Back-to-the-land idealism. It’s warm, hippie-ish, and earnest. Not his most memorable cover visually, but it fits the album’s message of peace and patience. 9. Strut (2014) – The Vintage Funk The Image: A saturated, close-cropped shot of Lenny’s torso and face. He wears a leopard-print jacket and oversized round sunglasses. The background is a warm orange-brown.
Romantic, spiritual, anti-glamour. This wasn’t a hair-metal pose. It was a statement: I’m a songwriter, not a poser. The cover mirrors the album’s lo-fi, organic fusion of 60s rock and 70s soul. 2. Mama Said (1991) – The Gritty Confessional The Image: Lenny leans against a brick wall, wearing a leather vest, jeans, and heavy boots. His hair is wilder, his expression tougher. The color palette is muted earth tones. lenny kravitz album covers
Retro cool. This cover channels early 70s funk LPs—think Sly Stone or early Parliament. It’s fun, confident, and unapologetically sexy. 10. Raise Vibration (2018) – The Matured Artist The Image: A side-profile shot. Lenny wears a simple black jacket, hair in locs. The lighting is dramatic, half his face in shadow. The colors are deep blues and blacks. Back-to-the-land idealism
Let’s walk through the visual evolution of a rock icon, one cover at a time. The Image: A close-up of a young, earnest Lenny. Long, dark curls frame his face. He looks slightly upward, as if searching for a higher truth. Sepia tones. Soft focus. The background is a warm orange-brown
Raw, wounded, and streetwise. Following his divorce from Lisa Bonet, this cover screams “heartbreak on the Lower East Side.” It trades mysticism for confession. 3. Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993) – The Rock Star Ascendant The Image: A dynamic, blurred shot of Lenny mid-performance. His hair is now in tight braids with beads. He’s wearing a colorful poncho and sunglasses, guitar slung low. The font is bold, almost graffiti-like.
Over-the-top, theatrical, and polarizing. Fans either love or hate this cover. It mirrors the album’s experimental, Prince-meets-psychedelia sound. Lenny is playing the role of the ringmaster. 5. 5 (1998) – The Minimalist Reaction The Image: After the maximalism of Circus , 5 is stark: a simple black-and-white headshot. Lenny stares directly into the camera. No props. No colors. Just a serious face and short-cropped hair.