Welcome to the Cruel World [25th Anniversary Edition]

by Ben Harper

Overview

The full range of Ben Harper's influences would not come to bear until later albums, but his debut, Welcome to the Cruel World, lays a strong foundation. "Like a King" and "Take That Attitude to Your Grave" burn with a political conviction rarely heard during the 1990s. "Forever" has a tenderness which demonstrates Harper's emotional range. Lackluster hippie jams that cultivated his early following may have served a purpose but feel fluffy by comparison when compared to the meatier tracks. Ben closes the album with a song that frequently closes his concerts, "I'll Rise." This song, built around Maya Angelou's 1979 poem "And Still I Rise," reminds one of art's ability to pierce through society, self, and the soul. ~ Ryan Randall Goble

Product Details

Release Date:	11/01/2019
Label:	Virgin Emi
UPC:	0602577879876
Rank:	38139

Tracks

Disc 1

1. The Three of Us
2. Whipping Boy
3. Breakin' Down
4. Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave
5. Waiting on an Angel
6. Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now
7. Forever

Disc 2

8. Like a King
9. Pleasure and Pain
10. Walk Away
11. How Many Miles Must We March
12. Welcome to the Cruel World
13. I'll Rise

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ben Harper   Primary Artist,Dobro,Vocals,Weissenborn,Guitar (Acoustic),Multi Instruments
John McKnight   Bass,Accordion
Kevin Williams   Vocals (Background)
Rock Deadrick   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
John Taylor   Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background)
Richard Cook   Uillean Pipes
Suzie Katayama   Cello
Clyde Allen   Vocals (Background)
Clarence Butler   Vocals (Background)
Gail Deadrick   Piano
Ken McDaniel   Vocals (Background)
Jelani Jones   Vocals (Background)
Clabe Hangan   Vocals (Background)
Kenneth McDaniel   Vocals (Background)
Mutonic Four   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Chris Darrow   Composer
Maya Angelou   Composer
Mikal Reid   Mixing,Engineer,Associate Producer
Bradley Cook   Assistant Engineer
Eddy Schreyer   Mastering
Jean Pierre Plunier   Composer,Producer,Art Direction
Ben Harper   Composer,Producer
Ben Elder   Advisor,Research
Tom Dolan   Art Direction
Jeff Gottlieb   Photography,Associate Producer