Diamonds on the Inside
Encyclopedia
Diamonds On the Inside is Ben Harper
's first work without crediting the Innocent Criminals in almost 10 years, although all the touring members continue to support him on the album. On this album, Harper brought on several new editions to his band, the first being guitarist Nicky Panicci (aka Nicky P) in 2002 who is the first guitar player to be credited on a Ben Harper record. Panicci toured with Harper on the Diamonds on the Inside Tour for almost a year. After leaving Haper's band on his own accord, Marc Ford
, formerly of The Black Crowes
replaced Panicci and joined Harper's band.
Singles – Billboard (North America)
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
's first work without crediting the Innocent Criminals in almost 10 years, although all the touring members continue to support him on the album. On this album, Harper brought on several new editions to his band, the first being guitarist Nicky Panicci (aka Nicky P) in 2002 who is the first guitar player to be credited on a Ben Harper record. Panicci toured with Harper on the Diamonds on the Inside Tour for almost a year. After leaving Haper's band on his own accord, Marc Ford
Marc Ford
Marc Ford , is an American blues-rock guitarist. He's a former lead guitarist of the rock and roll jam band The Black Crowes and the leader of his own bands .-Burning Tree:Ford began his career with the blues-rock outfit Burning...
, formerly of The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
replaced Panicci and joined Harper's band.
Track listing
All songs written by Ben Harper except as noted.- "With My Own Two HandsWith My Own Two Hands"With My Own Two Hands" is a single from Ben Harper's 2003 release Diamonds on the Inside.The lyrics focus on the how changes in the world can come about when a single person decides to take action. This song, which features an up-tempo reggae groove was played in regular rotation on European radio...
" – 4:35 - "When It's Good" – 3:03
- "Diamonds On The InsideDiamonds On The Inside (song)"Diamonds On the Inside" was the second single released from the album Diamonds On the Inside by Ben Harper.The song was ranked #18 on the Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2003.-Track list:# "Diamonds On the Inside" - 3:45...
" – 4:27 - "Touch from Your Lust" – 4:28
- "When She Believes" – 5:20
- "Brown Eyed Blues" (Harper/Nelson) – 5:42
- "Bring the Funk" (Charles/Harper/Kurstin/Mobley/Nelson) – 4:07
- "Everything" – 3:04
- "Amen Omen" – 5:51
- "Temporary Remedy" – 3:11
- "So High So Low" – 3:44
- "Blessed to Be a Witness" – 4:11
- "Picture of Jesus" – 5:49
- "She's Only Happy in the Sun" (Dean ButterworthDean ButterworthDean "Deano" Butterworth is a professional drummer. He played for popular singer Morrissey and was announced as the official drummer for the band Good Charlotte in March 2005 after they parted with their previous drummer, Chris Wilson in 2005...
/Harper) – 3:57
Personnel
- Ben Harper – organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, acoustic guitarSteel-string acoustic guitarA steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, synthesiser bass, tongue drum - Al Yasha Anderson – guitar solo on (with my own two hands)
- Carla Benson – background vocals
- Ron Blake – trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Leo Chelyapov – clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
- John Ingram – background vocals
- Greg Kurstin – synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, celesteCelestaThe celesta or celeste is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano or of a large wooden music box . The keys are connected to hammers which strike a graduated set of metal plates suspended over wooden resonators...
, Hammond organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, electric pianoElectric pianoAn electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented...
, background vocals, clavinet, mellotron - Ladysmith Black MambazoLadysmith Black MambazoLadysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards...
– vocals - Greg LeiszGreg LeiszGreg Leisz is an American multi-instrumentalist, playing lap and pedal steel guitars, guitar, mandolin, and bass.- Biography :Leisz was influenced early on by the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers, especially pedal steel player "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow...
– pedal steel - Timothy Loo – celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
- Misty Love – background vocals
- Leon Mobley – percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, sound effects, background vocals - Juan Nelson – bass, background vocals
- Nicky Panicci (aka Nicky P.) – acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar
- David Ralicke – tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
- Darrel Sims – violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
- Amy Wilkins – harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
- Rebecca Yeh – cello
- Josef Zimmerman – upright bass
Production
- Producer: Ben Harper
- Engineers: Todd Burke, Rick "Soldier" Will
- Assistant engineers: Kevin Dean, June Murakawa
- Mixing: Todd Burke
- Mastering: Gavin Lurssen
- Arrangers: Ben Harper, Greg Kurstin
- Assistants: Josh Florian, Rail Jon Rogut
- Advisor: Ben Elder
- Design: Mike King
- Layout Design: Mike King
- Photography: Warren Darius Aftahi, Blue Sky, Jon Shapiro
- Research: Ben Elder
Charts
Album – Billboard (North America)Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
2003 | The Billboard 200 | 19 |
2003 | Top Canadian Albums | 8 |
2003 | Top Internet Albums | 19 |
Singles – Billboard (North America)
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | "Diamonds on the Inside" | Adult Top 40 | 31 |