Maps of Music
5 (1998)
Where the lyrics of 5 take you, and where it was really made.
Kravitz's first album made with Pro Tools was recorded entirely in the digital domain, although he is known for his retro sound.
View on the mapKey places
Later sessions in The Bahamas (1998)
Recording site Compass Point Studios — Later sessions for the album took place at engineer Terry Manning's Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas. The point marks the studio's location. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
New York carriage house recording (1998)
Recording site Record Plant Studios — Recording began in October 1997 in Kravitz's New York carriage house studio, and the discogs credits list Ghetto Lounge Studios as a recording site. The point is at city-center level, so the exact building is not shown. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Album story
Overview
- 5 is the fifth full-length studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz
- Released May 12, 1998, by Virgin Records
- The album produced six singles over 1998 and 1999
- Hits include "Fly Away" and "I Belong to You"
- The hits helped Kravitz expand his success in Europe
Background
- Pre-production work began in early 1997
- The album contained more of his 1970s-inspired songs, mixing funk and soul with his rock style
- Digital tools such as synthesizers and tape loops gave the album a more modern sound
Recording
- Recording began in October 1997 at Kravitz's New York carriage house studio
- Later sessions took place at engineer Terry Manning's Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas
- It was Kravitz's first album made using Pro Tools
Cover
- Art direction and design by Len Peltier
- Photography by Mark Seliger
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
Artist
Career
- Born May 26, 1964 in New York City; American singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor.
- Debut album Let Love Rule (1989) blends rock, funk, reggae, hard rock, soul, and R&B.
- Hit singles include "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (1991) and "Again" (2000), both top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Won four consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance from 1999 to 2002, a category record.
- Has sold over 40 million albums worldwide.
- Acted in Precious (2009) and the first two Hunger Games films (2012–13).
- Founded the creative studio Kravitz Design Inc.
Early life
- Raised partly in New York and partly in Los Angeles; began playing drums at age three.
- Introduced to rock music in Los Angeles, listening to the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reception
At release
- Some critics gave the album mediocre reviews at first
- Commercial success came slowly, then picked up from late 1998 through 1999
- AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine said the pastiches of Sly, Mayfield, Hendrix, Lennon and Prince were a bore without hooks, melodies and style
- Erlewine added that the album fell short of the quirky hero worship and melodic skill of Kravitz's first three records
- Robert Christgau said Kravitz's formalism had come to show a total lack of original ideas
- Christgau noted that a cover by The Guess Who sounded better on the more imaginative Austin Powers soundtrack
Records
- The album won two Grammy Awards in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category
- It charted for nearly three years straight on the Billboard 200, with two of those years in the top 100
- Its US chart position was weaker than Kravitz's other albums
- "Fly Away" reached No. 12 in the US and No. 1 in the UK
- The album won two Grammy Awards in total
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- Terry Manning said the whole album was recorded on Pro Tools without going to tape, staying in the digital domain.
- Manning said he disliked most plug-ins that imitate outboard gear such as compressors and EQ, but praised Autotune.
- Celebrities including Madonna, Chris Rock, Bobby Brown, Marilyn Manson and Gwen Stefani visited the carriage house studio during recording.
- The album was mixed by Manning and Kravitz.
- The release came in a standard jewel case with a clear CD tray and a 20-page booklet with lyrics, photos and credits.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com
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