Mint Condition was formed in the late 80s in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Consisting of lead singer/percussionist Stokley Williams, bassist Ricky Kinchen, guitarist Homer O’Dell, pianist Larry Waddell, and keyboardist/saxophonist Jeffrey Allen, the group is well known for its highly diverse musical talents – playing styles ranging from traditional jazz stylings to mainstream R&B and rock-based music to funk grooves and even Latin and Jamaican-based rhythms.
Discovered and originally signed to Perspective Records by music producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in 1989 (after being heard at a performance at a club in downtown Minneapolis called First Avenue), their debut album was entitled Meant To Be Mint (released in 1991). Despite their musical versatility the band attempted to attract New Jack Swing listeners with their dance cut “Are You Free”, but it was only a minor success (hitting #55 on the R&B charts). However, the follow-up single, “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes),” stayed on the charts for 34 weeks, hitting the R&B top 5 (#3), and the Pop Top 10 (#6). “Forever In Your Eyes” was also a smash (#7 R&B). Two years later they released their 2nd platinum album, From The Mint Factory (1993). It landed hits with “U Send Me Swingin’,” “Someone To Love” and “So Fine.” 1996 saw the release of Definition of a Band, another strong collection that included the hits “What Kind Of Man Would I Be” (#2 R&B), and “You Don’t Have To Hurt No More” (#10 R&B). Two years later, The Collection: 1991-1998, a greatest hits compilation, was issued.
After Perspective Records/A&M folded, the group signed with Elektra Records in 1999, releasing their fourth full-length album, Life’s Aquarium (#7 R&B). Its main single, “If You Love Me,” hit the R&B Top 5.
After a six year hiatus, the group resurfaced as a quintet (minus keyboard player Keri Lewis), and released Living The Luxury Brown on their independent label Caged Bird Records. The album hit #1 on the Independent Album Charts. Live From The 9:30 Club, a performance of a concert at the 9:30 club in Washington DC, was issued in 2006. They followed it in mid 2008 with the critically acclaimed e-Life.
The Mint Condition album 7… was released on April 5, 2011 on Shanachie Records. It featured their new hit single “Caught My Eye” as well as their collaboration with Kelly Price, “Not My Daddy,” also a hit. In 2012, Mint Condition is celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band. They will release a new album called Music At The Speed Of Life.
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