5 (Lenny Kravitz album)

5
Studio album by Lenny Kravitz
Released	May 12, 1998 (U.S.)
Recorded	1997-1998
Genre	Hard rock, funk rock, psychedelic soul, electronic rock
Length	75:39
Label	VRA
Producer	Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz chronology
Circus (1995) 5 (1998) Greatest Hits (2000)
Singles from 5
"If You Can't Say No" Released: April 21, 1998 "Thinking of You" Released: July 6, 1998 "I Belong to You" Released: September 22, 1998 "Fly Away" Released: December 29, 1998 "American Woman" Released: June 29, 1999 "Black Velveteen" Released: November 16, 1999

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Rolling Stone	link

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 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 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

Track listing

Original edition

Track	Title	Songwriter(s)	Production credits	Time
1.	"Live"	Lenny Kravitz, Craig Ross	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, Lysa Trenier	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, Craig Ross	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, Lysa Trenier	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"	Bachman, Cummings, Kale, Peterson	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	Platinum
Canada	2× Platinum
France	2× Gold
Germany	Gold
United Kingdom	3× Platinum
United States	2× Platinum

Personnel

• Lenny Kravitz – vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, piano, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, programming
• Craig Ross – guitar, slide guitar, keyboards
• Terry Manning – toy piano
• Jack Daley – bass
• Michael Hunter – 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 Manning except "American Woman".
• Recorded by Tom "T-Bone" Edmonds.
• Mixed by Terry Manning and Lenny Kravitz.
• Pro Tools Operator: 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.