Sound Cell Sessions — SANCTUARY WEST RECORDS

“Things shine brightly, and things are dull
Things are empty, and things are full”

The teenaged artist signed a developmental contract with Sound Cell, and many songs from his first home-recorded album and live album were re-recorded for Sound Cell. None of these songs were ever released. Stuck in a developmental contract with Sound Cell for several years, the artist was not able to release any of his other music during this time. A decade after completing these recordings, Sound Cell still refused to allow the artist to release these recordings. In 2019, the artist self-released the album for posterity, knowing it would cost Sound Cell more money to sue LaSalle than the album was worth. (As of February 2024, this album has grossed $0.08)

The artist’s 2 favorite recordings from these sessions were his songs, “Forever” and “Stars.” Sound Cell lost these recordings. No copies of these studio recordings exist anywhere, although there’s live versions.”

Other than burned CDs of a live album sold at shows, no Robert LaSalle music was ever released until 2019. By the end of 2020, the artist self-released 200 songs from the previous decade and a half. As of February 2024, 5 people have streamed this album.

CREDITS

(Unlisted instruments performed by Dave Anderson & Robert LaSalle)

Things-

Doug Jansen Smith - Producer

Dave Anderson - Producer

Jim Kolacek - drums

New Orleans-

Jon Sawa - Executive Producer

Doug Jansen Smith - Producer

Bobby Holland - Mix Engineer

Andrew Sharpe - Bass

Antony Sharpe - Guitars

Dave Anderson - Guitars

Aaron/8 Cox - Drums

Salty Sunburn-

Doug Jansen Smith - Producer

Dave Anderson - Producer

Aaron/8 Cox - Drums

Far Too Close-

Doug Jansen Smith - Producer

Dave Anderson - Producer

Jamie Preznel - Drums

Death Speaks to Me-

Doug Jansen Smith - Producer

Dave Anderson - Producer

Zach Casebolt - Violins

Breathing In-

Doug Jansen Smith - Producer

Dave Anderson - Producer

Aaron/8 Cox - Drums

On Top of the World-

Doug Jansen Smith - Producer

Dave Anderson - Producer

Aaron/8 Cox - Drums

Painted Leaf-

Doug Jansen Smith

Boulders-

Doug Jansen Smith - Producer

Dave Anderson - Producer

Wildbird-

Doug Jansen Smith

Ingrid Felts - Additional Vocals

Ken Watters - Flugelhorn

Robert LaSalle used to be a genius then he turned 20

Things

Things shine brightly, and things are dull
Things are empty, and things are full
Things get better, or so they say
The best things hurt before they fade away

Anything's better than watching things go
It might get better, but no one knows
Things aren't listening to the things I've said
These words are dead to me, things are dead

I seem to get things, I never asked
All the worst things have come and passed
This is the best thing that I can find
It's my everything, it’s my life

And all the best things make things alright

Vivid things flash through my mind
Things stand still to catch up with time
Things are horrid, and things aren't right
But the best things always change my mind

Nothing's perfect, I’ve come to know
Things fall in pieces before they grow
Two sides to all things, 'cause all things change
Despite things, nothing stays the same

I seem to get things, I never asked
All the worst things have come and passed
This is the best thing that I can find
It's my everything, it’s my life

And all the best things make things alright

Things are enemies and fake allies
Things aren't honest, and things aren't right
Trust in nothing, 'cause nothing's real
It's honest enough to have disappeared

Things communicate but misinterpret
Things cause wars for things not worth it
Things take lives for thrills on purpose
Nothing's perfect, but nothing's worthless

Everything lacks what everything wants (It's all we'll ever need)
I want nothing more than you to prove me wrong (It's all we'll ever need)
We can rid these things of their emptiness (It's all we'll ever need)
With their simple truths, we'll have everything we'll ever need (It's all we'll ever need)

Anything and everything 'cause everything's something

It’s everything we’ll ever need (It's all we'll ever need)

Anything and everything 'cause everything's something

It’s all we’ll ever need (It's all we'll ever need)

Anything and everything 'cause everything's something

It’s everything we’ll ever need (It's all we'll ever need)

It’s all we’ll ever need

Years after all the other recordings on this album, the artist gathered friends to record a song for a pilot episode of a dumb show that never aired. This was the artist’s last time working with Sound Cell.

