"Let Love Rule" is the debut studio album by American rock singer and songwriter Lenny Kravitz, released on September 6, 1989, by Virgin Records. With the majority of the songs on the album being written by Kravitz, the album represented Kravitz's manifesto on love, a pervasive theme in the entire scope of his work.
"Let Love Rule" features a psychedelic, groovy style with influences from rock, funk, soul, and reggae, a blend that came to be known as Kravitz's signature sound. The album was a moderate success, peaking at number 61 on the Billboard 200 and number 56 in the UK. It produced four singles, with "Let Love Rule", "I Build This Garden For Us", and "Mr. Cab Driver" gaining the most commercial success.
Since its release, the album has garnered mixed to positive reviews from critics. Despite this, the album played a critical role in establishing Kravitz's career and has since become a staple in his discography.
The album's production was a familial effort, with Kravitz's then-wife, actress Lisa Bonet, co-writing one of the songs and his mother, Roxie Roker, featuring on the track "Fear". The album cover photography was taken by Kravitz's father, Sy Kravitz. The album was also dedicated to his parents' love for each other.
Musicians who contributed to "Let Love Rule" include Henry Hirsch on bass, Karl Denson on saxophone, and Lee Jaffe on harmonica. In 2009, the album got a 20th-anniversary deluxe edition re-release, which included a number of bonus tracks.
