Definition of a Band is the third studio album by the R&B band Mint Condition. It was released on September 24, 1996, on Perspective Records. Definition of a Band was Mint Condition's most successful recording to date, yielding two hit singles and a Gold certification from the RIAA.[3]

Definition of a Band
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 24, 1996 (1996-09-24)
RecordedDecember 1995 – June 1996
Studio
Genre
Length66:08
LabelPerspective
ProducerMint Condition
Mint Condition chronology
From the Mint Factory
(1993)
Definition of a Band
(1996)
Life's Aquarium
(1999)
Singles from Definition of a Band
  1. "What Kind of Man Would I Be"
    Released: August 20, 1996
  2. "You Don't Have To Hurt No More"
    Released: January 9, 1997
  3. "Let Me Be The One"
    Released: April 4, 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Muzik[2]

Background

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Before the release of the album, the band were faced with label troubles. Their mentors and label heads Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis severed ties with Perspective Records.[4] As a result, Mint Condition were moved to its parent company A&M Records, though the company kept the Perspective name for the release of Definition of a Band. This would be their final studio album released under Perspective Records. Another album released under the label was their greatest hits anthology The Collection (1991-1998)- an album that contained their hits alongside 12 inch versions, B-sides and remixes. They would move to Elektra Entertainment for their next album Life's Aquarium.

Commercial performance

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The album charted at number 76 on the Billboard 200 and number 13 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart.

Two singles were released from Definition of a Band. The first single, "What Kind of Man Would I Be", charted at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 2 on R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks. It sold 600,000 copies domestically and was certified gold by the RIAA.[5][6] Its video was directed by art director Frank Kozik.[7] The second single, "You Don't Have To Hurt No More", charted at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 10 on R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks. Its video was directed by Devo frontman Gerald Casale.[8] This album is their third studio album to be mastered by Brian Gardner- who also worked on their previous album, 1993's From the Mint Factory as well as their 1991 debut Meant to Be Mint.[9]

Track listing

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[10]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Definition of a Band (Intro)"Stokley Williams, Chris Dave, Jeffrey Allen1:05
2."Change Your Mind"Williams, Keri Lewis4:51
3."You Don't Have To Hurt No More"Lewis5:22
4."Gettin' It On"Lewis, Williams4:52
5."What Kind of Man Would I Be?"Lawrence Waddell4:24
6."Let Me Be the One"Waddell, Williams5:01
7."Definition of a Band - Swing Version"Dave, Williams1:00
8."Ain't Hookin' Me Up Enough"Ricky Kinchen, Lewis, Waddell, Williams4:14
9."Funky Weekend"Homer O'Dell, Williams4:55
10."I Want It Again"Williams5:10
11."On & On"Lewis, Williams4:40
12."The Never That You'll Never Know"Lewis, Williams4:38
13."Asher in Rio (Interlude)"Allen0:31
14."Raise Up"O'Dell, Williams4:36
15."On & On (Reprise)"Lewis, Williams0:59
16."Sometimes"Kinchen4:16
17."Missing"Allen4:15
18."If It Wasn't for Your Love"Waddell1:19

Personnel

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[11]

  • Stokley Williams - vocals, drums, percussion, guitar, bass, keyboards, producer, composer
  • Homer O'Dell - vocals, guitar, drums, percussion, producer, composer
  • Ricky Kinchen - vocals, bass, keyboards, guitar, producer, composer
  • Keri Lewis - vocals, keyboards, organ, piano, drums, guitar, producer, composer
  • Jeff Allen - saxophone, vocals, keyboards
  • Larry Waddell - keyboards, vocals, piano
  • Chris Dave - drums, percussion
  • Lil' Roger Lynch - vocoder
  • Mint Condition - record engineering
  • Ira Ferguson - record engineering
  • Jeff Taylor - record engineering
  • Dave Rideau - record engineering
  • Steve Hodge - mixing
  • Dave Rideau - mixing
  • Rich Travali - mixing
  • Keith Lewis - mixing
  • David Green - mixing
  • Mint Condition - executive production
  • Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis - executive production
  • Brian Gardner - mastering
  • Lisa Pearson - photography
  • Tom Tavee - photography
  • Greg Ross - art direction & design

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Stanley, Leo. "AllMusic review". Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  2. ^ Jones, Bob (December 1996). "Mint Condition: Definition Of A Band" (PDF). Muzik. p. 158. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  3. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 15, 1997.
  4. ^ Vibe. Vibe Media Group. March 1, 1997.
  5. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. 109 (3). BPI Communications Inc.: 61 January 18, 1997. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  6. ^ "American certifications – Mint Condition – What Kind of Man Would I Be". Recording Industry Association of America.
  7. ^ "Frank Kozik". biography. toyartgallery.com. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  8. ^ "Gerald Casale". director videography. mvdbase.com. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  9. ^ "Brian Gardner". credits. allmusic.com. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  10. ^ "Definition Of A Band". album. allmusic.com. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  11. ^ "Definition Of A Band". credits. allmusic.com. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  12. ^ "Mint Condition Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  13. ^ "Mint Condition Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  14. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2021.