New Orleans

You can love me, you can leave me

You can fight me, and you'll beat me

But nothing can defeat me

With the spirit of “Big Easy”

In New Orleans, baby

I know that she can save me

New Orleans

My martyred savior, she ain't choking

We both been beaten but not broken

No truer words are spoken

Oh, I know why I’m going

To New Orleans, baby

I know that she can save me

New Orleans, darling

I hear those trumpets calling me

New Orleans

N.O. no, no

The west coast, it's so phony

Oh New York, she's so lonely

No one here even knows me

Oh, I know why I’m going

To New Orleans, baby

I know that she can save me

New Orleans, darling

I hear those trumpets calling me

New Orleans

Oh no, no, no

N.O. no, no

Through the gravestones of Katrina

And the tarred gulf that she cleaned up

She still stands strong to greet us

Don't leave us, don’t leave us

Oh no, no, no, no

N.O. no, no

Why darling why

Did they ring us out to dry

Still alive, we’re still alive

Did they leave us here to die?

Make it right!

Oh, N.O. I know, I know why

I’m alive, she’s alive

Oh, I know why I’m going to New Orleans

Salty Sunburn

I'm not early

You're not late

But the world is round

In miles of ground

In sandy waters

And salty sunburn

No, life is grand

Life is grand

Sitting shallow

On a salty shoreline

With time to spare

But none to share

As long as I'm not

Close to you

I'm all by myself

Don't need your help

Life is perfect in my own river

On my own land, 'cause life is grand

Life is perfect in my own river

On my own land, 'cause life is grand

The muddy banks are

Always open

To a lending hand

'Cause life is grand

And I hope I'm dead

Before tomorrow

I'm lifting time

Without my mind

And I'm not early

No, you're not late

But the world is round

In miles of ground

As long as I’m not

Close to you

I'm all by myself

I don't need your help

Life is perfect in my own river

On my own land, 'cause life is grand

And life is perfect in my own river

On my own land, 'cause life is grand

Death

The rest is dead

The rest is death

The rest is dead

Far Too Close

It’s hard to see the crowded common ground beneath

I’m short of words

It’s time for me to take my turn

It’s hard to live

Lonely in a world so big

To self-indulge is to’ve never counted on love

Home sweet home

Laugh out loud and no one knows

Far too close

You know you got to let me go

Home sweet home

Laugh out loud and no one knows

Far too close

You know you got to let me go

Don’t lie to me

A friend is really what I need

It’s hard to bend

The truth has never been my friend

It’s time to breathe

Pull the hauteur from my feet

Destiny, you know you got to let me be

Home sweet home

Laugh out loud and no one knows

Far too close

You know you got to let me go

Home sweet home

Laugh out loud and no one knows

Far too close (Far too close, got to let me go)

You know you got to let me go (Far too close, got to let me go)

Home (Far too close, got to let me go)

Laugh out loud and no one knows (Far too close, got to let me go)

Far too close (Far too close, got to let me go)

You know you got to let me go

Death Speaks to Me

Don't like what I am

Don't like what I've become

Don't like what I am

Don't like what I've become

I don't like what I am

Don't like what I've become

I don't like what I am

Don't like what I've become

Death speaks to me

I know why

Death speaks to me

I know why

I don't like what I am

Don't like what I've become

I fought the words

But the words would never come

Silence is in defeat, and I know who won

I don't like what I am

Don't like what I've become

I don't like what I am

Don't like what I've become

I don't like what I am

Don't like what I've become

Death speaks to me

I know why

Death speaks to me

I know why

Breathing In

I stopped wondering

Why you're still around

Why my hearts still beating

And my feet still on the ground

When the wall comes down

The life I breathe into

As long as you're around

You know I'll need you, need you

You're the best of me

You're the most of me

You're the wall around me

You're my reason to grow

You keep me breathing in

My heart beating

And you're the body

And you're the soul

A breath of life

A reason to live

Breath from you I take

Becomes a wall that will never give

Breathing in

And knowing there's a reason to

As long as you're around

You know I need you, need you

You're the best of me

You're the most of me

You're the wall around me

You're my reason to grow

You keep me breathing in

My heart beating

And you're the body

And you're the soul

You're the body

And you're the soul

You're the body

And you're the soul

You're breathing out

I'm breathing in

You're breathing out

And I'm breathing in

I’m breathing out

You’re breathing in

I’m breathing out

And you’re breathing in

You're the best of me

You're the most of me

You're the wall around me

You're my reason to grow

You keep me breathing in

My heart beating

And you're the body

And you're the soul

You're the best of me (I’m breathing out)

