Welcome to the Cruel World

Infobox Album |
Name = Welcome to the Cruel World
Type = Album
Artist = Ben Harper


Released = February 8, 1994
Recorded = at The Convent
Genre = Folk rock Alternative
Length = 50:25
Label = Virgin
Producer = Ben Harper, J.P. Plunier
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ahdyylm8xpmb link] |
Last album =
This album = "Welcome to the Cruel World" (1994)
Next album = "Fight for Your Mind" (1995)

"Welcome to the Cruel World" (1994), Ben Harper's debut record from Virgin Records 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 "Fight for Your Mind" album.

Track listing

#"The Three of Us" (Harper) – 2:35
#"Whipping Boy" (Darrow) – 5:31
#"Breakin' Down" (Harper, Plunier) – 4:00
#"Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave" (Harper) – 4:25
#"Waiting on an Angel" (Harper) – 3:53
#"Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now" (Harper) – 2:29
#"Forever" (Harper) – 3:23
#"Like a King" (Harper) – 4:18
#"Pleasure and Pain" (Harper) – 3:44
#"Walk Away" (Harper) – 3:49
#"How Many Miles Must We March" (Harper) – 3:07
#"Welcome to the Cruel World" (Harper) – 5:36
#"I'll Rise" (Maya Angelou, Harper) – 3:35
#* Contains the hidden track "...By and By I'm Going to See the King"

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

Production

*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