Lenny Kravitz "Baptism (USA, Virgin Records, 7243 5 84145 2 3)"

Baptism is the seventh studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on May 17, 2004, by Virgin Records. The album produced five singles and reached number 14 on the Billboard 200 and number 74 on the UK Albums Chart.

Lenny Kravitz originally intended this album to be a 1970s style funk album, simply titled The Funk Album. However, he changed his mind when he picked up an acoustic guitar to write the songs for the album. Having stated that songs started pouring out of him, Kravitz decided that his special project could wait. Instead, Kravitz recorded a more straightforward rock album similar to his 1989 album Let Love Rule. The album was recorded at Hotel Edison studios in Miami, Florida, and also features a contribution from rapper Jay-Z on the song "Storm". "Storm" was originally titled "(I Can't Make It) Another Day" and was originally recorded with Michael Jackson. Kravitz had previously played guitar on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse. Kravitz had mentioned in an interview that at the time of the album's production, he was in dispute with his record label, who did not agree with his decisions to alter his project, saying that the album featured some darker material representing his stage of depression and other problems he was going through at that time.

For the promotion of the album, Kravitz kicked off the Baptism tour in April of that year across North America. In 2005, Kravitz embarked on yet another tour called The Electric Church Tour: One Night Only in select cities. Kravitz also had a prominent role in the Gap campaign of 2004–2005 as he modelled for the brand and his image was used in stores across North America as a major celebrity seal. Kravitz's single "Lady" was used very heavily in the company's "How Do You Wear It?" campaign and also filmed two commercials with Gap spokesmodel Sarah Jessica Parker playing the song to and dancing with Parker.

Initial critical response to Baptism ranged from average to negative. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 43, based on 10 reviews.

Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine wrote "His highly stylized brand of retro rock has always been a guilty pleasure, even though it's been largely hit or miss, but with Baptism, Kravitz's seventh album, it's become sad and limp, like a wet, leftover noodle or a stash gone bad. He should just do a cover album and be done with it". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote "While these are fine individual moments, they wind up being a bit dispiriting since they're surrounded by lazy, exhausted retreads where it sounds as if the act of making music is a chore to Kravitz—something that he nearly admits in his lyrics. It's a shame and embarrassment, and hopefully it will be a temporary slump like Circus—unless he really does want to quit this business called show, since it would be better for him to stop making records than to crank out depressing sludge like this."

Ryan Lenz of Today added "Some have speculated that Kravitz is intent on cementing a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For the fans, Baptism seems more intent on giving them something to worship." Kevin Forest Moreau of ShakingThrough.net wrote "Lenny Kravitz became a star by peddling familiar wares in a flashy package: If there was always an element of "Been there, heard that" in his rock, soul and funk classicism, Kravitz's craftsmanship and charisma were usually enough to carry the day. But those elements are critically missing from Baptism." Caroline Bansal of musicOMH added "The production is in fact what lets this album down. The mix is all wrong, with the drums far too high and the guitars way too low.

Track listing

1. "Minister of Rock 'n Roll" Lenny Kravitz/Craig Ross  3:34
2. "I Don't Want to Be a Star" Kravitz 4:25
3. "Lady" Kravitz/Ross   4:15
4. "Calling All Angels" Kravitz 5:12
5. "California" Kravitz 2:36
6. "Sistamamalover" Kravitz 4:29
7. "Where Are We Runnin'?" Kravitz/Ross   2:41
8. "Baptized" Terry Britten/Gerry DeVeaux/Kravitz   4:48
9. "Flash" Kravitz 4:12
10. "What Did I Do with My Life?" Kravitz 4:04
11. "Storm" (featuring Jay-Z) Kravitz/Shawn Carter  3:58
12. "The Other Side" Kravitz 4:50
13. "Destiny" Kravitz/Lionel Richie  4:55

Total length: 54:00

Recording information:

Lenny Kravitz – producer, mixing

Henry Hirsch – engineer, mixing

Cyrille Taillandier – assistant engineer, Pro Tools engineer

Ted Jensen – mastering

Laura Branigan "Self Control (2013 Reissue, Expanded Edition, USA, Gold Legion)"

Self Control is the third studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on April 1, 1984, by Atlantic Records. The album peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, it charted within the top five in several continental European countries.

Four singles were released from the album, including Branigan's cover version of Raf's "Self Control", which was a commercial success, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in Canada and several European countries. Additionally, "The Lucky One" peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, while her cover of Umberto Tozzi's "Ti amo" reached number two in Australia and number five in Canada.

A remastered and expanded edition of Self Control was released on April 25, 2013, by Gold Legion, including remixes of "The Lucky One" and "Satisfaction", as well as the extended version of "Self Control".

In their review of the album, Billboard commended the album as "a superbly balanced set of powerful rhythm pieces and big, torchy ballads. The stand-out in the latter category is a heartfelt version of the Carole King classic "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." Several of the songs were translated from French into English, and have the continental flair that characterized Branigan's top 10 hits "Gloria" and "Solitaire."

Cashbox called it a "marvelously textured album" noting that "with the imminent success of the slow-grooving title track single, the album is sure to take hold of the public’s heart...this disc provides the powerful voiced songstress the variety of melody needed to show off her superior interpretive voice."

