As a longtime music enthusiast, I’ve often wondered how quickly record labels expect lead singers from groups to release solo albums. This question came to mind recently when my iPod played “So You Like What You See” by Samuelle. Listening to the song, I realized he would be a great choice for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
Before going solo, Samuelle Prater found success as a member of Club Nouveau, where he sang lead on their chart-topping remake of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.” In 1990, he launched his solo career with “Living in Black Paradise”, a ten-track debut produced by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy.
Naturally, “So You Like What You See” remains the centerpiece. Its infectious New Jack Swing groove propelled the song to No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B chart, and more than three decades later, it still resonates. Samuelle’s smooth delivery perfectly complemented the production without getting overshadowed.
Thankfully, the album isn’t just one hit surrounded by fillers. The title track, “Black Paradise,” showcases a smoother side of Samuelle and became another R&B chart entry. “I’m So in Love” allows him to lean further into traditional slow-jam territory, while “Stay” and “When Love Calls” highlight the versatility that made his work with Club Nouveau so effective.
However, my favorite discovery might be “Circle of Love.” It embodies what Second Listen Sunday is all about: finding an overlooked album cut that leaves you wondering how you missed it the first time around.
“Living in Black Paradise” occasionally shows its age. Some tracks run longer than necessary, and the overall production firmly places the album in 1990. Nevertheless, there’s enough quality here to make Samuelle’s brief solo career feel puzzling.
Despite group success, respected producers, a No. 1 R&B single, and another charting song, Samuelle never released another major-label solo album. Perhaps timing was simply against him; R&B was evolving rapidly, and competition was fierce. Whatever the reason, revisiting “Living in Black Paradise” makes his solo career feel less like a failed experiment and more like an unfinished story.
“So You Like What You See” may take you back in time, but the album proves that Samuelle truly deserved another shot.
Grade: B
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