Heaven Help Explained

Heaven Help
Cover:	Lenny_Heaven_Help.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Lenny Kravitz
Album:	Are You Gonna Go My Way
B-Side:	"Spinning Around Over You" "B Side Blues"
Genre:	Soul
Length:	3:11
Label:	Virgin America
Producer:	Lenny Kravitz
Prev Title:	Believe
Prev Year:	1993
Next Title:	The Buddha of Suburbia
Next Year:	1993

"Heaven Help" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in August 1993 by Virgin America as the third single from his third studio album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993).^[1] The song was written by Gerry DeVeaux and Terry Britten, and produced by Kravitz. It made a brief appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 92. In the United Kingdom, it became his second top-twenty hit from Are You Gonna Go My Way, peaking at number 20, and in Canada and New Zealand, the song reached the top 30. It was later included on Kravitz' compilation album Greatest Hits. The accompanying music video was directed by Per Gustafsson.^[2]

Critical reception

Speed and Martinucci from the Gavin Report noted that accompanied simply by a piano and guitar, "Kravitz comes with a soulful love song that's reminiscent early '70s soul ballads recorded with real instruments."^[3] The magazine's Dave Sholin concluded, "This release should help win him even more fans."^[4] Adam Sweeting from The Guardian felt Kravitz is "squeezing a mellow soulful feel" out of the song.^[5] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton commented, "Third hit in a row for the superstar finds him this time wearing his Isley Brothers influences on his sleeve."^[6] Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "A gentle and intimate delight, sweet and understated, with hints of Curtis Mayfield. Given plenty of airplay, there's no reason why it shouldn't make the Top 20."^[7]

Track listings

• US maxi-CD single^[8]

1. "Heaven Help" – 3:10
2. "Spinning Around Over You" – 3:35
3. "B Side Blues" – 3:32
4. "Are You Gonna Go My Way – 3:30
5. "Freedom Time" / "Always on the Run" (live) – 9:42

• US cassette single^[9]

1. "Heaven Help" – 3:10
2. "Spinning Around Over You" – 3:34

• UK CD1^[10]

1. "Heaven Help"
2. "Eleutheria"
3. "Sister" (live)
4. "Heaven Help" (acoustic version)

• UK CD2 and 12-inch single, Australasian CD single^{[11] [12]}

1. "Heaven Help" – 3:09
2. "Eleutheria" – 4:48
3. "Ascension" – 3:45
4. "Brother" – 4:16

• UK 7-inch and cassette single, European CD single^{[13] [14] [15]}

1. "Heaven Help" – 3:10
2. "Eleutheria" – 4:48

• European maxi-CD single^[16]

1. "Heaven Help"
2. "Ascension"
3. "Brother"
4. "Sister" (live)
5. "Heaven Help" (acoustic version)

• Japanese mini-album^[17]

1. "Heaven Help"
2. "Brother"
3. "Ascension"
4. "I Build This Garden for Us"
5. "Fields of Joy"
6. "Stand by My Woman"
7. "Sister" (live)
8. "Heaven Help" (acoustic version)

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[18]	76
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[19]	59
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[20]	13
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[21]	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[22]	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade)^[23]	5
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[24]	15

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United Kingdom	August 16, 1993	CD	Virgin	^[25]
Japan	October 20, 1993			^[26]

Notes and References

1. Lenny Kravitz Wraps 'Raw' New Album, Talks 'Are You Gonna...' Reissue and 'Hunger Games'. Graff. Gary. Billboard. October 4, 2013. November 2, 2015.
2. Web site: Lenny Kravitz: Heaven Help. IMDb. September 12, 2021.
3. Bill. Speed. John. Martinucci. Gavin Urban — New Releases. Gavin Report. January 14, 1994. March 10, 2022.
4. Dave. Sholin. Gavin Picks — Singles. Gavin Report. January 14, 1994. March 10, 2022.
5. [Adam Sweeting|Sweeting, Adam]
6. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending August 28th 1993. Chart Watch UK. August 22, 1993. September 12, 2021. James Masterton.
7. Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles. Jones. Alan. Music Week. 14. August 21, 1993. March 30, 2021.
8. Heaven Help. Lenny Kravitz. 1993. US maxi-CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. V25H-38412.
9. Heaven Help. Lenny Kravitz. 1993. US cassette single sleeve. Virgin Records. 4KM-38412.
10. Heaven Help. Lenny Kravitz. 1993. UK CD1 liner notes. Virgin Records. VUSDG 73, 7243 8 92079 2 7.
11. Heaven Help. Lenny Kravitz. 1993. UK CD2 & Australasian CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. VUSCD 73, 7243 8 92078 2 8.
12. Heaven Help. Lenny Kravitz. 1993. UK 12-inch single vinyl disc. Virgin Records. VUST 73, 7243 8 92097 6 1.
13. Heaven Help. Lenny Kravitz. 1993. UK 7-inch single vinyl disc. Virgin Records. VUS73, 7243 8 92078 7 3.
14. Heaven Help. Lenny Kravitz. 1993. UK cassette single sleeve. Virgin Records. VUSC 73, 7243 8 92080 4 7.
15. Heaven Help. Lenny Kravitz. 1993. European CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. VUSCE 73, 7243 8 92080 2 3.
16. Heaven Help. Lenny Kravitz. 1993. European maxi-CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. VUSCF 73, 7243 8 92097 2 3.
17. Heaven Help. Lenny Kravitz. 1993. Japanese mini-album liner notes. Virgin Records. VJCP-20010.
18. 158.
19. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 10. 40. October 2, 1993. 13. July 15, 2020.
20. EHR Top 40. Music & Media. 10. 39. September 25, 1993. 30. April 10, 2024.
21. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (9.–15. sept.). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 20. September 9, 1993. September 30, 2019.
22. Web site: Lenny Kravitz – Heaven Help. Dutch Top 40. nl. July 18, 2021.
23. Web site: Lenny Kravitz – Heaven Help. MegaCharts. nl. July 16, 2021.
24. The Airplay Chart. Music Week. September 25, 1993. 30. May 1, 2024.
25. Single Releases. Music Week. 23. August 14, 1993. June 22, 2021.
26. Web site: 悲しみの十字架 レニー・クラヴィッツ. Cross of Sorrows Lenny Kravitz. Oricon. ja. January 21, 2024.