Lifeline (Ben Harper album)

Lifeline is an album by Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals. It was recorded in Paris in the fall of 2006 after the lengthy European leg of the Both Sides of the Gun tour. Harper and the Innocent Criminals wrote the tracks while on tour and would rehearse the songs during sound checks while at each venue. Recorded in only seven days on analog, the album was released on August 28, 2007.^[1][2] It is Harper's eighth album.

Lifeline
Studio album by Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Released	August 28, 2007
Studio	Gang Studios, Paris
Genre	Rock blues rock pop rock alternative rock rhythm and blues folk rock
Length	40:54
Label	Virgin
Producer	Ben Harper
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals chronology
Both Sides of the Gun (2006) Lifeline (2007) White Lies for Dark Times (2009)
Singles from Lifeline
"Fight Outta You" Released: 2007 "In the Colors" Released: 2008 "Fool for a Lonesome Train" Released: 2008

Ben Harper discussing Lifeline in 2007

Lifeline debuted at number 9 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling about 41,000 copies in its first week.^[3] As of November 2008, the album has sold 173,000 copies in United States.^[4]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
The Brag	[6]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[7]
MusicOMH	[8]
Okayplayer	[9]
Rolling Stone	[10]
Robert Christgau	[11]

Thom Jurek at AllMusic described the album as "...a deeply focused, loose, and laid-back record that is musically compelling and deeply soulful, and contains some of Harper's finest songs to date".^[5]

Track listing

All songs written by Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, except "Paris Sunrise #7" and "Lifeline" written by Ben Harper.

1. "Fight Outta You" – 4:10
2. "In the Colors" – 2:57
3. "Fool for a Lonesome Train" – 3:30
4. "Needed You Tonight" – 2:46
5. "Having Wings" – 3:27
6. "Say You Will" – 2:58
7. "Younger Than Today" – 3:24
8. "Put It on Me" – 3:30
9. "Heart of Matters" – 4:31
10. "Paris Sunrise #7" – 5:17
11. "Lifeline" – 4:28

Personnel

• Ben Harper – guitars, vocals
• Juan Nelson – bass
• Oliver Charles – drums
• Michael Ward – guitar
• Jason Yates – keyboards
• Leon Mobley – percussion
• Michelle Haynes, Rovleta Fraser – backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Lifeline Chart (2007) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[12] 7 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] 13 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[14] 6 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[15] 3 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[16] 75 French Albums (SNEP)[17] 1 Italian Albums (FIMI)[18] 1 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[19] 6 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[20] 5 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[21] 22 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 1 US Billboard 200[23] 9 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[24] 2

Year-end charts 2007 year-end chart performance for Lifeline Chart (2007) Position French Albums (SNEP)[25] 44 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 73 2008 year-end chart performance for Lifeline Chart (2008) Position French Albums (SNEP)[27] 152

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Lifeline

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[28]	Gold	35,000^
France (SNEP)[29]	Gold	200,000[30]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[31]	Gold	15,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Rolling Stone, September 2007.
2. "The Spectrum - Arts and Entertainment - Sept 7, 2007". Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
3. Jonathan Cohen, "'High School Musical 2' Starts Third Week At No. 1", Billboard.com, September 5, 2007.
4. Cohen, Jonathan (November 11, 2008). "Ben Harper Rocks Out With New Band". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
5. "Lifeline - Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
6. "Opinions: We have Them! The BRAG Record Reviews (The Brag Magazine)". 14 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-14. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
7. "Lifeline | Music Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
8. "Ben Harper And The Innocent Criminals - Lifeline | album reviews". 6 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-10-06. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
9. "Okayplayer : Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals : Lifeline :EMI; 2007". 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
10. "Ben Harper: Lifeline : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 15 September 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-15. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
11. "Robert Christgau: CG: Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals". Robertchristgau.com.
12. "Australiancharts.com – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
13. "Ultratop.be – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
14. "Ultratop.be – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
15. "Ben Harper Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
16. "Dutchcharts.nl – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
17. "Lescharts.com – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
18. "Italiancharts.com – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
19. "Charts.nz – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
20. "Portuguesecharts.com – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
21. "Spanishcharts.com – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
22. "Swisscharts.com – Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Lifeline". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
23. "Ben Harper Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
24. "Ben Harper Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
25. "Top de l'année Top Albums 2007" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
26. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2007". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
27. "Top de l'année Top Albums 2008" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
28. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
29. "French album certifications – Ben Harper – Lifeline" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
30. Cadet, Thierry (February 4, 2009). "Ben Harper quitte le groupe The Innocent Criminals". Charts in France. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
31. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Lifeline')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.