Are You Gonna Go My Way

Are You Gonna Go My Way is the third studio album by American singer Lenny Kravitz, released on March 9, 1993 by Virgin Records. It was recorded at Waterfront Studios, Hoboken, New Jersey by Henry Hirsch. It became Kravitz's first top 20 album on the United States Billboard 200, and his first number one album in both Australia and the United Kingdom, achieving worldwide success that helped to establish his popularity as a performer.[11]

For the song, see Are You Gonna Go My Way (song).

Are You Gonna Go My Way
Studio album by
Lenny Kravitz
ReleasedMarch 9, 1993
Recorded1992–93
StudioWaterfront Recording Studios
Genre
Length46:14
LabelVirgin
ProducerLenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz chronology
Mama Said
(1991)		 Are You Gonna Go My Way
(1993)		 Circus
(1995)
Singles from Are You Gonna Go My Way
  1. "Are You Gonna Go My Way"
    Released: February 22, 1993
  2. "Believe"
    Released: May 10, 1993
  3. "Heaven Help"
    Released: November 10, 1993
  4. "Is There Any Love in Your Heart"
    Released: December 2, 1993
  5. "Heaven Help / Spinning Around Over You"
    Released: January 14, 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
American Songwriter[3]
Chicago Tribune[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB[2]
Los Angeles Times[5]
PopMatters5/10[6]
Record Collector[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]
Select3/5[10]

Album information

The album had a good reception by fans and music critics and it is still considered one of Kravitz's best works.[12]

Musically, it contained songs inspired by classic rock artists such as Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Curtis Mayfield, Sly and Robbie, and Prince.[13]

Additional guitars were contributed by Craig Ross.[14]

Singles

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" was released as the lead single. The song peaked at number one on the Australian Singles Chart, and also peaked at number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart, becoming his first number one single in both countries, while it peaked at number 2 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks. It was only released for airplay in the US and therefore did not chart on the Hot 100,[11] but was a worldwide hit, peaking at number 4 in both the United Kingdom and France. The song is not only considered to be one of Kravitz's greatest hits as an artist, but also as one of the biggest anthems of the 1990s. Appears in the video games Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (in a GT Remix) and Guitar Hero World Tour as well as "Guitar Hero Live".

"Believe" was the second single from the album. It is a rock ballad that speaks of faith and freedom. The song was another major success from the album, peaking at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 15 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, number 10 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks, number 30 on the UK, and number 8 in Australia.

"Heaven Help", the third single from the album, is an R&B and soul song. It originally entered at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 but later peaked at number 80, being charted as a double A-side single along with "Spinning Around Over You". The double A-side format also peaked at number 92 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while in the United Kingdom, it became Kravitz's second top 20 single from the album, reaching number 20.

"Is There Any Love in Your Heart" was released as the final single from the album. It peaked at number 19 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, number 52 in the UK, and number 32 in Australia.

"Spinning Around Over You" charted as a double A-side single along with "Heaven Help", peaking at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 37 on the Hot Mainstream Rock tracks chart. The single was originally featured on the soundtrack to the film Reality Bites and was featured on the album as a bonus track, thus being the final single from the album.

Chart performance

Are You Gonna Go My Way has been very successful not only in the United States, but also worldwide, particularly in the major markets of Europe and South America. It reached number 12 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the UK Albums Chart and the Australian Albums Chart. As of March 2008, the album has sold 2.2 million units in the US.

The title track has been considered one of Kravitz's signature songs and was nominated for two Grammy Awards. It was also voted in at number 28 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of 1993, an Australian music poll run by the radio station Triple J.

Track listing

Original edition
  1. "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (Kravitz, Craig Ross) – 3:31
  2. "Believe" (Kravitz, Henry Hirsch) – 4:50
  3. "Come on and Love Me" (Kravitz) – 3:52
  4. "Heaven Help" (Gerry DeVeaux, Terry Britten) – 3:10
  5. "Just Be a Woman" (Kravitz) – 3:50
  6. "Is There Any Love in Your Heart" (Kravitz, Ross) – 3:39
  7. "Black Girl" (Kravitz) – 3:42
  8. "My Love" (Kravitz, Ross) – 3:50
  9. "Sugar" (Kravitz) – 4:00
  10. "Sister" (Kravitz) – 7:02
  11. "Eleutheria" (Kravitz) – 4:48

