her death, he posted a heartfelt tribute to her saying that she had contributed so much to who he is.[66] In 1993 he appeared on Duff McKagan's debut album, Believe in Me, singing lead vocals on the song "The Majority". He has participated in numerous soundtracks, such as Reality Bites (1994), (1999), and Bad Boys II (2003). He contributed tracks to and . The 2004 album The Unplugged Collection, Volume One features a live version of "Are You Gonna Go My Way". In 2008, he wrote "Change" for the compilation album. Two of Kravitz's songs are featured separately on two different albums of the Big Shiny Tunes compilation series ("Fly Away" on Big Shiny Tunes 3 and "American Woman" on Big Shiny Tunes 4). He also appeared on Michael Jackson's posthumous track "(I Can't Make It) Another Day". Kravitz co-wrote most of the self-titled 1992 album by Vanessa Paradis, which produced the worldwide hit "Be My Baby".

References

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Lenny Kravitz Chart History: Billboard 200. Billboard. 2021-07-19.
  2. Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
  3. Web site: Discographie Lenny Kravitz. German. Hung Medien. 2024-06-05.
  4. Peaks of albums in Canada:
  5. Web site: Discographie Lenny Kravitz. lescharts.com. 2014-09-03. French.
  6. Peak chart positions for Lenny Kravitz in Germany:
  7. Web site: Discografie Lenny Kravitz. Dutch. 2024-06-01.
  8. Web site: Discography Lenny Kravitz. Hung Medien. 2011-05-28.
  9. Web site: Discographie Lenny Kravitz. German. Hung Medien. 2011-05-28.
  10. UK chart peaks:
  11. Web site: Gold & Platinum – RIAA. Recording Industry Association of America. September 7, 2018.
  12. United Kingdom. Lenny Kravitz. May 19, 2024.
  13. Web site: The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Lenny Kravitz . Hung Medien . swisscharts.com . September 3, 2014.
  14. Web site: Gold/Platinum – Music Canada. Music Canada. September 7, 2018.
  15. Web site: Goud/Platina — NVPI Audio. Type "Lenny Kravitz" in the blank then click Search. September 7, 2018. NVPI. Dutch. July 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180704212857/https://nvpi.nl/nvpi-audio/marktinformatie/goud-platina/. dead.
  16. Web site: Les Certifications – SNEP. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. September 7, 2018. French.
  17. Web site: Gold–/Platin-Datenbank (Lenny Kravitz). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. September 7, 2018. German.
  18. Austria. September 7, 2018.
  19. Web site: ARIA certificates. Australian Recording Industry Association. 2009-09-04.
  20. Web site: Zucchero, Kravitz & Co. Tutto in una notte live - la Repubblica.it.
  21. Web site: Lenny Kravitz bares all in video for new song 'TK421' . NME. October 14, 2023. October 17, 2023.
  22. Web site: FIMI - Certificazioni. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. September 7, 2018.
  23. Lenny Kravitz Chart History: Hot 100. Billboard. 2021-07-19.
  24. Peaks in Canada:
  25. Web site: Discographie Lenny Kravitz. French. lescharts.com. 2011-05-28.
  26. Web site: Discography Lenny Kravitz. 2011-05-27 .
  27. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia. pdf. 158.
  28. Web site: Certifications Singles Argent – année 1994 . 2009-01-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090211054326/http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/monopage.xml?id=259165&year=1994 . February 11, 2009. fr. . SNEP. Disque en France. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  29. Australia. September 6, 2014. Lenny Kravitz. 1999. single.
  30. Australia. September 6, 2014. Again. Lenny Kravitz. 2001. single.
  31. Web site: Lenny Kravitz Announces 'Raise Vibration' Album. Lifton. Dave. May 12, 2018.
  32. Web site: Hear Lenny Kravitz’s original song ‘Road to Freedom’ from Netflix’s ‘Rustin’. Goldderby. November 2, 2023. November 6, 2023.
  33. Web site: Peggy Gou & Lenny Kravitz - I Believe In Love Again. Resident Advisor. November 9, 2023. November 11, 2023.
  34. Web site: Watch Lenny Kravitz Premiere Inspirational Single ‘Human’ on ‘Fallon’ . Rolling Stone. March 21, 2024. March 23, 2024.
  35. Web site: All-star BBC Children in Need charity single announced. 2020-11-10. www.officialcharts.com. en.
  36. Video Retrospective . . Vision Video . 1991 .
  37. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - More Than Anything in This World . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/wIo7S_6xiu4 . 2021-12-15 . live. Youtube. 13 May 2020.
  38. Web site: Mark Romanek: 'Never Let Me Go' Director On His Music Video Career . Tewskbury . Drew . . September 16, 2010 . December 20, 2016 .
