Maps of Music
Let Love Rule (1989)
Where the lyrics of Let Love Rule take you, and where it was really made.
Almost the whole album is a one-man project: Kravitz wrote and produced every song and played nearly all the instruments himself.
View on the mapKey places
Main recording studio in Hoboken (1989)
Recording site West's Hoboken apartment — Most of the album was engineered at Waterfront Studios in Hoboken, New Jersey. The point is placed at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Studio where Sittin' on Top of the World was engineered (1989)
Recording site Cocoa-Butt — The opening track Sittin' on Top of the World was engineered at Studio II in Culver City, California. The point is placed at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Organ overdubs in Somerville (1989)
Recording site T.C. Studios — Organ overdubs for the album were recorded at T.C. Studios in Somerville, New Jersey. The point is placed at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: See the map for directions.
Album story
Overview
- Let Love Rule: debut studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz
- Released 6 September 1989 by Virgin Records
- Kravitz wrote and produced all the songs and played nearly all the instruments
- Lisa Bonet, then his wife, wrote the lyrics to "Fear" and co-wrote the lyrics to "Rosemary"
- Standard track listing has ten songs, including the title track "Let Love Rule" at 5:42
- Other tracks include "Sittin' on Top of the World," "Freedom Train," "Mr. Cab Driver" and "Be"
Background
- Kravitz had just left his band Romeo Blue when he wrote this album
- Lisa Bonet, his then-wife, contributed lyrics to two songs
- Recording took place between 1988 and 1989, with Kravitz handling most of the production
Recording
- Recorded the old way, with tube amplifiers and tube microphones, and without modern technology
- Main recording location was Waterfront Studios in Hoboken, New Jersey
- "Sittin' on Top of the World" was engineered at Studio II in Culver City, California
- Organ overdubs were recorded at T.C. Studios in Somerville, New Jersey
- Craig Ross played guitar and contributed additional production
- Mastering was done at Sterling Sound Studio
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com
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
- The Globe and Mail: described Kravitz as still a little raw, with forgettable lyrics, but found enough good ideas, some borrowed from the Beatles, to make it a satisfying debut
Reappraisal
- Rolling Stone: gave the album a positive review, praising its authenticity and the impact of its lyrics
- The album is featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
Records
- Billboard 200: peaked at number 61
- UK Albums Chart: peaked at number 56
- Sold over 2 million copies worldwide, especially strong in Europe
- Lead single's video nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
- UK Platinum certification
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- Kravitz had just left his band Romeo Blue when he wrote the album.
- The video for the lead single was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist.
- The album was certified Platinum in the United Kingdom.
- Sales passed 2 million copies worldwide, with Europe as a major market.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org
View on the map