You're the most of me (You’re breathing in)

You're the wall around me (You’re breathing out)

You're my reason to grow (And I’m breathing in)

You keep me breathing in (I’m breathing out)

You’re breathing in, you’re breathing out and I’m breathing in

On Top of the World

So, I've figured out the world

And how it all really works

Specs of consciousness collide and crawl

On this earth

It's infinity, it won't end

It never will begin

What is has never been

And it'll never be again

Is this how I start my day

Beneath the words I can't begin to say

Underneath the problems

The problems that I've made

I’m on top of the world

I’m on top of the world today

With utter patience

I am waiting here for time

To tell me why I live this life

And why am I not surprised?!

Because I’ve never fit your shoes

Or tied into your noose

I'm not falling in your footsteps

I'm not following your rules!

Is this how I start my day

Beneath the words I can't begin to say

Underneath the problems

The problems that I've made

I’m on top of the world

I’m on top of the world today

I guess I am whom I portray

I guess I choose to be this way

And if I'm nothing in the longer run

I'm on top of the world today

I’m on top of the world

On top of the world today

On top of the world

The artist toured as a duo with Aaron/8 across the southeast throughout 2004-2006

Painted Leaf

I found a painted leaf in my pocket

Gray clouds came rolling in

I thought the day was almost over

And then the sun came shining in

The sun came shining in

I knew the flowers would soon be leaving

I found them lying in their beds (I’m lying in your bed)

Then came a wind so warm and gentle (You're so warm and gentle)

And they lifted up their heads

They lifted up their heads

The rain knew that it was falling

Though the birds refused retreat (La la la, la la la)

’Tis the season to be winging

And they sounded oh so sweet

That song came, oh so sweet

So sweet, sweet to me, to me, to me

I’ll be here, here with you

I’m gonna be right here with you

I’ll be here, here with you

I’m gonna be right here with you

Gathered dreams to fill my pocket

Thought I’d bring them home to you

It's a way of warming winter

Until the sun comes shining through

For when the sun comes shining through

I’m gonna be right here with you

When the sun comes shining through

I’m gonna be right here with you

Boulders

I've gone somewhere

You can't follow

Come bring me back my key

I know the devil

He's in my head

I won't let him get to me

You're full of lies, and I'm so full of sorrow

It's life that makes me sad

I laugh in wild eyes

You've shown blind eyes back at mine

'Cause life is all you have

Boulders next to me

Heaven's destiny

Won't let him get to me

To me, to me, to me

Mirrors spring forth to me

It's sad but fascinating

You leave me blank and dazed

Set off for traveling

Leave Satan whispering

Leave boulders blocking his way

Boulders next to me

Heaven's destiny

Won't let him get to me

I won't let him get to me

To me, to me, to me

Friends 2006 (259).jpg — Industrious artist designed flyers, logos, screen printed shirts and etched his own pint and shot glasses to sell while touring ***Live 2005*, though he was clearly shit at branding**

Wildbird

There’s a wild bird on the hill

I hear her calling me so softly and pleasing

I can give you all the good things

I can give you everything you’ve been needing

I see her in the morning sunrise

Before I quickly turn my head

There’s a wild bird on the hill

Can’t you see I’m trying

Oh, I wish I was flying

End your trials and tribulations

Seducing me with the world that’s so enticing

I can give you all the good things

I can give you everything, so exciting

I see her in the arms of Autumn

Before the trees begin to shed

There’s a wild bird on the hill

Can’t you see I’m trying

Oh, I wish I was flying

Though the wild bird knows I can’t fly

Still she calls on me to keep on trying

Fall, I might or die from hurting (fall or die from hurting)

Never lose the wild bird’s yearning, flying

I see her in the eyes of strangers

Before they take my breath away

There’s a wild bird on the hill

Can’t you see I’m trying

Oh, I wish I was flying, flying, flying!

Like a wild bird on a hill

Can’t you see I’m trying

Oh, I wish I was flying