Vinyl edition bonus CD track listing
  1. "Ascension" (Kravitz, Hirsch) – 3:45
  2. "Brother" (Kravitz) – 4:16
  3. "Good Lovin'" (DeVeaux, Britten) – 3:34
  4. "Someone Like You" (Kravitz, Ross, Hirsch) – 4:14
  5. "All My Life" (Kravitz) – 6:24
  6. "Spinning Around Over U" (Kravitz, Ross) – 3:35
  7. "For the First Time" (Kravitz) – 3:38
  8. "Lonely Rainbows" (Kravitz, Hirsch) – 2:26

Personnel
  • Lenny Kravitz – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, Mellotron, bass, drums, chimes
  • Craig Ross – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Henry Hirsch – piano, Wurlitzer organ, synthesizer, bass
  • Tony Breit – bass
  • Dave Domanich – drums on track 4, "Heaven Help"
  • Michael Hunter – French horn, flugelhorn
  • Robert Lawrence – violins
  • Liuh-Wen Ting – viola
  • Michael "Ibo" Cooper – keyboards on track 11, "Eleutheria"

Production

  • Engineered and mixed by Henry Hirsch
  • Assistant engineer – Greg Di Gesu
  • Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound Studios
  • Art direction by Len Peltier
  • Design by Jean Krikorian and Len Peltier
  • Cover photography by Jean-Baptiste Mondino

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] 1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16] 3
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[17] 1
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[18] 3
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[19] 7
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[20] 6
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[21] 2
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[22] 6
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 5
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[25] 1
US Billboard 200[26] 12

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[27] Gold 30,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[28] 4× Platinum 400,000^
France (SNEP)[29] Platinum 453,200[30]
Germany (BVMI)[31] Gold 250,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[32] Platinum 200,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[33] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[34] Platinum 15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[35] Gold 25,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[36] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[37] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[38] Platinum 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[39] 2× Platinum 2,160,000[40]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz". AllMusic. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  2. Browne, David (March 19, 1993). "Are You Gonna Go My Way". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  3. Luecking, Eric (October 3, 2013). "Lenny Kravitz: Are You Gonna Go My Way (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  4. Kampert, Patrick (March 18, 1993). "Lenny Kravitz: Are You Gonna Go My Way (Virgin)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  5. Rosenbluth, Jean (April 18, 1993). "Lenny Kravitz 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' Virgin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  6. Highter, Eric (November 21, 2013). "Lenny Kravitz: Are You Gonna Go My Way (Deluxe Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  7. Staunton, Terry (December 2013). "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way?". Record Collector. No. 421. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  8. Poulson-Bryant, Scott (April 29, 1993). "Lenny Kravitz: Are You Gonna Go My Way". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 18, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  9. Appleford, Steve (2004). "Lenny Kravitz". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 470. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  10. Collis, Clark (April 1993). "Lenny Kravitz: Are You Gonna Go My Way". Select. No. 34. p. 76.
  11. Joseph, Mark (March 9, 2018). "Lenny Kravitz Breaks Through With 'Are You Gonna Go My Way'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  12. Rock On The Net: Lenny Kravitz
  13. Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz (buy online, get all lyrics, infos, chords, guitar tabs, audio, mp3)
  14. The Official Web Site of Guitarist Craig Ross Archived July 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  15. "Australiancharts.com – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  16. "Austriancharts.at – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  17. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1733". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  20. "自由への疾走" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. "Charts.nz – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  22. "Norwegiancharts.com – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  23. "Swedishcharts.com – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  24. "Swisscharts.com – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  25. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  26. "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  27. "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  28. "Canadian album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Music Canada. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  29. "French album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved June 24, 2020. Select LENNY KRAVITZ and click OK. 
  30. "Les Albums Platine". InfoDisc. Archived from the original on November 24, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  31. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Lenny Kravitz; 'Are You Gonna Go My Way')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  32. "Japanese album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 24, 2020. Select 1994年2月 on the drop-down menu
  33. "Dutch album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved June 24, 2020. Enter Are You Gonna Go My Way in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  34. "New Zealand album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  35. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  36. "Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990" (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  37. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  38. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Lenny Kravitz; 'Are You Gonna Go My Way')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  39. "American album certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 24, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  40. Basham, David (November 8, 2001). "Calling All Chart Freaks: Michael, Lenny, Bush Under The Microscope". MTV News. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

Sources
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