Cherry Beat - Recording Sessions (Part One - The Band's Formation)

7th January 1971
The three members - Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn - of the new band  gathered in the studio for their first official recording session. Tellingly the band's lineup was incomplete as they didn't have a yet. But since the band's formation had barely begun, having just the core group members in the studio with no drummer mattered little to the trio. Their future drummer could always add drumming to the initial recordings once they became part of the group. And the same for the s, not to mention that Torquil was capable of playing multiple instruments of multiple instrument families.

On the 7th January 1971, the three core members gathered together in the Dohrn recording studio that belonged to Torquil's grandfather, and recorded some rock and roll from the 1950's and 1960's. This was intended to help the band practise for the recording sessions of their debut album. Of course, they needed a drummer, a, and some session musicians first. But this session was just so the band could improve their already near-professional guitar playing.

8th January 1971
The trio continued their recording of rock and roll covers from the previous day, starting with a cover of Larry Williams' ''.

9th January 1971
The trio continued their recording of rock and roll covers from the previous two days, starting with a cover of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's ''.

10th January 1971
The trio continued their recording of rock and roll covers from the previous day, starting with a cover of ' song , and finishing with a cover of 's song .

14th March 1971
American musician Devon O'Connell is now officially the drummer of the English rock and roll band. With Chudley Maron as their producer and, the band's lineup was complete.

Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record and  respectively for the band's cover of ''. Peter's was also.

Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and respectively for the band's cover of ''. It was during this same session that a session musician Donald Key recorded a overdub.

Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and respectively for the band's cover of ''. It was during this same session that session musicians Donald Key, Raymond Gunn, Harris Galvin, and Riley Ganz record semi-acoustic guitar,, and tambourine overdubs respectively.

15th March 1971
Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and respectively for the band's cover of ''. Torquil's vocal and were also double-tracked.

Devon O'Connell records drums for the band's cover of ''.

Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and tambourine respectively for the band's cover of ''. Torquil's vocal was also double-tracked.

16th March 1971
Devon O'Connell records drums for the band's cover of ''. It was during this same session that session musicians Mickey Choudhury, Wiley Stancill, and Ricky Stanbery record, , and overdubs respectively.

Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and grand piano respectively for the band's cover of '' / ' (Goin' Back to Birmingham)' [Medley].

Devon O'Connell records drums for the band's cover of ''. It was during this same session that session musician Mickey Choudhury recorded a rhythm guitar overdub. Wiley Stancill and Shaun Galloway recorded baritone saxophone overdubs, and Ricky Stanbery and Ernesto Selby recorded tenor saxophone overdubs.

Devon O'Connell records drums for the band's cover of ''. It was during this same session that session musician Raymond Gunn recorded a bass guitar overdub.

Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and respectively for the band's cover of ''. It was during this same session that session musicians Harris Galvin and Tod Lowy record Hammond organ and overdubs respectively.

Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and upright piano respectively for the band's cover of 'She's a Woman'. It was during this same session that a session musician Antony Newcomb recorded a overdub.

17th March 1971
Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and upright piano respectively for the band's cover of 'Hound Dog'.

Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and grand piano respectively for the band's cover of 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man'. It was during this same session that session musician Ernesto Selby recorded a tenor saxophone overdub.

Devon O'Connell records drums for the band's covers of  and . It was during this same session that session musician Mickey Choudhury recorded rhythm guitar overdubs.

18th March 1971
Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and Hammond organ respectively for the band's cover of ''. Torquil Dohrn's lead guitar and Sam Whitby's were also double-tracked. It was during this same session that session musicians Ricky Stanbery, Shaun Galloway, and Antony Newcomb recorded tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, and overdubs respectively.

Devon O'Connell records drums for the band's cover of ''. It was during this same session that session musician Mickey Choudhury recorded a rhythm guitar overdub. Wiley Stancill recorded a baritone saxophone overdub, and Ernesto Selby recorded a tenor saxophone overdub.

Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and respectively for the band's cover of 'Bad Boy'. Torquil Dohrn's lead guitar was also double-tracked. It was during this same session that session musicians Riley Ganz, Wiley Stancill, and Ricky Stanbery recorded tambourine, baritone saxophone, and tenor saxophone overdubs respectively.

19th March 1971
Devon O'Connell records and drums for the band's covers of  and .

Devon O'Connell and Chudley Maron record drums and upright piano respectively for the band's cover of ''. It was during this same session that session musicians Donald Key and Ricky Stanbery added semi-acoustic guitar and tenor saxophone overdubs respectively.

Devon O'Connell records drums for the band's cover of ''. It was during this same session that a session musician Oliver Janas recorded a overdub.

20th March 1971
Devon O'Connell records backing vocals and drums for the band's cover of ''. Later on that day, the four band members Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, Torquil Dohrn, and Devon O'Connell also recorded.