#compactdisccollection

Crate Digger’s Corner…by DJ Musically Rich

(If you’d like to listen to a track from the album as you read, go to the end of the post to start the song)

For today’s Crate Digger’s Corner I’m listening to the sophomore effort from Lenny Kravitz, “Mama Said”. Much like his 1989 debut, “Let Love Rule”, Kravitz performs most of the instruments himself, but has a little help from friends and studio musicians. Some of the bigger names include Slash (Guns ‘n’ Roses), Sean Lennon and Karl Denson (who was also on the debut). Musically, this album mines similar territory to his debut combining the feel of ‘70s era rock, funk/R&B and its pop sensibilities. It has a nice mix of uptempo, mid-tempo and slow burners or ballads to keep the album varied while still feeling cohesive. It also has the highest charting hit of Kravitz’s career (and at this point, I think it’s safe to say, probably the highest charting hit he’ll ever have).

‘Fields Of Joy’ sets the stage for “Mama Said”. This is a lovely, acoustic track that has a biting electric guitar solo in the middle of the song provided by Slash. He also co-wrote and played on the second song, the funky ‘Always On The Run’.  Early on in the album we get the incredibly catchy ‘It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over’, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Pop charts. There is also the Curtis Mayfield inspired ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’ with its Superfly-ish vibe and a nice sax solo by Karl Denson. That is followed by ‘The Difference Is Why’ a psychedelic ballad with a cool reverb sound on the guitar.

A few songs after is the lullaby Kravitz wrote for his daughter, the beautiful ‘Flowers For Zoe’. That is followed by the return, in a very different feel, of ‘Fields Of Joy (Reprise)’. The reprise has a number of studio effects being used in the song that are reminiscent of what The Beatles were doing in the studio during some of their more experimental songs. ‘What The …. Are We Saying?’ is another slow burning song with psychedelic keyboard effects being used to envelop the song. That leads to a short, beautiful acoustic ballad called ‘Butterfly’ to end the album.

There was no sophomore slump for Lenny Kravitz on this album. He picks up right where he left off with “Let Love Rule” and delivers another gem. For fans of ‘70s funk or rock, this album will be right up your alley.

Stars 4/5

Available on: CD/Cass/LP

RIYL: Curtis Mayfield- Superfly/  Prince- Purple Rain/ Marvin Gaye- What’s Going On/ Amp Fiddler- Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly

To see photos of other albums in my collection follow my IG: djmusicallyrich

To listen to a track from the album…

‘What Goes Around Comes Around’