Welcome to the Cruel World

Welcome to the Cruel World is Ben Harper's debut album from Virgin Records. Released in 1994, the album established Harper as a popular folk musician in the California area. After this release, Harper went on to add a permanent backing band, the Innocent Criminals, although they remained unnamed until the Burn to Shine album.

Welcome to the Cruel World
Studio album by
Ben Harper
ReleasedFebruary 8, 1994
RecordedThe Convent
GenreBlues, folk, alternative rock
Length50:25
LabelVirgin
ProducerBen Harper, Jean-Pierre Plunier
Ben Harper chronology
Welcome to the Cruel World
(1994)		 Fight for Your Mind
(1995)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
The Guardian[3]
Los Angeles Times[4]
Q[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]
USA Today[7]
The Village Voice[8]

Track listing

All songs written by Ben Harper except as noted.

  1. "The Three of Us" – 2:35
  2. "Whipping Boy" (Chris Darrow) – 5:31
  3. "Breakin' Down" (Harper, music: Jean-Pierre Plunier) – 4:00
  4. "Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave" – 4:25
  5. "Waiting on an Angel" – 3:53
  6. "Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now" – 2:29
  7. "Forever" – 3:23
  8. "Like a King" – 4:18
  9. "Pleasure and Pain" – 3:44
  10. "Walk Away" – 3:49
  11. "How Many Miles Must We March" – 3:07
  12. "Welcome to the Cruel World" – 5:36
  13. "I'll Rise" (lyrics: Maya Angelou; music: Harper) – 3:35

Personnel
Music credits
  • Ben Harper - vocals, multiple instruments
  • Clyde Allen - background vocals
  • Clarence Butler - background vocals
  • Richard Cook - Uillean pipes
  • Rock Deadrick - percussion, drums, background vocals
  • Tom Freund
  • Clabe Hangan - background vocals
  • Jelani Jones - background vocals
  • Suzie Katayama - cello
  • Ken McDaniel - background vocals
  • John McKnight - bass, accordion
  • John Taylor - background vocals
  • Kevin Williams - background vocals
  • Tommy D. Daugherty - drum programming
Production credits
  • Producers: Ben Harper, J.P. Plunier
  • Associate producer: Jeff Gottlieb, Mikal Reid
  • Engineer: Mikal Reid
  • Assistant engineer: Bradley Cook
  • Mixing: Mikal Reid
  • Mastering: Eddy Schreyer
  • Advisor: Ben Elder
  • Art direction: Tom Dolan, J.P. Plunier
  • Research: Ben Elder
  • Photography: Jeff Gottlieb

Charts
Chart (1998) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[9] 94
French Albums Chart[10] 11

Certifications

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Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[11] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[12] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[13] Platinum 300,000*
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Goble, Ryan Randall. "Welcome to the Cruel World – Ben Harper". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  2. Kot, Greg (February 24, 1994). "Ben Harper: Welcome to the Cruel World (Virgin)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  3. Denselow, Robin (September 23, 1994). "Ben Harper: Welcome to the Cruel World (Virgin)". The Guardian.
  4. Hochman, Steve (March 13, 1994). "Ben Harper 'Welcome to the Cruel World' Virgin". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  5. "Ben Harper: Welcome to the Cruel World". Q. No. 97. October 1994. p. 116.
  6. Randall, Mac (2004). "Ben Harper". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 363–64. ISBN 9780743201698.
  7. Gundersen, Edna (April 20, 1994). "Triple Play". USA Today.
  8. Christgau, Robert (February 21, 1995). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  9. "Chartifacts". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  10. "Classements - Ben Harper - Welcome to the Cruel World (album)" (in French). Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  11. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  12. "Canadian album certifications – Ben Harper – Welcome to the Cruel World". Music Canada. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  13. "French album certifications – Ben Harper – Welcome to the Cruel World" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  14. "American album certifications – Ben Harper – Welcome to the Cruel World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 14, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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