Get Up! - Ben Harper (1LP Vinyl)

Get Up! by Ben Harper.

"Get Up!" finds Ben Harper stepping fully into the deep end of the blues, a record built on grit, groove, and the kind of raw conviction that has always run through his best work. Across ten tracks, Harper handles vocals, guitar, and slide guitar, and takes a producer credit as well, stamping his fingerprints on every corner of the album. This is music made to be heard loud, with the needle carving out heavy, electrified tones that reward a good set of speakers.

The heart of this collaboration is the pairing of Harper with harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite, whose playing threads through the album with authority and soul. From the opening charge of "Don't Look Twice" to the swaggering "I'm In I'm Out And I'm Gone," the interplay between Harper's slide and Musselwhite's harp gives the record its unmistakable voice. It is a meeting of generations that never feels forced, just two artists locked into the same current.

Behind them stands a tight, muscular band. Jesse Ingalls anchors the low end on bass, Jordan Richardson drives the rhythm on drums, and Jason Mozersky adds guitar that fills out the sound without crowding it. Tracks like "I Ride At Dawn" and "Blood Side Out" show the group leaning into darker, heavier terrain, while the title cut "Get Up!" carries the fire of a live-in-the-room performance.

The album stretches across a satisfying range of moods. "We Can't End This Way" and "You Found Another Lover (I Lost Another Friend)" bring bruised, aching emotion, while "I Don't Believe A Word You Say" and "She Got Kick" ride on attitude and drive. It closes on "All That Matters Now," a fitting resolution that lets the dust settle after the storm.

The production is a genuinely collaborative effort, with Harper joined by co-producers Chris Goldsmith, Jason Mozersky, Jesse Ingalls, Jordan Richardson, and Sheldon Gomberg. Gomberg also handled the recording and mixing, capturing the band with a warmth and presence that suits the material perfectly. Every instrument sits in its own space, giving the album a clarity that makes the vinyl format shine.

The package itself is a considered piece of work, with art direction by Larissa Collins, additional design by Tom Dolan, package design by Jimmy Hole, and photography by Danny Clinch that lends the whole thing a striking visual identity. Made in the EU, this pressing is a worthy addition to any collection built around real blues energy, a record that captures Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite at full throttle and invites you to turn it up.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Don't Look Twice
A2. I'm In I'm Out And I'm Gone
A3. We Can't End This Way
A4. I Don't Believe A Word You Say
A5. You Found Another Lover (I Lost Another Friend)
B1. I Ride At Dawn
B2. Blood Side Out
B3. Get Up!
B4. She Got Kick
B5. All That Matters Now

Credits:
Larissa Collins - Art Direction
Jesse Ingalls - Bass
Chris Goldsmith (3) - Co-producer
Jason Mozersky - Co-producer
Jesse Ingalls - Co-producer
Jordan Richardson - Co-producer
Sheldon Gomberg - Co-producer
Tom Dolan (2) - Design [Additional]
Jimmy Hole - Design [Package]
Jordan Richardson - Drums
Jason Mozersky - Guitar
Charlie Musselwhite - Harmonica
Sheldon Gomberg - Mixed By, Recorded By
Danny Clinch - Photography By
Ben Harper - Vocals, Guitar, Slide Guitar, Producer

Notes:
Made in the EU.

Artist: Ben Harper

Supporting Artists: Charlie Musselwhite

Format: 1LP

Genre: Blues

Label: Stax

Catalog Number: 00888072523227

Release Year: 2023

Country: Import

Condition: Sealed (New)