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.[13]

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
Recorded1992–1993
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 8, 1993
  2. "Believe"
    Released: May 10, 1993
  3. "Heaven Help"
    Released: August 16, 1993
  4. "Is There Any Love in Your Heart"
    Released: November 22, 1993
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
American Songwriter[3]
Chicago Tribune[4]
Robert Christgau(dud)[5]
Entertainment WeeklyB[2]
Los Angeles Times[6]
Music Week[7]
PopMatters5/10[8]
Record Collector[9]
Rolling Stone[10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[11]
Select3/5[12]

Album information

The album had a good reception by fans and music critics and it is still considered one of Kravitz's best works.[14]

Musically, it contained songs inspired by classic rock artists such as Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Curtis Mayfield, Sly and Robbie, and Prince.[15]

Additional guitars were contributed by Craig Ross.[16]

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,[13] 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" (Lenny 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

20th anniversary edition bonus tracks

Disc one[17]

Bonus Tracks (The B-Sides)

  1. "Spinning Around Over You" (Kravitz, Ross) – 3:35
  2. "Ascension" (Kravitz, Hirsch) – 3:44
  3. "All My Life" (Kravitz) – 6:25
  4. "Brother" (Kravitz) – 4:18
  5. "Someone Like You" (Kravitz, Ross, Hirsch) – 4:15
  6. "For the First Time" (Kravitz) – 3:41
  7. "B-Side Blues" (Kravitz) – 3:32

Disc two
The Acoustic Versions

  1. "Believe" (acoustic version) (Kravitz, Hirsch) – 4:07
  2. "Sister" (acoustic version) (Kravitz) – 6:07
  3. "Heaven Help" (acoustic version) (DeVeaux, Britten) – 3:58

Work in Progress: Demos & Outtakes

  1. "Work Like the Devil" (Kravitz) – 4:46
  2. "Feeling Alright" (instrumental) (Kravitz) – 3:49
  3. "Getting Out (Will You Marry Me)" (Kravitz, Ross) – 4:16
  4. "Good Lovin'" (Kravitz) – 3:34
  5. "Blood/Papa (A Long and Sad Goodbye)" (instrumental) (Ross, Hirsch) – 10:59
  6. "Early Morning Blues" (instrumental) (Kravitz) – 4:33

The Vanessa Paradis Demos

  1. "I May Not Be a Star (Light Piece for Vanessa)" (Kravitz) – 4:43
  2. "Travelogue (Your Love Has Got a Handle On My Mind)" – 4:21
  3. "Lonely Rainbows" (Kravitz, Hirsch) – 2:26

Bonus Interview

  1. "BBC Interview with Mick Wilkojc" – 15:28

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[18]

Musicians

  • Lenny Kravitz – lead and background vocals, electric guitar (tracks 3, 7, 9, 11), electric guitar solo (tracks 7, 9, 11), acoustic guitar (tracks 4, 5, 10), bass (tracks 2, 3, 7, 9, 11), drums (tracks 1–3, 5–11), Mellotron (track 5), chimes and orchestral arrangement (track 2), string arrangement (tracks 5, 9, 10), horn arrangement (tracks 9, 10)
  • Craig Ross – electric guitar (tracks 1–3, 6–11), acoustic guitar (track 2)
  • Henry Hirsch – bass (tracks 4, 10), piano and ARP string ensemble (track 4), Wurlitzer organ and orchestral arrangement (track 2)
  • Tony Breit – bass (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8)
  • Dave Domanich – drums and electric guitar (track 4)
  • Michael Hunter – French horn (track 2), flugelhorn (tracks 9, 10)
  • Michael "Ibo" Cooper – Hammond B-3 organ and clavinet (track 11)
  • Eric Delente – violin (track 2)
  • Soye Kim – violin (tracks 2, 9, 10)
  • Robert Lawrence – violin (track 2)
  • Sarah Adams – viola (track 2)
  • Liuh-Wen Ting – viola (track 2)
  • Allen Whear – cello (track 2)
  • Frank Murphy – cello (track 2)
  • Carolyn Davies Fryer – double bass (track 2)
  • Gerry DeVeaux – background vocals (track 4)
  • Angie Stone – background vocals (track 4)

Production

  • Produced by Lenny Kravitz
  • 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

Certifications and sales
Certifications and sales for Are You Gonna Go My Way
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[39] Gold 30,000^
Australia (ARIA)[40] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[41] 4× Platinum 400,000^
France (SNEP)[42] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[43] Gold 250,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[44] Platinum 200,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[45] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] Platinum 15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[47] Gold 25,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[48] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[49] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[50] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[52] 2× Platinum 2,160,000[53]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
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  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. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Lenny Kravitz". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  6. Rosenbluth, Jean (April 18, 1993). "Lenny Kravitz 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' Virgin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  7. Jones, Alan (March 6, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 20. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  8. Highter, Eric (November 21, 2013). "Lenny Kravitz: Are You Gonna Go My Way (Deluxe Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  9. Staunton, Terry (December 2013). "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way?". Record Collector. No. 421. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Collis, Clark (April 1993). "Lenny Kravitz: Are You Gonna Go My Way". Select. No. 34. p. 76.
  13. Joseph, Mark (March 9, 2018). "Lenny Kravitz Breaks Through With 'Are You Gonna Go My Way'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
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  15. Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz (buy online, get all lyrics, infos, chords, guitar tabs, audio, mp3)
  16. The Official Web Site of Guitarist Craig Ross Archived July 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
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  18. Are You Gonna Go My Way (booklet). Virgin. 1993.
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Sources
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