Burn to Shine (album)
Burn to Shine is an album by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, released in 1999 on Virgin Records America.[5][6] The album shows Harper working within many different genres, including blues, rock, soul, and folk. The songs "Steal My Kisses" and "Suzie Blue" became successful on college radio. Like most other Harper albums, different versions were released in different regions within varying bonus material.
Burn to Shine | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 21, 1999 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock, blues rock, soul | |||
Length | 54:29 | |||
Label | Virgin Records America | |||
Producer | Jean-Pierre Plunier | |||
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Pitchfork Media | (6.0/10)[2] |
Rolling Stone | [3] |
Spin | 7/10[4] |
Critical reception
The Washington Post wrote that "while the songs are seldom as interesting as the album's textured instrumental weave, Harper deserves credit for trying to break free of the cliches that have a stranglehold on the blues."[7] Entertainment Weekly considered the album to be "mostly made up of leaden rootsy excursions."[8] The Hartford Courant wrote that the album tackled "an overload of musical niches."[9] Trouser Press called Harper "a thinking man’s Lenny Kravitz."[10]
Track listing
All songs written by Ben Harper.
- "Alone" – 3:58
- "The Woman in You" – 5:41
- "Less" – 4:05
- "Two Hands of a Prayer" – 7:50
- "Please Bleed" – 4:37
- "Suzie Blue" – 4:29
- "Steal My Kisses" – 4:05
- "Burn to Shine" – 3:34
- "Show Me a Little Shame" – 3:44
- "Forgiven" – 5:17
- "Beloved One" – 4:03
- "In The Lord's Arms" – 3:06
Personnel
- Ben Harper - guitar, vocals
- Richard Barnes - washboard
- Bruce Bishop - guitar
- Jim Bogen - clarinet
- Eve Butler - violin
- Dean Butterworth - drums, snare drums
- Jon Clarke - English horn, oboe
- Joel Derouin - violin
- Tyrone Downie - keyboards
- Michael Fay - banjo
- David Firman - bass
- Matt Funes - viola
- Suzie Katayama - cello
- David Leach - percussion
- James Leigh - trombone
- David Lindley - banjo, fiddle, mandolin
- Juan Nelson - bass
- Real Time Jazz Band
- Nick Rich - human beatbox
- Eric Sarafin - piano, harmonium, recorder
Production
- Producer: J.P. Plunier
- Engineers: Eric Sarafin, Dan Steinberg
- Assistant engineer: Dan Steinberg
- Mixing: Eric Sarafin
- Mixing assistant: Steve Gamberoni, Geoff Walcha
- Mastering: Dave Collins
- String arrangements: Suzie Katayama
- Art direction: J.P. Plunier
- Design: Tom Dolan, Mike King, J.P. Plunier
- Photography: Annalisa
- Illustrations: Mike King
- Research: Ben Elder
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1999 | The Billboard 200 | 67 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | "Steal My Kisses" | Adult Top 40 | 15 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[11] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[12] | Gold | 50,000^ |
France (SNEP)[13] | Platinum | 300,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[14] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[15] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Notes
- "Burn to Shine - Ben Harper | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2008-03-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Berger, Arion (October 1, 2003). "Burn To Shine". Rolling Stone.
- "Reviews". SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. November 12, 1999 – via Google Books.
- "Ben Harper | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- "Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals Burn to Shine (Virgin)". www.austinchronicle.com.
- Joyce, Mike (November 5, 1999). "BEN HARPER" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- "Burn to Shine". EW.com.
- McGarity, Neal. "BURN TO SHINE - BEN HARPER". courant.com.
- "Ben Harper". Trouser Press. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
- "Canadian album certifications – Ben Harper – Burn to shine". Music Canada. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
- "French album certifications – Ben Harper – Burn to shine" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
- "New Zealand album certifications – Ben Harper – Burn to shine". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
- "American album certifications – Ben Harper – Burn to shine". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 19 January 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.