Welcome to the Cruel World | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 8, 1994 | |||
Recorded | The Convent | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 50:25 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Producer | Ben Harper, Jean-Pierre Plunier | |||
Ben Harper chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
USA Today | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Village Voice | ![]() |
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. The song "I'll Rise" is based on a 1978 Maya Angelou poem "And Still I Rise".
All songs written by Ben Harper except as noted.
Musicians
Production
Chart (1998) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums Chart[9] | 94 |
French Albums Chart[10] | 11 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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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. |