While many rhythm and blues groups of the 1980s and 1990s have faded into oblivion, Mint Condition keeps on kicking.
“When we first started we concentrated on longevity,” explained guitarist Homer O’Dell. “We watched groups like Aerosmith and we wanted to be the best group we could be. We’ve seen a lot of groups that came out with one album and went away. We didn’t want to be that. We keep putting out music and thankfully the fans stayed with us.”
Mint Condition was formed in the early 1980s in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. Its current members are lead singer Stokley Williams, O’Dell, keyboardist Larry Wadell, bassist Ricky Kinchen, and saxophone and keyboard player Jeffery Allen.
The group was discovered by super producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Mint Condition’s debut album, 1991’s “Meant to be Mint,” produced the mega hit “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” which spent 34 weeks on the charts and reached No. 3 on the R&B Top 5 and No. 6 on the Pop Top 10 charts.
The album’s next single, “Forever in Your Eyes,” reached No. 7 on the R&B Top 10.
These classic ballads quickly solidified Mint Condition as a solid group of top-notch musicians and entertainers. The group still enjoys performing the songs and includes them in their tour repertoire.
“‘Pretty Brown Eyes’ is one of our favorite songs that we love to perform because we see how the fans react to it and we like to touch our fans live and direct and it’s just one of those songs that we love,” said Kinchen.
Mint Condition’s second album, “From the Mint Factory,” was released in 1993. The single, “U Send Me Swingin’,” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart for four weeks straight in the spring of 1994. The song also reached No. 14 on the Rhythmic Top 40 Charts. The next two singles released from “From the Mint Factory,” “Someone to Love” and “So Fine,” were Billboard Top 30 hits reaching the No. 28 and No. 29 spots respectively.
The 1996’s “Definition of a Band” peaked the R&B Top 15 thanks to the singles “What Kind of Man Would I be?” which was so popular that it stayed on the Billboard Charts for 41 weeks, and “You Don’t Have to Hurt No More,” which reached No. 10 on the R&B Chart and No. 32 on the Pop Charts.
In 1998 the group released a greatest hits compilation, “The Collection: 1991-1998. After Perspective/A&M Records folded, Mint Condition signed with Elektra in 1999 and released its fourth full-length album, “Life’s Aquarium,” which debuted in the top 10 (No. 7 R&B). It’s main single, “If You Love Me,” hit the R&B Top 5 and remained on the R&B Charts for 31 weeks.
Following a six-year hiatus, Mint Condition returned to music scene in 2005 with “Livin’ the Luxury Brown,” which was released on the group’s independent label, Caged Bird Records. Despite the time away from the spotlight, the band’s fans ate up the new material making “Livin’ the Luxury Brown” take the No. 1 spot on the independent charts.
In 2008 they released “E-Life,” which produced the singles, “Baby Boy Baby Girl” and “Nothing Left to Say.” “Nothing Left to Say” became Mint Condition’s first top 30 hit in almost a decade (No. 27 R&B) and a Top 5 Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary Hit peaking at No. 3.
In December 2010, Mint Condition joined legendary entertainer and fellow Minnesotan Prince on the Purple One’s “Welcome 2 America Tour,” which occurred around Mint Condition’s 20-year anniversary as a group.
“We love all Minneapolis artists but Prince is one of our favorites,” all Mint Condition members agreed.
To celebrate their years together, Mint Condition released the album “7…” on Shanacie Records in 2011. The record included the singles, “Caught My Eye” and “Not My Daddy,” a collaboration with singer Kelly Price.
The vocally tight and musically sound group continues to pack houses, and produce music that tantalizes the senses and soothes the soul.
That proved evident when the group packed the Monroeville Convention Center on Oct. 29 for the Grown and Sexy Masquerade Ball. Proceeds benefited the Center for Energy and Computer Education Excellence.
Approximately 2000 screaming fans attended the event.
“We love our fans and we appreciate the Pittsburgh fans sticking with us,” said O’Dell.
Mint Condition is currently touring the country and in the studio making new music.
“We are always making new music from our own solo projects to band stuff,” Williams said.
(J.L. Martello contributed to this story)
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