''Let Love Rule'' is the debut

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

of American rock musician

Lenny Kravitz Leonard Albert Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter. His style incorporates elements of rock, blues, soul, R&B, funk, jazz, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, pop and folk. Kravitz won the Grammy Award for Best Male Roc ...

, released on September 6, 1989, by

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...

. Then-wife

Lisa Bonet Lilakoi Moon (born Lisa Michelle Bonet; November 16, 1967), known professionally as Lisa Bonet (), is an American actress. She is known for playing Denise Huxtable on the sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1984–1992), for which she earned widespread a ...

wrote the lyrics to "Fear" and co-wrote the lyrics on the song "Rosemary"; other than that the album is virtually a one-man Kravitz show, as he wrote and produced all the songs and played nearly all the instruments. ''Let Love Rule'' reached number 61 on the ''Billboard'' 200, while it peaked at number 56 on the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...

. The album is also featured in the book ''

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die ''1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die'' is a musical reference book first published in 2005 by Universe Publishing. Part of the ''1001 Before You Die'' series, it compiles writings and information on albums chosen by a panel of music critics ...

''. The video for the lead single " Let Love Rule" was nominated for an

MTV Video Music Award The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...

for Best New Artist.

Track listing

All tracks written by

, except "Fear" lyrics by

, and "Rosemary" lyrics by Kravitz and Bonet. #"Sittin' on Top of the World" – 3:16 #" Let Love Rule" – 5:42 #"Freedom Train" – 2:50 #"My Precious Love" – 5:15 #"

I Build This Garden for Us "I Build This Garden for Us" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in 1990 by Virgin Records as the second single from his debut album, '' Let Love Rule'' (1989). Critical reception In an review on 3 February 1990, Simon Re ...

" – 6:16 #"Fear" – 5:20 #"Does Anybody Out There Even Care" – 3:42 #"

Mr. Cab Driver "Mr. Cab Driver" is the third single released from Lenny Kravitz debut album, '' Let Love Rule''. It was released in 1990. Song information Kravitz wrote the song after an altercation with a cab driver. Although the song deals with racism and dis ...

" – 3:49 #"Rosemary" – 5:27 #"Be" – 3:16 CD bonus tracks #

"Blues for Sister Someone" – 2:51 # "Empty Hands" – 4:42 # "Flower Child" – 2:56 American version #

"What The ... Are We Saying? – Live" # "Stop Draggin' Around – Live" # "Always on the Run – Live" # "I'll Be Around – Live"

20th Anniversary Edition bonus tracks

All tracks written by Lenny Kravitz, except where noted. #

"Let Love Rule" (Basic Rough Mix) # "

Cold Turkey "Cold turkey" refers to the abrupt cessation of a substance dependence and the resulting unpleasant experience, as opposed to gradually easing the process through reduction over time or by using replacement medication. Sudden withdrawal from dru ...

" (

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

) # "Light Skin Girl from London" # "Fear" (1987 demo) # "Mr. Cab Driver" (home demo) # "Let Love Rule" (home demo) *Track 16 first appeared on the single "

Always on the Run "Always on the Run" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released as the first single from his second album, '' Mama Said'' (1991). It features a contribution by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. Slash had written the music for the ...

", but was originally recorded on tour with "Let Love Rule". Disc 2 (''Let Love Rule Live'') #"Flower Child" #"Blues for Sister Someone" #"Mr. Cab Driver" #"Freedom Train" #"Be" #"My Precious Love" #"Does Anybody Out There Even Care" #"Let Love Rule" #"Rosemary" (lyrics by Kravitz and Bonet) #"Fear" (lyrics by Bonet) #" My Flash on You" ( Arthur Lee) #"

If 6 Was 9 "If 6 Was 9" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. It was released on their second album '' Axis: Bold as Love'' (1967). It appeared on the soundtrack for the 1969 film ''Easy Rider'' and the soundtrack fo ...

" (

Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...

) *Tracks 1–10 recorded at The Paradise, Boston, Mass. – 3/28/90 *Tracks 11–12 recorded at The Paradiso, Amsterdam – 12/20/89

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes from the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. Musicians *

– lead and backing vocals, all other instruments * Alfred Brown – viola *

Tisha Campbell Tisha Michelle Campbell (born October 13, 1968) is an American actress and singer. She made her screen debut appearing in the 1986 rock musical comedy film '' Little Shop of Horrors'', and later starred on the short-lived NBC musical comedy dra ...

– additional background vocals * Eric Delente – violin *

Karl Denson Karl Denson (born December 27, 1956) is an American funk and jazz saxophonist, flutist and vocalist from Santa Ana, California. He was a member of Lenny Kravitz's band and has co-founded and led The Greyboy Allstars. Denson has recorded with ...

– saxophone * Lou Elex – violin * Henry Hirsch – bass , Fender Rhodes , harmonium , organ , piano * Nancy Ives – cello * Lee Jaffe – harmonica * Jean McClain – additional background vocals * Kermit Moore – cello * Gene Orloff – violin * Yolanda Pittman – additional background vocals * Matthew Raimondi – violin * Maxine Roach – viola * Mark Shuman – cello * John Tintaualle – violin * Adam Widoff – 2nd guitar * Winterton Yarvey – violin Production * Lenny Kravitz – producer, mixing * Henry Hirsch – recording engineer , mixing * David Domanich – recording engineer * Jeff Goodman – recording engineer , mixing *

Greg Calbi Gregory Calbi (born April 3, 1949) is an American mastering engineer at Sterling Sound, New Jersey. Biography Greg Calbi was born on April 3, 1949, in Yonkers, New York, and raised in Bayside, Queens, New York. He graduated in 1966 from Bisho ...

– mastering * Mathieu Bitton – producer *

Gavin Lurssen Gavin Lurssen is an American mastering engineer. He owns Lurssen Mastering in Hollywood, California.Zoro – drums * Adam Widoff – guitar * Lebron Scott – bass * Karl Denson – saxophone * Steven Remote – recording engineer and mixing engineer * Tom "Bone" Edmonds – recording engineer and mixing engineer , original mixing * Mathieu Bitton – editing * Gabriel Wallach – editing

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

References

External links

Lenny Kravitz interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' July 2009
{{Authority control 1989 debut albums Lenny Kravitz albums Virgin Records albums Albums produced by Lenny Kravitz