Goin’ Lenny’s Way

Lenny Kravitz is one of the last remnants of old school musicians. Not only does he write his songs, produces his own albums and plays several instruments, he also writes and produces songs for other artists. His distinct sound has graced the tracks of other songsters such as Aerosmith, Madonna and Mick Jagger. He’s also collaborated with other icons of the industry such as Stevie Wonder, fellow guitar superstar Slash and the recently leaked single with Michael Jackson. Ten years ago Virgin records released his greatest hits album. At the time Kravitz was 35 with 12 chart toppers under his belt. Unlike other artists of his ilk he is still going strong. With three relatively successful albums under his belt post greatest hits album and with the anticipation of his newest release “Negrophilia” to be released this year, it’s a good idea to delve into the hits that made this multifaceted artist so iconic.

Few greatest hits albums go triple platinum. They are usually a ploy by record companies to retrieve extra revenue for songs from an artist who has left the label (Following her departure from A&M records they released two greatest hits albums from Janet Jackson) with a previous released song in an attempt to further capitalize on the artist’s popularity. In Kravitz’s case his original track “Again” and the previously unreleased single “Black Velveteen” from the album 5 made multiple charts. The ballad “Again” (which is about a lost opportunity at love and the possible hope of encountering that person once more) gave Kravitz his third Grammy in the Best Male Rock Performance category – a rare feat for an original song from a greatest hits album.

Kravitz’s versatility on the themes in his songs is showcased on every track. In “Are You Gonna Go My Way” he writes (along with Craig Ross) “I was born long ago/ I am the chosen I’m the one/I have come to save the day/And I won’t leave until I’m done.” A hard rocking track such as this with lyrics such as these was one of the most played songs and on heavy rotation on various video-music stations for most of 1993. It was so heavy-hitting that it was covered by the likes of Metallica – showing the evolution of the same man who (from his first album) wrote the love-child, hippie anthem “Let Love Rule.”

The most outstanding tracks that showcase his musicianship the best are “Rock and Roll is Dead” and “Always on the Run.” Yes there are ballads that speak to the break-up of his romantic relationships, his biracial background and the loss of his mother Roxie Roker (Helen Willis, “The Jeffersons”), but it’s these two songs that reflect his influences in a way that doesn’t overwhelm his talent and what he has to say.

With two verses that speak to the over-the-hill rocker with a drug habit and the artist that is all show and no talent, Kravitz with tongue firmly inserted in cheek emphasizes that the rock-and-roll of that caliber is dead. And just so you didn’t catch it the first time he repeats the song title 16 more times. The lyrics are hard-hitting, in your face and to the point and punctuated with his favorite instrument – the guitar. Although this might be mistaken by some for a Led Zepplin track, what makes this distinctly Kravitz’s is his intricate use of bass and various types of Gibson guitars. It’s hard and fast whereas some artists would slow down the melody. In this instance you can’t. Kravitz wants you to sense the urgency, the need in which to bring these lyrics across and the rhythmic arrangement won’t wait for you to catch up.

Co-written with Guns and Roses’  guitarist Slash “Always on the Run” has a ‘70s funk sound that compliments the heavy guitar licks. It’s the horns that emphasize the repetition of the words of the track’s title that makes this song exemplary of what can be now characterized as a Lenny Kravitz song. Listen for the switch in rhythmic arrangement towards the end of the track and you’ll realize just how rare it is for a musician to successfully gel these types of harmonies together.

That said “Greatest Hits” is worth having in your mp3 player. Yes most of the songs are from other albums, but how many times have you pressed skip to get to the song you really want to listen to.