Burn to Shine (album)

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.

Burn to Shine
Studio album by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
Released	September 21, 1999
Genre	Alternative rock, blues rock, soul
Length	54:29
Label	Virgin Records America
Producer	Jean-Pierre Plunier
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals chronology
The Will to Live (1997) Burn to Shine (1999) Live from Mars (2001)
Singles from Burn to Shine
"Please Bleed" Released: 1999 "Burn to Shine" Released: 1999 "Forgiven" Released: 2000 "Steal My Kisses" Released: 2000

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Pitchfork	6.0/10[4]
Rolling Stone	[5]
Spin	7/10[6]

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."^[7] Entertainment Weekly considered the album to be "mostly made up of leaden rootsy excursions."^[8] The Hartford Courant wrote that the album tackled "an overload of musical niches."^[9] Trouser Press called Harper "a thinking man's Lenny Kravitz".^[10]

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

Charts

Chart performance for Burn to Shine

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11]	2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[12]	42
French Albums (SNEP)[13]	2
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[14]	5
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[15]	34
UK Albums (OCC)[16]	82
US Billboard 200[17]	67

Certifications

Certifications for Burn to Shine

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18]	Platinum	70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[19]	Gold	50,000^
France (SNEP)[20]	Platinum	300,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[21]	Platinum	15,000^
United States (RIAA)[22]	Gold	500,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.