Can't Let Her Get Away (Unreleased Viper Hamato Album)

She Drives Me Wild

**Can't Let Her Get Away** is an unreleased album by American Recording Artist Viper Hamato, although planned for release in 2005 shortly after the Burning Flag album, Sony later cancelled it due to both issues with overexposure and contractual obligations that allowed Hamato to get out of his contract, the album was compiled on the 17th Of May, 2004 from tracks used during the Burning Flags sessions, though some songs were planned to be used, it never came to fruition. Hamato has stated that the launch of the album will be on the cards soon, but is waiting for an empty year for release. The album had a planned four singles at the time before cancellation.

## Background

In 2003, Viper Hamato began recording what would become his second Studio album after two EP's of Demo Tapes. After the pop driving sound of Dreams with some themes explored within Dance-Pop and even R&B, Hamato began exploring the concept sonically of music that would sound similar from the past album, but sounding new enough to make a new album to comfort the listener. Though a difficult job to do between Dreams and Burning Flag at the time, which was eventually done with the first single "I Want You" the sound between what album would come after the smash success of his 2004 album was an immense task for Hamato at the time. Though initial recordings had taken place around April of 2003, it was rumored that another album and a configuration of what would be the earliest version of Burning Flag were also taking place.

With Hamato wanting the songs from the album to sound sonically familiar but new in every form, he began working on another album as a continuation on the sound of Burning Flag. The sound was more R&B-oriented which was where Hamato would later go, but had used elements from his second studio album and incorporated them with Can't Let her Get Away, eventually making it's own unique sound that, though sounding like Burning Flag (and with all songs from the same session) was entirely different from the last. Almost serving as a bride for the later sessions that would take place for his Third Studio album "Issues" to the complete R&B sound that Hamato would use in the album.

Though Sony Music executives were happy to hear the album however, it was put on hold in the first initial stages due to how closely placed the albums were released, stating that Hamato should release the album anywhere between September of 2005 to June of 2006 to let his other album breathe, however, it was placed on halt when the financial executives were invited to the meeting, suggesting that the music was not made Pop-Oriented enough and that "they weren't going to have another crossover artist that could make up their mind every album of what genre they want to do next". With the album now placed on halt, Hamato further refined the sound to make it more Pop-Oriented, including shortened versions of the entire album down to radio edit length, but when presented, the executive didn't like the sound at all with how short the album suddenly was.

The album was later presented with a new track listing in January of 2005, however, the executives still did not like the more R&B oriented album that Hamato was trying to pitch as his "new sound" and when presented that Hamato would like the launch date to be around July of 2005. The meeting was ended swiftly and Hamato was told to scrap the album entirely and to give the executives something they would actually sell. The album was later pitched in 2007 in place of Issues, which, at the time was complete, 2008 and 2009. However, none of the executives would allow the album to move on past the stage of Produced.

## Composition

Like Hamato's Previous Albums, all songs were usually written by Viper or with help of his older brother Raphael, which a majority of the two were written by. Can't Let Her Get Away features a more sonically fuller sound compared to the two previous albums, focusing on more of the sounds compared to the two albums before and for some albums, later on as well.

Viper Hamato, in May of 2021 stated in his Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe that the album was ultimately set to serve as the bridge between "Issues" and "Burning Flag" because without this album, like a majority of the reviews had stated at the time, though the songs were of top tier, they felt very other worldly, like something was missing from them, being this album to serve as the supporting structure of sound regarding what would come next.

It is currently unknown how the album sounds as no one who has the album has spoken openly about it except Hamato himself with the above stated comment, fans however, have stated that with past and previous albums, there guess would be that it would sound dead on with his sound of the time that he explored and wouldn't be too much of a jarring experience.

## The "15 People Test Print" Rumor

Rumor of a 15 Test Print of the album had begin as early as 2014 when Hamato had parted ways with Sony, Tim Cook during an interview had stated that he'd gotten a chance to listen to a rare album that had gotten only gotten 15 Prints ever from Viper Hamato as a 'Thank You' to personal friends, stating that it was songs that were never released on his iTunes Page. Rumor had later circled around that it could be for an upcoming 2015-2016 album that was yet to be released in it's earliest configuration. But fans that had been around since 2000 had stated that on Saturday Night Live, Hamato had spoken about another album coming around 2005-2006 before Issues was ultimately released in it's place.

Hamato had later confirmed in May, 2021 that this rumor was indeed true for an album that was going to be released called "Can't Let Her Get Away" that was cancelled by Sony *(see above for reasoning).* And that he, upon the years when he'd had the chance, gave it to personal friends in it's fully unreleased state. And that 15 of his closest Friends had been given the album due to Sony's restrictions on his masters and not being able to release this at the time. Hamato has confirmed that he will be releasing the album, however, he has not placed it on a release date due to his heavy album release schedule and should be seeing it at the end anywhere between 2025-2030.

The List of people that have been given this album include that Hamato has listed:

* Harry Styles (2014)
* Dylan O'Brien (2016)
* Sandra Akwa (2006)
* Raphael Daniels (2005) (the first person he'd given it to)
* Alicia Keys (2010)
* Nicholas Stewart (2017)
* Prince (2011-2016)
* Michael Jackson (2005-2009)
* Janet Jackson (2007)
* Taylor Swift (2013)
* Taylor Lautner (2015)
* Tim Cook (2013)
* Steve Jobs (2008 - Later Returned)
* Zane Lowe (2018)
* Barack Obama (2011)

There has only been one person who has handed back in their lifetime who was Steve Jobs, Jobs had apparently stated to Hamato that "though I can see where your going with your sound, it was good that you never released it because it never would have taken off between two of your best albums of the time."

## Track Listing

Not much is known or has been revealed about the album except for when it was worked on, the writers being both Raphael Daniels and Viper Hamato and the singles. Many configurations have been leaked but not have been confirmed as of far. The configuration has been taken from the apparent July, 2004 arrangement and is set to be changed when released

## Personnel

* Viper Hamato - Executive Producer, Co-Production, Synthesizers, Drums, Drum Programming, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Keyboards (1-14)
* Raphael Daniels - Co-Production, Bass, Guitars, Backing Vocals (2-5,7,8,10-12)
* Bobby Fry - Sound Engineering

## See Also

* Unreleased Tracks By Viper Hamato
* Viper Hamato Discography