Burn to Shine (album) explained

Burn to Shine
Type:	studio
Artist:	Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
Cover:	Ben Harper - Burn to Shine.jpg
Released:	September 21, 1999
Genre:	Alternative rock, blues rock, soul
Length:	54:29
Label:	Virgin Records America
Producer:	Jean-Pierre Plunier
Prev Title:	The Will to Live
Prev Year:	1997
Next Title:	Live from Mars
Next Year:	2001

Burn to Shine is an album by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, released in 1999 on Virgin Records America.^{[1] [2]} Harper's fourth album, it shows him 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.

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."^[3] Entertainment Weekly considered the album to be "mostly made up of leaden rootsy excursions."^[4] The Hartford Courant wrote that the album tackled "an overload of musical niches."^[5] Trouser Press called Harper "a thinking man's Lenny Kravitz".^[6]

Track listing

All songs written by Ben Harper.

1. "Alone" – 3:58
2. "The Woman in You" – 5:41
3. "Less" – 4:05
4. "Two Hands of a Prayer" – 7:50
5. "Please Bleed" – 4:37
6. "Suzie Blue" – 4:29
7. "Steal My Kisses" – 4:05
8. "Burn to Shine" – 3:34
9. "Show Me a Little Shame" – 3:44
10. "Forgiven" – 5:17
11. "Beloved One" – 4:03
12. "In the Lord's Arms" – 3:06

Personnel

Musicians

• 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 guitar
• 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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ben Harper | Biography & History. AllMusic.
2. Web site: Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals Burn to Shine (Virgin). www.austinchronicle.com.
3. Web site: Ben Harper. Mike. Joyce. November 5, 1999. www.washingtonpost.com.
4. Web site: Burn to Shine. EW.com.
5. Web site: Burn to Shine – Ben Harper. Neal. McGarity. courant.com.
6. Web site: Ben Harper . Trouser Press . 12 October 2020.