Joss Stone Mind Body & Soul CD

On the cover of her debut, The Soul Sessions, Joss Stone's face is obscured by a vintage microphone, a deliberate move that emphasized the retro-soul vibe of the LP while hiding the youthful face that would have given away that Stone was a mere 16 years old at the time of the album's release. The point was to put the music before the image and it worked, selling the album to an older audience that might have stayed away, thinking that the teenager sang teen pop. If the debut was designed to give Stone credibility, her second album, Mind, Body & Soul, delivered almost exactly a year after its predecessor, is designed to make her a superstar, broadening her appeal without losing sight of the smooth, funky, stylish soul at the core of her sound. There's no radical revision here -- she still works with many of the same musicians she did on The Soul Sessions, including Betty Wright and Little Beaver -- but there are some subtle shifts in tone scattered throughout the record. Certain songs are a little brighter and a little more radio-ready than before, there's a more pronounced hip-hop vibe to some beats, and she sounds a little more like a diva this time around -- not enough to alienate older fans, but enough to win some new ones. The album has a seductive, sultry feel; there's some genuine grit to the rhythms, yet it's all wrapped up in a production that's smooth as silk. By and large, the songs are good, too, sturdily written and hooky, growing in stature with each play. While Stone has developed a tendency to over-sing ever so slightly -- she doesn't grandstand like the post-Mariah divas, but she'll fit more notes than necessary into the simplest phrases -- she nevertheless possesses a rich, resonant voice that's a joy to hear. She may not yet have the set of skills, or the experience, to give a nuanced, textured performance -- one that feels truly lived-in, not just sung -- but she's a compelling singer and Mind, Body & Soul lives up to her promise. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
For MIND, BODY & SOUL, released only a year after her 2003 debut, THE SOUL SESSIONS, Joss Stone conveys an incredible degree of musical maturity that goes far beyond her 17 years. Wisely, Stone reunites with many of the same R&B/soul names that helped make her first recording such a success, including Betty Wright, Latimore, and Timmy Thomas.
This sophomore Stone disc presents a deep stack of all-original soul songs that finds the Devon, England vocalist and her crew sounding a bit more contemporary. "You Had Me" pairs Stone's powerful voice with a clavinet, a dash of strings, and a funky beat for a track that wouldn't be out of place on a Beyonce record. The down-tempo material also works well, whether it's the call-and response slow jam "Jet Lag" or "Right to Be Wrong," with its Muscle Shoals vibe of crisp guitar licks and laidback organ. The UK native also successfully dabbles in reggae (the loping "Less Is More") and more gospel-flavored fare (the uplifting "Security"), stretching her expressive pipes beyond the emotive R&B that made her famous. With confidence and class, Stone secures her star status on MIND, BODY & SOUL.

European two CD pressing of the Soul superstar's 2004 album features a bonus disc including six live tracks that were recorded during her 2005 concert at the Dutch Church De Duif: 'Super Duper Love', 'Fell In Love With A Boy', 'Spoiled', 'Less Is More', 'You Had Me' and 'Right To Be Wrong'. Joss Stone's second album is almost entirely co-written by Joss herself presenting a new side to the girl with one of the most powerful voices in music. The album was produced by Soul legend Betty Wright and Mike Mangini (who were also at the helm for debut album 'The Soul Sessions') and contains writing collaborations with Lamont Dozier on 'Spoiled' and Portishead's Beth Gibbon on 'Killing Time'. Joss herself says. "for me, personally, 'Mind, Body & Soul' is my real debut" and after one listen you can be in no doubt that this is the recorRolling Stone (p.99) - 3 stars out of 5 - "As on her last album, tasteful retro organs and wah-wah dominate this batch of originals....One of the strongest moments is a collaboration with songwriting legend Lamont Dozier..."
Uncut (p.98) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Stone's technical prowess is unquestionable..."
Vibe (p.166) - 3 1/2 discs out of 5 - "[D]eeply refreshing. Her capacity to summon a glorious, earthy past never feels like a nostalgia trip....Her enthusiasm makes it all feel new."