Mama Said is the second studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in April 1991 by Virgin Records. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash co-wrote and played on the song "Always on the Run". He also played on the song "Fields of Joy". The song "All I Ever Wanted" was co-written by Sean Lennon.

Although the album has sold enough copies to be certified double platinum, the RIAA still has it listed as platinum. In the UK, the album reached number 8 on the UK Albums Chart. In 2012, Virgin Records released an expanded, double-disc version of the album with a number of remixes and bonus tracks.

Critical reception

"Rather than synthesizing his influences in a way that allows him some personal expression," wrote Elysa Gardner of Rolling Stone, "Kravitz seemingly aims to acknowledge as many of them as he can in the course of an hour; the result is a rather disjointed album that lacks freshness and distinction. Kravitz continues to demonstrate a talent for crafting and arranging engaging songs; unfortunately, up to this point it has proven less a creative talent than a recreative one." later giving the album a "two-star honorable mention" grade.

  1. <li value=15> "Light Skin Girl from London" – 2:42
  2. "I'll Be Around" – 2:55
  3. "Always on the Run" (instrumental) (Kravitz, Slash) – 3:54

The Unreleased 12"

  1. <li value=18> "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" (12" remix instrumental) – 4:37
  2. "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" (12" extended/dub version) – 8:08

Disc two<br>

The Demos: Mama in Progress

  1. "Riding on the Wings of My Lord" (rough demo) – 3:02
  2. "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" (home demo) – 2:05
  3. "What the Fuck Are We Saying?" (home demo) – 3:35
  4. "The Difference Is Why" (home demo) – 3:55
  5. "Riding on the Wings of My Lord" (funky vocal) – 3:41
  6. "Riding on the Wings of My Lord" (instrumental) – 3:03
  7. "Framed, Lying Crying" (instrumental segue) – 0:23
  8. "Stand by My Woman" (instrumental) (Kravitz, Hirsch, Pasch, Krizan) – 4:20

Live in Rotterdam Nov. 15, 1991

  1. <li value=9> "Stop Draggin' Around" – 3:06
  2. "Always on the Run" (Kravitz, Slash) – 5:26
  3. "Fields of Joy" (Kamen, Fredricks) – 4:19
  4. "Stand by My Woman" (Kravitz, Hirsch, Pasch, Krizan) – 4:59
  5. "More Than Anything in This World" – 8:16

The Live in Japan B-Sides

  1. <li value=14> "Always on the Run" (Kravitz, Slash) – 5:20
  2. "Stop Draggin' Around" – 3:06
  3. "What the Fuck Are We Saying?" – 5:20

Personnel

  • Lenny Kravitz – vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, electric sitar
  • Slash – guitar solos on tracks 1 and 2
  • Henry Hirsch – keyboards, bass
  • Karl Denson – saxophone on tracks 2, 3, 6 and 13
  • Butch Thomas – saxophone on track 2
  • Mike Hunter – trumpet on track 2
  • Phenix Horns – horns on track 4
  • Zoro – drums on track 6
  • Lebron Scott – bass on track 6
  • Adam Widoff – guitar on track 6
  • David Domanich – drums on track 8
  • Nancy Ives – cello on track 9
  • Sean Ono Lennon – piano on track 11

Production and design

  • Engineering by David Domanich and Henry Hirsch
  • Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound Studios
  • 21st Anniversary Edition mastered by Evren Göknar at Capitol Mastering
  • Mixed by Henry Hirsch at Waterfront Studios
  • Art direction by Melanie Nissen
  • Artwork design by Tom Bouman
  • Photography by James Colderaro

Charts

Weekly charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+Weekly chart performance for Mama Said

! scope="col"| Chart (1991)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Spanish Albums (AFYVE)

|align="center"|38

|-

|-

|-

|-

|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col"| Chart (2012)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

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|}

Year-end charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Year-end chart performance for Mama Said

! scope="col"| Chart (1991)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)

| 37

|-

! scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)

| 35

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)

| 4

|-

! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)

| 56

|-

! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)

| 49

|-

! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)

| 15

|}

Certifications and sales

References