The Will to Live

The Will to Live is a 1997 album by Ben Harper which showed his continuing folk-centric focus, while at the same time expanding on his rock talents. This was his third album, his second with the Innocent Criminals (uncredited), and was packaged with a special bonus CD in certain countries.

Not to be confused with The Will to Live (Titus Andronicus album).
The Will to Live
Studio album by
Ben Harper
ReleasedJune 17, 1997
GenreAlternative rock
Length53:18
LabelVirgin America
ProducerJean-Pierre Plunier
Ben Harper chronology
Fight for Your Mind
(1995)		 The Will to Live
(1997)		 Burn to Shine
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune(favorable)[2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide(neither)[3]
Los Angeles Times[4]
Pitchfork Media7.2/10[5]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[6]

The record would yield his first UK Singles Chart single, "Faded". To date it remains his only UK single entry.[7]

Track listing

All songs written by Ben Harper except as noted.

  1. "Faded" – 4:48
  2. "Homeless Child" – 3:51
  3. "Number Three" – 1:43
  4. "Roses from My Friends" – 6:23
  5. "Jah Work" – 4:54
  6. "I Want to Be Ready" – 4:02
  7. "The Will to Live" – 4:57
  8. "Ashes" – 3:52
  9. "Widow of a Living Man" – 4:10
  10. "Glory & Consequence" – 5:40
  11. "Mama's Trippin'" (Harper, Jean-Pierre Plunier) – 3:45
  12. "I Shall Not Walk Alone" – 5:13

Personnel

Musicians
  • Ben Harper – guitar, saz, vocals, weissenborn
  • Louis Allen – bass guitar
  • Alan Anderson – guitar
  • Agnes Baddoo – background vocals
  • Brett Banduci – viola
  • Patrick Brayer – fiddle
  • Dean Butterworth – drums
  • Danielle Charles – violin
  • Juan Nelson – bass, background vocals
  • Eric Person – saxophone
  • Amy Piatt – background vocals
  • Emily Wright – cello

Production
  • Producer: J.P. Plunier
  • Engineer: Todd Burke
  • Assistant engineers: Peter Doell, Erica Stephenson, Dann Thompson
  • Mixing: Eric Sarafin
  • Mastering: Dave Collins
  • Art direction: J.P. Plunier
  • Design: Flavia Cureteu
  • Photography: Annalisa, J.P. Plunier

Charts
Chart performance for The Will to Live
Chart (1997) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] 17
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[9] 24
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[10] 33
French Albums (SNEP)[11] 4
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[12] 1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 37
UK Albums (OCC)[14] 87
US Billboard 200[15] 89

Certifications
Certifications for The Will to Live
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[16] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[17] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[18] Platinum 300,000*
Italy (FIMI)[19] Gold 50,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[20] Platinum 15,000^

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

References
  1. Stanley, Leo. "The Will to Live - Ben Harper". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  2. Reger, Rick (1997-07-04). "The Maturation Of Ben Harper". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  3. Christgau, Robert (2000-10-15). Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 9780312245603.
  4. SCRIBNER, SARA (1997-06-14). "Ben Harper, "The Will to Live," (***)". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  5. Whitaker, Lang (2008-04-08). "Ben Harper: The Will To Live: Pitchfork Record Review". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  6. Diehl, Matt (1997-06-12). "The Will To Live". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  7. "Ben Harper songs and albums | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  8. "Australiancharts.com – Ben Harper – The Will to Live". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Ben Harper – The Will to Live" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Ben Harper – The Will to Live" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  11. "Lescharts.com – Ben Harper – The Will to Live". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  12. "Charts.nz – Ben Harper – The Will to Live". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  13. "Swisscharts.com – Ben Harper – The Will to Live". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  15. "Ben Harper Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  16. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  17. "Canadian album certifications – Ben Harper – The WIll to Live". Music Canada. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  18. "French album certifications – Ben Harper – The WIll to Live" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  19. Mirkin, Steven (17 May 1997). "Ben Harper Finds 'Will' To Rock On 3rd Virgin Set". Billboard. p. 15. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  20. "New Zealand album certifications – Ben Harper – The WIll to Live". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
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