Always on the Run (Lenny Kravitz song)

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"Always on the Run"
Single by Lenny Kravitz featuring Slash
from the album Mama Said
ReleasedMarch 18, 1991 (1991-03-18)
GenreFunk rock[1]
Length3:53
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
  • Lenny Kravitz
  • Slash
Producer(s)Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz singles chronology
"Does Anybody Out There Even Care"
(1990) 		"Always on the Run"
(1991) 		"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"
(1991)
Slash singles chronology
"Hey Stoopid"
(1991) 		"Always on the Run"
(1991) 		"Break Like the Wind"
(1992)

"Always on the Run" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released as the first single from his second album, Mama Said (1991), in March 1991. It features a contribution by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. Slash had written the music for the song with the original intention of releasing it on a Guns N' Roses studio album, but since former drummer Steven Adler had difficulty playing the song, he saved it for this eventual collaboration with Kravitz.[2] On June 6, 1992, during Guns N' Roses's Use Your Illusion Tour stop in Paris, Kravitz joined the band onstage and played guitar and sang vocals for this track.

Background[edit]

Slash met up with Kravitz for a vodka fueled songwriting session directly after finishing his European tour. After the last date, he jumped on the concorde and flew from London to New York at nine in the morning. Kravitz recalled to Rolling Stone, "He had me get a gallon of vodka and a bag of ice and we went into the studio and bang, there it was. The two of us wrote and cut the tune. I played drums; he played guitar; Then I played my guitar, bass and did vocals. I brought the horn players in and it was done. Then he got on a plane the next morning and went to LA. It was a wild day."

Critical reception[edit]

In an retrospective review, Carla Hay of AXS stated, "As the first single from his 1991 album, Mama Said, 'Always on the Run' further established Kravitz as a powerhouse rocker who expertly blended retro influences with modern sounds."[3] Upon the release, Simon Reynolds from Melody Maker said, "During the rather nifty boogie-funk [...], Kravitz's persona shifts with every vocal phrase – Hendrix/Sly Stone/Costello – and sometimes all at once. I like it, but sometimes you have to be firm."[4] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Kravitz has always been heavily influenced by '60s artists like Lennon and Hendrix, and this time it is James Brown's turn to play godfather, too. The song leans on a strong staccato rhythm guitar and a sharp horn section. Good grooves provided."[5]

Chart performance[edit]

"Always on the Run" reached the top ten on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, peaking at number eight.

Music video[edit]

The accompanying music video for "Always on the Run" was directed by Jesse Dylan. It consists of the performance of the song featuring Lenny Kravitz' band and Slash, filmed in black and white.

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Always on the Run"
  2. "Butterfly"
  3. "Light Skin Girl from London"
  4. "Always on the Run" (instrumental)

Charts[edit]

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom March 18, 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Virgin [17]
Japan April 3, 1991 Mini-CD [18]
United Kingdom April 15, 1991
  • 12-inch vinyl box set
  • cassette
 [19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Elliott, Paul (May 30, 2016). "The Top 20 Greatest Funk Rock Songs". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  2. ^ "Always On The Run". Archived from the original on February 24, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
  3. ^ Hay, Carla (March 2, 2016). "The Top 10 Best Lenny Kravitz Songs". AXS. Retrieved July 14, 2020.[dead link]
  4. ^ Reynolds, Simon (March 23, 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 35. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  5. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. March 30, 1991. p. 12. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  6. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Always On The Run". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  7. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Always On The Run" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  8. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Lenny Kravitz". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 136. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 18, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  10. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Always On The Run" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  11. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Always On The Run". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  12. ^ "Lenny Kravitz: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  14. ^ "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  15. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  16. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  17. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. March 16, 1991. p. 19.
  18. ^ "オール・ウェイズ・オン・ザ・ラン | レニー・クラヴィッツ" [Always on the Run | Lenny Kravitz] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 13, 1991. p. 19.
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