Sam Salter - Strictly 4 The Bedroom (2008)

After the disappointment of the cancellation of his second album, 'The Little Black Book', Sam Salter left LaFace Records and continue writing for other artists such as Jesse Powell, Jersey Ave., B2K, B5, The Isley Brothers, and Tyrese. He collaborated with the group Talking Book on their single 'On A September Morn', which was released in 2005, and in 2006 he made his stage play debut in Palmer Williams Jr.'s 'What A Man Wants, What A Woman Needs', starring alongside Shirley Murdock. Additionally, he begin working on his third studio album 'Strictly 4 The Bedroom', which he hoped to release in 2008. A few songs premiered on his official MySpace page, including the title track, but with no record deal on the horizon to release it, once again the album was shelved. He carried on producing and songwriting, with songs for El DeBarge and Charlie Wilson in 2010, as well as a feature on Klé's single 'Get It', and he did finally release another single that same year, with 'Straight 2 Heaven' being issued independently. He later signed with Elemental Entertainment INC, and released two digital singles, 'Got Me' and 'To Be Loved'. It's bad enough recording one album and having it binned, but for it to happen twice is doubly unfortunate, and in Salter's case it was through no fault of his own, as both records contains some excellent music. He died on 27 August 2021, at the tragically young age of 46, and so as a tribute to a mostly unrecognised talent, here is his second cancelled album from 2008.  

Track listing

01 When My Heart Cries

02 This Is 4 The Ladies (Make It Cry)

03 Real Love

04 Girl

05 Heart Break

06 I Can Love You

07 Question (How Can I Love U)

08 How Low

09 Work

10 Strictly For The Bedroom

11 When We Love

12 Spotlight

13 Yo Body Is My Body

Sam Salter - The Little Black Book (2000)

Samuel Salter was born on 16 February 1975 in Los Angeles, and at a young age he won several local talent shows, with a vocal style that was influenced by Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. In 1997, after his demo tape found its way into the hands of L.A. Reid of LaFace Records, he was quickly signed to the label and he began to work on his debut album with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. He ended up working with Tricky Stewart and Laney Stewart who produced the majority of the album, as well as Tony Rich, Robin Thicke and Gordon Chambers, and the first single from the sessions was released in early 1997, with 'After 12, Before 6' becoming a Top 20 R&B hit. His debut album, 'It's On Tonight', was released on 23 September 1997 and garnered positive reviews, while a second single from the album, the ballad 'There You Are', was released and hit the Top 40 on the R&B charts. Around this time, he continued to work on his songwriting, providing songs for 98 Degrees, Aaron Skyy, and Kandi Burruss' solo debut. In 1999 Salter began preparing for his sophomore album with LaFace Records, and the lead single 'Once My Sh.. (Always My Sh..)' was released and featured a steamy music video, but the song only received moderate airplay. He completed work on the album, titled 'The Little Black Book', and it was set for release in 2000, but due to a re-shuffle at the label, along with some other issues, it was shelved. Despite this outcome, a few of the songs ended up being recorded by other artists such as Boyz II Men, who recorded 'Color Of Love', and Sisqó, who recorded the non-album song 'Incomplete'. With this validation that it was not the quality of the songs which was the problem, here is what would have been Salter's frankly superb second album for LaFace in 2000. 

Track listing

01 Intro  
02 Make Me Stay  
03 Once My Sh.. (Always My Sh..) 
04 Dime Piece 
05 Go Down 
06 Another Man's Got You 
07 Best Friend 
08 Did I Die 
09 Your Side Of The Bed  
10 Money Can't Buy You  
11 Color Of Love 
12 You Don't Have To Be Lonely 
13 Love Again