Let Love Rule (Lenny Kravitz album)

Untitled

Let Love Rule is the debut album of American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on September 19, 1989 by Virgin Records America. Then-wife Lisa Bonet wrote the lyrics to "Fear" and co-wrote the lyrics on the song, "Rosemary".

Let Love Rule reached #61 on the Billboard 200, while it peaked at #56 on the UK Album Chart. Initially, the album was a moderate success in the United States, but became a huge feat worldwide, particularly in Europe, selling over 2 million copies. The album was certified gold in the United States in 1995. As of November, 2002 the album has sold 860,000 units in the US.(based on mtv.com sales numbers from Nielsen soundscan)

Tracklisting

1. "Sittin' On Top of the World" – 3:16 (Kravitz)
2. "Let Love Rule" – 5:42 (Kravitz)
3. "Freedom Train" – 2:50 (Kravitz)
4. "My Precious Love" – 5:15 (Kravitz)
5. "I Build This Garden For Us" – 6:16 (Kravitz)
6. "Fear" – 5:25 (Kravitz, Bonet)
7. "Does Anybody Out There Even Care" – 3:42 (Kravitz)
8. "Mr. Cab Driver" – 3:49 (Kravitz)
9. "Rosemary" – 5:27 (Kravitz, Bonet)
10. "Be" – 3:16 (Kravitz)
11. "Blues for Sister Someone" – 2:51 (Kravitz) (not on vinyl edition)
12. "Empty Hands" – 4:42 (Kravitz) (not on vinyl edition)
13. "Flower Child" – 2:56 (Kravitz) (not on vinyl edition)

Total time – 44:58 (vinyl edition) / 55:27 (CD)

20th Anniversary Edition Tracklisting:

DISC 1:

1. Sittin' On Top of the World
2. Let Love Rule
3. Freedom Train
4. My Precious Love
5. I Build This Garden For Us
6. Fear
7. Does Anybody Out There Even Care
8. Mr. Cab Driver
9. Rosemary
10. Be
11. Blues for Sister Someone
12. Empty Hands
13. Flower Child
14. Let Love Rule
15. Rosemary - (previously unreleased)
16. Fear - (previously unreleased)
17. Let Love Rule - (previously unreleased)
18. Cold Turkey
19. Light Skin Girl from London

DISC 2: LET LOVE RULE LIVE ( PARADISE/PRADISO):

1. Flower Child - (previously unreleased, live)
2. Blues for Sister Someone - (previously unreleased, live)
3. Mr. Cab Driver - (previously unreleased, live)
4. Freedom Train - (previously unreleased, live)
5. Be - (previously unreleased, live)
6. My Precious Love - (previously unreleased, live)
7. Does Anybody Out There Even Care - (previously unreleased, live)
8. Let Love Rule - (previously unreleased, live)
9. Rosemary - (previously unreleased, live)
10. Fear [insanely long version needs editing] - (previously unreleased, live)
11. My Flash On You - (previously unreleased, live)
12. If 6 Were 9 - (previously unreleased, live)

Singles

• 1989: "Let Love Rule"
• 1990: "I Build This Garden For Us"
• 1990: "Mr. Cab Driver"
• 1990: "Be"
• 1990: "Does Anybody Out There Even Care"

Personnel

Lenny Kravitz - vocals, guitar, organ, bass, drums, percussion
Alfred Brown - viola
Karl Denson - saxophone
Henry Hirsch- piano, organ
Adam Widoff - guitar
Eric Delente - violin
Nancy Ives - cello
Lee Jaffe - harmonica

Awards

The video for the lead single "Let Love Rule" was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist.

Sources

• Let Love Rule on cduniverse.com
• Lenny Kravitz interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' July 2009