Mint Condition: Stokley (vocals, keyboards, drums, percussion, drum programming), Jeffrey Allen (rap, saxophone, keyboards, background vocals), O'Dell (guitar, keyboards, drum programming, background vocals), Lawrence Waddell (piano, keyboards), Keri Lewis (keyboards, drum programming, background vocals), Ricky Kinchen (electric bass, keyboards, background vocals), Lisa Keith, James Greer (background vocals).
Producers: Minto Condition, Jellybean Johnson.
Recorded at Flyte Time Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Personnel: Jeff Allen (vocals, rap vocals, strings, saxophone, keyboards, background vocals); O'Dell (vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, drum programming, background vocals); Lawrence Waddell (vocals, grand piano, keyboards); Stokely (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, background vocals); Stokley Williams (vocals, keyboards, bass synthesizer, drums, percussion, drum programming, background vocals); Keri Lewis (vocals, keyboards, keyboard bass, drum programming, background vocals); Ricky K. (vocals, keyboards, electric bass, bass guitar, percussion, background vocals); Ricky Kinchen (vocals, electric bass, bass guitar, background vocals); James Greer (vocals, background vocals); Jellybean Johnson (guitar); Lisa Keith (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Steve Hodge ; David Rideau; Keith "KC" Cohen; Keith Cohen.
Recording information: Flyte Tyme STudios.
Photographer: Todd Gray.
The debut album from the Minneapolis-based sextet featured the lackluster uptempo track "Are You Free," which did manage to secure the number 55 position on the charts. However, this album also featured two heart-wrenching ballads: "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)" and "Forever in Your Eyes." Led by Stokley Williams' animated tenor, the former is set in a suspenseful rhythm arrangement; the song builds momentum in the interlude, allowing Williams to explode vocally in an emotional testimony. The single sold over 500,000 copies, pacing the charts 34 weeks and peaking at number three and number six on the Billboard R&B and pop charts, respectively. "Forever in Your Eyes" offers another compassionate vocal delivery by Williams with similar arrangements, but still maintaining its own feeling. It inched its way to the number seven spot on the R&B charts in 17 weeks. The remainder of the album is extremely energized. ~ Craig Lytle
