Our Top 10 Mint Condition Songs list looks at a popular r&b and funk band from the 90s. The band formed in the 80s. The band originally featured members Stokley Williams (lead singer/drummer), Keri Lewis (keyboard/percussion/rhythm guitar), Larry Weddell (keyboard), Jeff Allen (keyboard/saxophone), Homer O’Dell (lead guitar) and Rick Kinchen (bass guitar). The group went through different members throughout the years. They were discovered by songwriters/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in 1989. Their hits include “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes),” “U Send Me Swingin’,” “What Kind of Man Would I Be,” “If You Love Me,” “Nothing Left to Say” as well as other smash hits. They competed with groups such as Tony! Toni! Tone!, Guy, Jodeci, Boyz II Men, New Edition, Troop, Silk, Dru Hill, Hi-Five, H-Town, 112, Shai, After 7, Blackstreet as well as other groups. Mint Condition have something special that helps them stand out.
Mint Condition got their break in the music business when Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis discovered them while they were singing in the First Avenue club in Minneapolis. Things worked out for the band because Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis would go on to sign them to their record label Prospective Records.
Meant to Be Mint was released in 1991. It peaked at number 13 on the r&b charts and number 63 on Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Are You Free,” “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” and “Forever in Your Eyes.” From the Mint Factory was released in 1993. It peaked at number 18 on the r&b charts and number 104 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Nobody Does It Betta’” and U Send Me Swingin’.” Definition of a Band came out in 1996. The album peaked at number 13 on the r&b charts and number 76 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “What Kind of Man Would I Be,” “You Don’t Have to Hurt No More” and “Let Me Be the One.” The album sold over 500,000 copies. Life’s Aquarium came out in 1999. The album peaked at number seven on the r&b charts and number 64 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “If You Love Me” and “Is This Pain Our Pleasure.”
Livin’ the Luxury Brown was released in 2005. The album peaked at number 11 on the r&b charts and number 45 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Whoaa” and “I’m Ready.” E-Life came out in 2008. The album peaked at number eight on the r&b charts and number 119 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Baby Boy, Baby Girl” and “Nothing Left to Say.” 7… was released in 2011. The album peaked at number 12 on the r&b charts and number 33 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Caught My Eye,” “Walk On” and “Not My Daddy.” Music @ the Speed of Life came out in 2012. It peaked at number nine on the r&b charts and number 60 on the Billboard 200 charts. It features the singles “Believe in Us” and “Never Hurt Again.”
Mint Condition are a very talented band. Every member in the band can play an instrument. They make their music come alive. They have some of the biggest hits that came out during the height of their fame. Their songs can still be played on the radio today. They don’t get the credit they deserve for the music they produced. Our Top 10 Mint Condition Songs list will feature their best songs.
# 10 – Forever in Your Eyes
The first song on our Top 10 Mint Condition Songs list is “Forever in Your Eyes” from the album Meant to Mint. The song has an r&b beat. The sensual song is about a man professing his love for the woman in his life. He didn’t expect to fall in love with her, but the look in her eye changed his mind. He knew she loved him by the way she looked at him. He didn’t need to hear her say anything to prove he was right about the way she feels about him. He tells her everything he wants to do to show how much he loves her. This song expresses the way a man feels about his woman without sounding like a cliché.
This underrated song is overshadowed by the monster hit “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes).” This track is also worth checking out. It may not be as popular as the other track, but the song is just as meaningful. The song shouldn’t be slept on at all. The song reads like a poem that you wouldn’t want to end. The band does a remarkable job playing the music. Jeff Allen does a magnificent job with the saxophone solo. His solo makes the song sound sexy. They will put you in a trance as they play the music. Stokley Williams vocals are flawless. He can seduce you with his sexy voice. He hits every note excellently. He has great runs that he showcases throughout the song. He belts and holds notes at the end of the song.
# 9 – You Don’t Have to Hurt No More
The next song on our Top 10 Mint Condition Songs list is “You Don’t Have to Hurt No More” from the album Definition of a Band. The song has an r&b and New Jack Swing beat. The pleading song is about a man who tries to convince a woman not to stay with a man who is mistreating her. He lets her know that her man has her crying. He tells her that he will never treat her the way her man does. He will worship her and be there for her. He wants to treat her with the love she deserves. He wants to take the pain away and be the man she is looking for in life. These tender lyrics will convince any woman to give him a chance. He may or may not be telling the truth, but it would be worth a shot to give him a chance to prove himself.
The band knows the right music to play for every song they record. They are geniuses when it comes to instrumentation. They don’t get enough credit for the music they create. The sizzling drumbeat gives the song tempo. The keyboard is electrifying. The music is seductive and is the right choice to play when you want to listen to babymaking music. You will want to send the kids to bed early so you can enjoy this song. Stokley Williams knocks this song out of the park. He starts the song softly and in his lower register. Things start to heat up once he gets to the first chorus. His vocals come alive by the second verse, and he never stops.
