This classic Ben Harper album with Tom Freund has been remastered from the analog masters by Bernie Grundman, and the results are spectacular. The album was originally recorded March 15, 1992 using a Studer A-80 tape recorder. George Cardas used a pair of Omni differential microphones that he custom built and fed the sound directly to the Studer tape deck with nothing else in the signal path.

• 100% Analog Recording
• Recorded by George Cardas
• Mastered by Bernie Grundman
• Pressed on 180 Gram Vinyl at RTI, USA

Recorded with musician Tom Freund, Pleasure and Pain was Ben Harper's first release before signing to Virgin Records. The legendary 11-song set, long out of print, has now been newly remastered by Bernie Grundman from the analog masters at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood, California and is pressed on audiophile 180g vinyl!

Pleasure And Pain was originally recorded on March 15, 1992, by George Cardas, of Cardas Audio, using a Studer A-80 tape deck. George used a pair of Omni differential microphones that he custom built and fed the sound directly to the Studer tape deck with nothing else in the signal path, not even a preamp. It is about the most direct and natural recording method there is.

It's incredibly fortunate that George Cardas was able to capture this yet-to-be-huge star with this simple, raw first recording with no slick overproduction. Now back in print on a better than ever sounding audiophile pressing that matches its one-of-a-kind recording process!

"Music has always been a part of Ben Harper's life. Ben's grandparents owned the Folk Music Store in Claremont, California. As a child, Ben hung out there and became familiar with all types of musical instruments. He wound up selling, demonstrating and repairing instruments for the store's customers. His favorite was the guitar, in all its forms. He especially liked the lap steel guitar. Ben began singing and playing in the shop, first for his parents, then for customers who heard him in the back room of the store. He was especially fond of southern Blues and it is a major influence in his music today.

"Tom Freund is also a native of Claremont. A mutual friend of theirs, Alleghaney Meadows, introduced the two because she thought they would really sound good playing together. They connected immediately and began jamming the first night. Ben and Tom were so excited about the music they made, they called George so he could listen. George was in his recording studio, set up to record another artist, Johnny Kallas, when Ben called. Johnny was ill and couldn't make it to his session, so he said, "Sure, come on over." Ben and Tom began to play, while trying to see what songs they knew in common and how best to harmonize. George began recording the pair, in what turned out to be a "magical music moment". All songs were recorded in one take, with the whole session lasting only forty-five minutes. George said, "It was the kind of recording session you dream of, but that rarely happens." He immediately made an album, which Ben was able to take to L.A., and as they say, "The rest is history!"

Track Listing:

01. Whipping Boy
02. Jesus On The Main Line
03. Pay The Man
04. Quarter Of A Man
05. Mama's Got A Girlfriend Now
06. Angel From Montgomery
07. Click Yo' Heels
08. You Should Have Come to Me
09. Dust My Broom
10. Sweet Home Chicago
11. Pleasure And Pain

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