Allmusic noted that "Laura Branigan's third album capitalized on the Euro-dance-pop and affecting ballads that made her an international star while allowing her to grow as a vocalist. Her collections, always uneven in terms of material, benefit mostly from her stellar voice, and this is no exception."The Lucky One" and "Heart" start slow and build to a crescendo, perfectly showcasing her range without being obvious. The title track, about finding sex in the seamy side of town, sparked a bit of a controversy, but ended up being her second biggest hit. The song itself works, but Branigan was never a sex bomb, so the fact that she pulls it off is indicative of her power as a performer. "Ti Amo" is the album's theatrical ballad, which works well with breathy, dramatic vocals. She even pulls off a graceful cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" that is clear and simple"

Track listing

1. "The Lucky One" 4:10
2. "Self Control" 4:08
3. "Ti Amo" 4:18
4. "Heart" 4:08
5. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" 3:26
6. "Satisfaction" 3:56
7. "Silent Partners" 4:10
8. "Breaking Out" 3:50
9. "Take Me" 3:43
10. "With Every Beat of My Heart" 4:12

Total length: 40:01

2013 expanded edition bonus tracks

1. "The Lucky One" (John Robie Mix) 5:23
2. "The Lucky One" (Jack White Mix) 5:04
3. "Self Control" (12″ Version) Piccolo 5:00
4. "Satisfaction" (Special Dance Mix) 5:56

Total length: 61:24

Limited Edition of 1000 units in slipcase packaging, only available from the Gold Legion website.

CD is mastered from original master tapes, and features 4 bonus remixes.

Contains a 10 page booklet with essay written by Christian John Wikane.

Made in the U.S.A.

Laura Branigan "Self Control [2020 Reissue, Remastered, 2CDS Expanded Edition, UK, Cherry Pop, QCRPOPD 221]"

Self Control is the third studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on April 1, 1984, by Atlantic Records. The album peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, it charted within the top five in several continental European countries.

Four singles were released from the album, including Branigan's cover version of Raf's "Self Control", which was a commercial success, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in Canada and several European countries. Additionally, "The Lucky One" peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, while her cover of Umberto Tozzi's "Ti amo" reached number two in Australia and number five in Canada.

A remastered and expanded edition of Self Control was released on April 25, 2013, by Gold Legion, including remixes of "The Lucky One" and "Satisfaction", as well as the extended version of "Self Control".

In their review of the album, Billboard commended the album as "a superbly balanced set of powerful rhythm pieces and big, torchy ballads. The stand-out in the latter category is a heartfelt version of the Carole King classic "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." Several of the songs were translated from French into English, and have the continental flair that characterized Branigan's top 10 hits "Gloria" and "Solitaire."

Cashbox called it a "marvelously textured album" noting that "with the imminent success of the slow-grooving title track single, the album is sure to take hold of the public’s heart...this disc provides the powerful voiced songstress the variety of melody needed to show off her superior interpretive voice."

Allmusic noted that "Laura Branigan's third album capitalized on the Euro-dance-pop and affecting ballads that made her an international star while allowing her to grow as a vocalist. Her collections, always uneven in terms of material, benefit mostly from her stellar voice, and this is no exception."The Lucky One" and "Heart" start slow and build to a crescendo, perfectly showcasing her range without being obvious. The title track, about finding sex in the seamy side of town, sparked a bit of a controversy, but ended up being her second biggest hit. The song itself works, but Branigan was never a sex bomb, so the fact that she pulls it off is indicative of her power as a performer. "Ti Amo" is the album's theatrical ballad, which works well with breathy, dramatic vocals. She even pulls off a graceful cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" that is clear and simple"

Track listing

Disc 1:

1. "The Lucky One" 4:10
2. "Self Control" 4:08
3. "Ti Amo" 4:18
4. "Heart" 4:08
5. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" 3:26
6. "Satisfaction" 3:56
7. "Silent Partners" 4:10
8. "Breaking Out" 3:50
9. "Take Me" 3:43
10. "With Every Beat of My Heart" 4:12

Total length: 40:01

Disc 2:

2020 expanded edition bonus disc

1. "Self Control" (Extended Version) 5:06
2. "Self Control" (Edit) 3:57
3. "Self Control" (Classic Summer Mix 1992) 4:00
4. "Self Control" (117 BPM Club 1992) 4:56
5. "The Lucky One" (Single Version) 3:12
6. "The Lucky One" (Jack White Mix) 5:08
7. "The Lucky One" (John Robie Mix) 5:27
8. "Satisfaction" (Single Version) 3:41
9. "Satisfaction" (Special Dance Mix) 5:58
10. "When" (Single Version)  2:44
11. "Hot Night" (from the Ghostbusters soundtrack) 3:20

Total length: 47:29

Pre-order copies come with a limited edition post card

Laura Branigan "The Platinum Collection (2009 Reissue, Japan, Rhino Records, WPCR-13415)"

The Platinum Collection is the first greatest hits collection of American singer Laura Branigan that was released posthumously. It was released only in the United Kingdom and Brazil on July 24, 2006, however is available as an import in other regions. The album is part of the Warner Platinum series released by Rhino Records.

Tracklist:

1. Gloria 4:50
2. Self Control 4:08
3. The Lucky One 4:10
4. Solitaire 4:06
5. Power Of Love 5:25
6. How Am I Supposed To Live Without You 4:27
7. Ti Amo 4:18
8. I Found Someone 4:01
9. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow 3:26
10. Spanish Eddie 4:07
11. All Night With Me 3:52
12. Lovin' You Baby 4:34
13. Shattered Glass 3:42
14. Never In A Million Years 4:10
15. Moonlight On Water 4:39
16. Satisfaction 3:56
17. If You Loved Me 3:15
18. Silent Partners 4:10