  39. Web site: Lenny Kravitz: Heaven Help . www.imdb.com . IMDb . 3 February 2020.
  40. Web site: Romanek, Sednaoui, Corbijn & Glazer . https://web.archive.org/web/20121107073626/http://www.mtv.com/shared/movies/features/d/directors_series_feature_091305/index.jhtml?epiNum=1 . dead . November 7, 2012 . Perez . Rodrigo . . December 20, 2016 .
  41. News: Acclaimed Video Director To Talk Medium And Message . https://web.archive.org/web/20161221161646/http://www.mtv.com/news/1433796/acclaimed-video-director-to-talk-medium-and-message/ . dead . December 21, 2016 . . May 15, 1998 . December 20, 2016 .
  42. News: Lenny Kravitz Sets Dates For Tour With Smash Mouth, Buckcherry . https://web.archive.org/web/20161221092545/http://www.mtv.com/news/1426644/lenny-kravitz-sets-dates-for-tour-with-smash-mouth-buckcherry/ . dead . December 21, 2016 . . July 29, 1999 . December 20, 2016 .
  43. News: Lenny Kravitz to Release 'American Woman,' His Special Version of the Rock Classic, in Early May . . May 12, 1999 . December 20, 2016 .
  44. Web site: Stillness Of Heart - Lenny Kravitz . . June 3, 2011 . December 20, 2016 .
  45. News: Lenny Kravitz - "Yesterday Is Gone (My Dear Kay)" . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/1zGJZSvuBfI . 2021-12-15 . live. YouTube . May 6, 2011 . October 10, 2018 .
  46. News: New Release: Lenny Kravitz "I'll Be Waiting . Gottlieb . Steven . VideoStatic . January 14, 2008 . December 20, 2016 .
  47. Web site: Lenny Kravitz: Love Love Love: Music Video . https://web.archive.org/web/20161221161316/http://www.cmt.com/videos/lenny-kravitz/236835/love-love-love.jhtml#id= . dead . December 21, 2016 . . June 6, 2012 . December 20, 2016 .
  48. News: Watch It: Lenny Kravitz "Dancin' Til Dawn" . Gottlieb . Steven . VideoStatic . January 19, 2009 . December 20, 2016 .
  49. News: Watch It: Lenny Kravitz vs Justice "Let Love Rule" (remix) . Gottlieb . Steven . VideoStatic . October 9, 2009 . December 20, 2016 .
  50. News: Watch It: Lenny Kravitz "Stand" (Paul Hunter, dir.) . Gottlieb . Steven . VideoStatic . July 18, 2011 . December 20, 2016 .
  51. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - Push (Music Video) . . December 20, 2016 .
  52. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - Dream (Music Video) . . December 20, 2016 .
  53. Web site: The Chamber (Explicit) - Lenny Kravitz . . September 4, 2014 . December 20, 2016 .
  54. Web site: New York City - Lenny Kravitz . . November 10, 2014 . December 20, 2016 .
  55. Escape for the Weekend With Lenny Kravitz in NSFW New 'Pleasure and the Pain' Video . Payne . Chris . . . June 25, 2015 . December 20, 2016 .
  56. Watch Lenny Kravitz's New NSFW Video 'The Pleasure and the Pain' . . June 25, 2015 . December 20, 2016 .
  57. Web site: It's Enough . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/QwKb6TQ8alo . 2021-12-15 . live. www.youtube.com . Youtube . 16 July 2018.
  58. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - Low (Official Video) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/BilaShsQphM . 2021-12-15 . live. www.youtube.com . Youtube . 16 July 2018.
  59. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - 5 More Days til Summer . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/UC3XtES7iEg . 2021-12-15 . live. Youtube. 22 July 2019.
  60. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - Here To Love (Official Video) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/tM_DQmzEOew . 2021-12-15 . live. Youtube. 9 December 2019.
  61. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - Ride (Official Video) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/VNYUyAKhsHg . 2021-12-15 . live. Youtube. 29 May 2020.
  62. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - Raise Vibration (Official Video) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/a-BwgAbcb6Y . 2021-12-15 . live. Youtube. 25 June 2021.
  63. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - TK421 (Official Video) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/JqNZxEMaRrY . 2021-12-15 . live. Youtube. 12 October 2023.
  64. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - Human (Official Music Video) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/JqNZxEMaRrY . 2021-12-15 . live. Youtube. 4 April 2024.
  65. Web site: Lenny Kravitz - Paralyzed (Official Music Video) . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/JqNZxEMaRrY . 2021-12-15 . live. Youtube. 28 July 2024.
  66. Web site: Kravitz Remembers 'nurturing' Marie in Heartfelt Online Video. December 28, 2010. www.malextra.com. 2019-06-12.