In this very day, I bought his '5' LP thinking it was the GH LP(STUPID ME ) but you know what?? Its slammin, I luuvvved 'Live', 'American Woman'(I prefer the Prince duet) but the BEST song in there is 'Supersoulfinger' or something now that song is the FUNKIEST song eva. It does remind me alot of Prince's early stuff.

Ok, I'm gonna buy something Lenny where should I start???

Start with "Let Love Rule" and stay there.
Kravitz is way overrated.
If you like his music then listen to the artists he bites: Curtis Mayfield, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepplin, etc.

They're all good...Mama Said & 5 are my favorites, though. Just get 'em all

WillieThePimp said:

Bites??? Don't you mean influenced by.

What do you call D'Angelo/Maxwell/Bilal work then?? A tribute??

Anyway, thanx!

Buy all from Let Love Rule up to the Greatest Hits. The latest album Lenny is good,but IMO not up to par with his previous material.

Damn I didn't know that Angie was one of his back-up vocalists. That explains why he produced a track 4 her debut LP.

Harlepolis said:

I'm so in love with his song 'It ain't over till its over' now that a beautifull.

Get in this order:

1. Let Love Rule
2. Mama Said
3. Are You Gonna Go My Way?
-skip Circus-
4. 5

believe it!
[This message was edited Sun Sep 1 15:11:59 PDT 2002 by feltbluish]

I say start w/ Are You Gonna Go My Way, proceed to Circus, then pickup 5 but you already have that one, go for Mama Said next, then Greatest Hits (Again is great), THEN Let Love Rule (I hate that one!)...

Then again our tastes couldn't be more different - I despise that Supersoulfinger whatever song. Don't listen to me...

Happy listening!

I like Mama said. It has some great songs.

He's only got 5 albums! Buy them all startinf front to back. Mama Said is my favorite then Let Love Rule. After that he sucked!

DMSR said:

Okay you are wrong there are 6 studio albums:

Let Love Rule
Mama Said
Are You Gonna Go My Way
Circus
5
Lenny

Plus he has a greatest hits album.

Circus is actually my favorite Lenny album. It's the darkest and edgiest one. Are You Gonna go my Way is pretty good too. However, I'll have to go against the majority and admit that I can't stomach Let Love Rule and Mama Said. Despite some good singles off those albums, as a whole, they contain a lot of weak filler in my opinion.

You know, I just realised that in 1995 Lenny released a song called "Rock And Roll Is Dead", and in the same year Prince released "Rock And Roll Is Alive! (AILIM)".

Also, don't you think Rock And Roll Is Dead is a bit of a rip-off of Led Zeppelin's Heartbreaker? Or is that too harsh?

feltbluish said:

I agree with this list, but don't skip Circus! I didn't like it that much at first either, but it really grew on me and I love it for what it is. '5' is a fabulous record ('supersoulfighta' is completely original, isn't it) but first I'd absorb the first 4 albums as they are from his 'analog' years. I think it's been a big leap for him, hopefully one that's not going to bring him down as it did with the lackluster 'Lenny'

There's another record I really think you should check out 'Vanessa Paradis' by vanessa paradis. It's basically a cool Lenny album, his songs, his band, only with her vocals, which I don't mind. Think mid 60's NYC. It's one of my all-time favorite records and I think any Lenny fan should get a copy - it's a cool project.

ecnirpnz said:

Yes Prince's song was an answer back to Lenny's song.

As far as ripping off Zeppelin; well yes Lenny ripped off Zeppelin the same way that Prince ripped of "Everyday People" for "Forever in My Life".

WillieThePimp said:

agreed...being influenced is one thing...but this guy doesnt seem to have a creative bone in him...as much as i enjoy him, i get frustrated that he cant seem to *create* without using someone else's paint and paintbrush...

lovemachine said:

And whats up with 'Mr. Cab driver'??? I thought it was a Prince cover, I don't like that song very much.

Harlepolis said:

No not a prince cover, but it is actually one of my favorite Lenny songs.

Where should you start?...



...try the seventies... heh he

Harlepolis said:

My favourite Lenny album was "Circus". By a long shot. Well he hasn't done that many albums and the early ones can be picked up pretty cheaply nowadays, so you should just go buy all of them! But don't sleep on Circus because it really was a great album. A lot less "funky" and a bit more sad and thoughtful... I guess he was a bit down when he made the album (about his mother's death perhaps).

Ian

I was a huge fan when Lenny started out but his music is really boring now, and the more I listen to his old stuff, I see where he ripped others off. Here's a few examples-

It Aint Over= That's the Way of the World, EWF
Mama Said= Superstition, S Wonder
Tunnel Vision= Crosstown Traffic, Hendrix
Stop Draggin Around= Daytripper
Again=Purple Rain
Live=any EWF song!
Beyond the 7th Sky- When the Levee Breaks, Led Zep
Mr Cab Driver= Taxman, Beatles

To me his best and most original song was "Are U Gonna Go My Way" although influenced by Hendrix and Zeppelin, I don't think it's a complete ripoff. It's a great riff, and love the breakdown.

the first album let love rule

and work cronologicaly

Don't bother. He used to be really cool and I had all his stuff but he's a dead-end. His music is so watered down and boring now. It's a real shame. He's nothing more than a Tommy Hilfiger spokesmodel at this point.

TRON said:

"Tommy Hilfiger spokesmodel" - I wish you hadn't pointed that out - it's too true. A little too fashionable and not enough musical at this time. Hopefully Lenny will get his ass handed to him again soon, and resume making cool music.

I wouldn't hesitate to get the first 5 records though.

Skip Circus? Are you out your damn mind? Aside from that, I really don't know why everyone is so sprung on 5, it's the weakest album he's ever made, and I've been listening since Let Love Rule. The American Woman cover, which was only added as an afterthought, is terrible! I bet his people told him it would be a good idea, much like Sheryl Crowe's cover of Sweet Child O' Mine. Damn I just wanted to slap him!

smoke

Is it true that P thinks Lenny ripped off "Wherever u Go...
from Rave,when he released "Again" I can sorta hear it

I don't think we should give up on Lenny yet. You have to remember that he has been around for about 12 years now. It is just recently that he has become famous or accepted if you will. Lenny has been dogged by almost every critic right from the beginning. He has had to prove himself more than anyone of late. I agree that he has become very commercial and I also agree that his latest music does not have the same edge as his older stuff, but the man does have some natural talent. Maybe now that his records are selling and he doesn't feel as though he has to prove himself so much, I think we will see him go back to his roots and make great music again. All the comments about him being a copycat are bullshit because everyone copies someone at some point. I think Lenny is a man who's got his act together and is here to stay. And to answer your question...get all his albums, but start with Let Love Rule and work your way along.

Harlepolis said:

I'de start with his buttox and work urself up... OOps u meant music wise? uhhh... dunno...