# 8 – U Send Me Swingin’
The risqué song is from the album The Mint Factory. The song has an r&b beat. The flirty song is about a man who thinks about a woman he’s interested in dating. He thinks about her all the time. He didn’t think it was possible to fall deeper in love with her, but she makes it happen. He falls in love with her more and more every time he sees her. He tells her that she sends him “swingin’.” If you want to please your lady, you should play this song for her. She will fall deeper in love with you for dedicating this sizzling song to her.
Mint Condition proved they are a band to be taken seriously. This song is fantastic. The music is captivating. Every member of Mint Condition deserves a round of applause for what they were able to accomplish on this song. They do such a great job that this song would have been wonderful even if it didn’t contain lyrics. You could get lost listening to their skills as instrumentalists. Stokley Williams vocals are strong on this track. He sounds similar to Stevie Wonder and Babyface. His voice is smooth like butter. He always knows how to give songs a dramatic flair. He starts the song softly and then vocally explodes. His timing is on point. He always knows to sing in time with the drumbeat. His runs are off the charts. He will no doubt have you “swingin’” when you hear his vocals.
# 7 – Let Me Be the One
The convincing song is from the album Definition of a Band. The song has an r&b beat. The unconditional song is about a man who wants to be his ex-girlfriend’s hero. He wants to be the one who she can count on even though they aren’t together anymore. He pleads with her to let him be the one who she can call when she needs someone. They aren’t together anymore, but he still wants to be there for her. He is willing to overlook what happened between them and take care of her. There aren’t too many men who would want to help someone he’s not dating anymore. He wants to prove you can still be friends with someone you aren’t dating anymore.
The underrated song has an impressive sound. The track is infectious and will put you in a romantic mood. The song is upbeat and will have you snapping your fingers to the beat. As we said, they don’t need lyrics for their music to sound incredible. The music is unforgettable and will stay in your head after it’s done. Stokley Williams vocals are top notch on this song. He uses a double when he sings the chorus. It was a good idea to have his vocals stacked because he sounds like multiple people singing in the background. He sounds like Raphael Saadiq on this track. You might forget that Stokley Williams is singing the song because he sounds like Raphael Saadiq. Stokley Williams sings a little note in falsetto that you won’t want to miss. The only complaint we have is the song could have ended sooner. Stokley Williams spends the rest of the song scatting. You do get a chance to hear the band play, but the song is done at that point.
# 6 – If You Love Me
The questionable song is from the album Life’s Aquarium. The song has an r&b beat. The pleading song is about a guy who wants a woman to show how much she loves him. The lover doesn’t want to just settle for the words. He wants to hear the words, but he wants her to show him how she feels. He wants to see and feel that she loves him as much as he loves her. He won’t be satisfied until she proves that she loves him. He needs her and wants her to show her feelings for him. He’s afraid to find out what happens if he realizes that her love for him has faded.
Women record songs with this theme all the time. They sing about wanting their men to show how they feel about them. They didn’t want to settle with just hearing the words. Mint Condition is proving the same story, but from a man’s point of view. Men want to know how women feel about them too. They want to know they are being loved unconditionally. The melody is similar to Luther Vandross’ song “Superstar.” The music has a melancholy sound to match the theme of the track. Stokley Williams holds back in the first half of the song. He doesn’t rush out of the gate to start belting in the song. He keeps things soft and smooth until he finishes the bridge. He sings in falsetto at points in the song. You might not recognize his vocals when he sings in falsetto. He sounds good singing in either tone. You won’t want the song to end.
# 5 – Not My Daddy Kelly Price ft. Mint Condition
The next song on our Top 10 Mint Condition Songs list is “Not My Daddy” from the albums 7… and Kelly. The song has an r&b beat. The instructional song is advice to couples. They advise couples to start acting like couples and stop telling each other what to do in their relationships. They tell each other that they should learn to trust each other or they don’t have anything. The song teaches couples not to treat each other like they are parenting them. They are supposed to be lovers and shouldn’t give each other orders. This advice is what couples need if they are on the verge of breaking up. As long as one person is giving out orders, they will have problems.
Once again, the music is breathtaking. The percussion and drums are smoking hot. They give the song the spice it needs to heat things up. The saxophone section stands out as a highlight of the song. The song is beautifully arranged. Mint Condition knows when to keep the music down when Kelly Price and Stokley Williams are singing softly. They bring up the volume when the singers get louder. Speaking of the singers, we must mention their performances in the song. Kelly Price and Stokley Williams have a sizzling chemistry with each other on this song. They are in tune with each other to the point where you don’t know when one stops singing and the other starts singing. They have strong vocals and they get to test them in this song. They keep up with each other without any effort. They should record more music together because they work well together.
