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The Will to Live
Studio album by Ben Harper
Released	June 17, 1997
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	53:18
Label	Virgin America
Producer	Jean-Pierre Plunier
Ben Harper chronology
Fight for Your Mind (1995) The Will to Live (1997) Burn to Shine (1999)
Singles from The Will to Live
"Faded" Released: 1997 "Jah Work" Released: 1997 "Glory & Consequence" Released: 1997 "Mama's Trippin'" Released: 1998

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune	(favorable)
Christgau's Consumer Guide
Los Angeles Times
Pitchfork Media	7.2/10
Rolling Stone	(mixed)

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.

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

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

Certifications

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 2024-11-20.

• Ben Harper albums
• 1997 albums
• Virgin Records albums