As a sixteen-year-old singing talent, Joss Stone (1987) was taken into the care of soul veteran Betty Wright. Inspired by her mentor's past, The Soul Sessions was recorded, an album of obscure covers from past and present. Intended as a foretaste, The Soul Sessions provided Joss Stone's international breakthrough. The album sold more than two million copies. Mind Body & Soul, which will be
… released seven months later, is the 'official' debut, as it was initially planned. With songs co-composed by Stone himself, although always in collaboration with others, of which Motown's hitmaker Lamont Dozier is the best known. The sound is a bit less retro than on her debut, with influences from hip-hop, nu-soul and even reggae (Less Is More). A logical move, seen in today's pop music the true roots of the teenage Joss Stone can be found. Not all of her own songs are as catchy as the covers on her debut, but the CD as a whole sounds fresh and inspired and Stone's vocals are very strong. Pretty good, but given her enormous potential and young age, Joss Stone must be considered capable of much better. (MS)more