# 4 – Nothing Left To Say
The breakup song is from the album E-Life. The song has an r&b beat. This heartbreaking song is about a couple who has broken up. He discusses how their relationship was great in the beginning. They had everything until something changed. The things he loved about her in the beginning of their courtship weren’t attractive anymore. She used to pay attention to him, but she stopped doing it. He turned a blind eye to the things she did to him. He tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t listen to him. She also wouldn’t spend time with him. He realized that there was “nothing left to say” to each other when they couldn’t talk to each other anymore. This song will definitely hit home for couples who no longer love each other. It will help you realize that you what you need to do to be happy.
Mint Condition is known for singing love songs. Some of their biggest hits are love songs so they decided to switch things up and record a bitter song. They proved they could sing bitter songs with the same passion as their love songs. This song gives the band a chance to do something different lyrically. They don’t always have to be the romantic or the savior. They show us different sides of the coin. They show you the good things and bad things about love. Stokley Williams’ vocals are exquisite. He commands the listeners with his voice. He uses an echo for his double in the song. He is an overlooked vocalist because he is a versatile singer, but his skills are ignored. He can go up and down without any effort at all. He will hold your attention until the song ends. He does so many things in the song after the bridge ends that you may not be able to keep up with him. He leaves very little on the table with this song.
# 3 – Is This Pain Our Pleasure
The meaningful song is from the album Life’s Aquarium. The song has an r&b sound. The painful song is about a man who talks about his relationship. He wants to know what happened to them. They were in a good place when they got together. He wonders why they are always fighting when they get together. He talks about how they used to talk to each other, but she’s always angry. He is at a loss at what to do about their relationship. They constantly hurt each other and it’s turning into a routine. It’s starting to feel as if hurting each other is becoming a good thing. They are confusing pain with pleasure.
He is conflicted about what to do about his feelings. He loves her, but he can’t stand her at the same time. He doesn’t want to leave her even though she pushes him away. This is another bitter song that Mint Condition pulled out of their arsenal. Stokley Williams found a way to make it sound romantic even though he’s singing about a woman who doesn’t seem to care about him. Stokley Williams’ vocals never stop being impressive. He gives this song his all. He takes no prisoners when he sings this song. He sounds like he’s been hurt before, and he must get the pain out. He leaves the best for last. He holds a note in falsetto that is earth shattering. He builds up to the finale throughout the song and when he lets go, we get a magnificent performance.
# 2 – What Kind of Man Would I Be
The amorous song is from the album Definition of a Band. The track has an r&b beat. The compassionate song is about a celebration of love. The group talks about love winning over infidelity. He talks to a woman about her relationship. She’s good to her man, but he isn’t being faithful to her. The narrator meets her and finds out her story. She seems ready to even the score with our narrator. He wants to ask her an important question. He wants to ask her what type of man he would be if he helped her cheat. He didn’t want to be the type of man who would be unfaithful. He asks her the same question. He wanted to know what type of woman she would be if she did the same thing.
This song teaches a valuable lesson about fidelity. Most songs would have encouraged infidelity. There are singers that glamourize cheating in songs. Mint Condition decide to put a spin on this subject. They didn’t want to be the type of people who cheat in their relationships. This is a decent message to send to their listeners. They can teach them not to break up a home by cheating. The song opens with the keyboard intro. If you are fan of Mint Condition, you probably know what this song is when you hear it. If you’re not a fan of Mint Condition, you may become one after you hear this song. Stokley Williams’ vocals are spectacular on this song. He makes you feel like he wants to stay faithful to the woman he loves. He reaches for the stars when he hits the high notes in the song. The song is flawless and could have easily been number one on our list, but something else won the coin toss.
# 1 – Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)
The number one song on our Top 10 Mint Condition Songs list is “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” from the album Meant to Be Mint. The song has an r&b beat. The confrontational song is about a guy who approaches his girlfriend about what she does. He lets her know that he sees what she does. He doesn’t like the way she treats him. She tells him that she’s busy, but he’s seen her alone. He pleads with her to stop breaking his heart. He wants her to make a commitment. He lets her know he would love her if she would stop breaking his heart.
If you are a fan of r&b music and of Mint Condition, you know this song as soon as the first couple of bars start. Once you hear these amazing bars, you know you’re in for something good. You are about to be introduced to something phenomenal. This is Mint Condition’s signature song. We couldn’t complete our list without including this track. Popular songs aren’t always the best songs, but in this case it’s not true. This is one of Mint Condition’s best songs. This song still gets massive airplay on r&b radio stations. This is one of the classic songs that will never get old. It will always stand the test of time. Without this song, we might not know anything about Mint Condition. This song is one of their biggest hits and we can see why. Stokley Williams vocals are fire. He doesn’t hold back at all throughout the song. He gives you everything you could ever want in a vocal. His tone is flawless. He does amazing runs throughout the song. He belts in the song and turns it into a power ballad.
Top 10 Mint Condition Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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