5 (Lenny Kravitz album)

5 is the fifth studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on May 12, 1998, by Virgin Records. The album featured hits such as "Fly Away" and "I Belong to You", which helped Kravitz to expand his success in Europe. The album won two Grammy Awards.

5 was re-issued in 1999, including Lenny Kravitz's latest single from the soundtrack of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, "American Woman", plus a bonus track called "Without You"—initially a B-side to the lead single, "If You Can't Say No".

5 reached number 28 on the Billboard 200 and number 18 on the UK Albums Chart. As of March 2008, 5 has sold 3 million units in the US and over 6 million units worldwide, becoming Kravitz's highest-selling studio album. Initially, the album received mediocre reviews by some critics and its rise to commercial success was quite slow until it gained significant success towards the end of 1998 and throughout 1999. The album received multi-platinum certifications in many countries, producing a string of worldwide hits and becoming one of the most successful albums of 1999. Despite paling in comparison in US chart position with Kravitz's other albums, it managed to have a remarkably long chart-life, charting for nearly three years straight on the Billboard 200, two of which were spent in the top 100.

The album gained Kravitz multiple awards nominations and gave him his first two Grammy Awards in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category for the hits "Fly Away" and "American Woman".

Production
In the production of the album, Kravitz worked with digital technology such as synthesizers and tape loops providing the album with a more modern sound. The album contained more of his '70s-inspired songs, funk and soul, mixed with his rock style.

Personnel

 * Lenny Kravitz – lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, keyboards, bass guitar, drums, percussion, programming
 * Craig Ross – electric guitar, slide guitar, keyboards
 * Terry Manning – toy piano on "I Belong to You"
 * Cindy Blackman - drums on "Straight Cold Player"
 * Jack Daley – bass guitar
 * Michael Hunter – trumpet
 * Harold Todd – saxophone
 * George Laks – keyboards
 * Alix Alvarez – keyboards
 * Stephen Dorff- uh sounds on "American Woman"

Production
 * Engineered by Terry Manning except "American Woman".
 * Recorded by Tom "T-Bone" Edmonds.
 * Mixed by Terry Manning and Lenny Kravitz.
 * Pro Tools operation by Matthew Knobel.
 * Programming by Lenny Kravitz, Terry Manning, Mark Browne, Matthew Knobel and Eric Rehl.
 * Horn arrangements by Lenny Kravitz, Michael Hunter and Harold Todd.
 * Art direction and design by Len Peltier.
 * Photography by Mark Seliger.

Singles

 * "If You Can't Say No" number 48 UK
 * "I Belong to You" number 71 US, number 75 UK
 * "Thinking of You"
 * "Fly Away" number one UK, number 12 US
 * "American Woman" number 49 US
 * "Black Velveteen"