First of all, I must thank a fellow blogger named Robert who enlightened me to Lenny Kravitz’s debut album, “Let Love Rule,” otherwise it would have been left out. To be honest, I don’t remember too much about the album save for the singles from it. I definitely now recall, “I Build This Garden For Us” and I vaguely remember the title cut and “Mr. Cab Driver.” Now that I’ve listened to the entire album, it pretty much follows along the lines of those singles. With that said, I do love the sax solo in the title cut.
Wikipedia, not that I tribute much to what they say, calls this album, “psychedelic rock” or what I sometimes call “space rock.” However, I can hear fusions of jazz or reggae in the songs, “Freedom Train” is a prime example of this. Then we come to the hidden gem on the album, “My Precious Love.” There is a definite atmosphere provided when I hear this one. I can picture myself listening to it while sitting in a smoky jazz bar, fully appreciating it and the band playing, while knocking back whiskeys. Yes, it’s a throw back to a previous life and tobacco wasn’t the only thing being smoked. Back in the 80s, one could still smoke in bars. But on “My Precious Love,” you can hear that sax again with some cool tinkling of the ivories backed up by a determined rhythm section and a cool organ solo while Lenny pours his heart out into the vocals. Wow, I’m exhausted writing that.
Of course, you don’t need to be in a smoky jazz bar to appreciate the album. You can appreciate the smoky beat to the tracks while sitting at home. At least you don’t have to pay through the nose for your whiskeys, if that’s your thing. The already mentioned single, “I Build This Garden For Us” just radiates pure cool and has a part that’s just way out there with some cool guitar work. “Fear” has the reggae vibe fused with more spaced out rock. I love how Lenny punctuates the “fear” in the vocals. What I didn’t know was that “Fear” was written by Lenny’s then wife, Lisa Bonet, who starred in the television programme, “The Cosby Show” back in the golden decade. She also co-wrote the track “Rosemary” with Lenny. I’ve learned something new.
Track Listing:
- Sittin’ On Top of the World
- Let Love Rule
- Freedom Train
- My Precious Love
- I Build This Garden for Us
- Fear
- Does Anybody Out There Even Care?
- Mr. Cab Driver
- Rosemary
- Be
- Blues For Sister Someone
- Empty Hands
- Flower Child
Note: Tracks 11-13 were bonus tracks on the CD.
Lenny Kravitz- lead and backing vocals, all instruments except for those listed below
Alfred Brown, Maxine Roach- viola
Tisha Campbell, Jean McClain, Yolanda Pitman- additional backing vocals
Eric Delente, Gene Orloff, Lou Elex, Matthew Raimondi, John Tintualle, Winterton Yarvey- violin
Karl Denson- saxophone
Henry Hirsch- bass, piano, organ, harmonium
Nancy Ives, Kermit Moore, Mark Shuman- cello
Lee Jaffe- harmonica
Adam Widdoff- guitar
Thank you Robert for the save or else a great debut album might have been omitted from this tour of rock and metal history of the golden decade.
Next post: Joe Satriani- Flying in a Blue Dream
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
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