Cherry Beat - Recording Sessions (Part Twelve - The Band's Eleventh Album)

Early May 1981
The band's tenth album Blast Off! had entered the charts in November 1980, where it peaked at #2 in United Kingdom. While the recording sessions for the band's next album were undoubtedly smooth, tensions between the band members were at their highest point ever.

Due to the constant disagreements between band members as to who should produce their work, Chudley Maron stepped down from his position as the band's producer in 1980, leaving Riley Ganz to co-produce the band's eleventh album, along with the band members.

In the middle of the sessions for the band's eleventh album, Devon O'Connell left the band after a severe argument between the band members. Session musician, Percy Duncan would stand in for Devon on drums for several subsequent tracks.

As if matters hadn't been bad enough, Sam Whitby walked into the studio one day to find Peter McDonald lecturing Riley Ganz. Apparently Peter who had always been dissatisfied with Riley's production work was now insisting on telling him just how to produce, how not to produce etc. etc. etc. Sam privately thought to himself "That's going a bit far".

When the sessions for the band's eleventh album were almost finished, Sam Whitby tried to persuade Peter McDonald and Torquil Dohrn to be more patient with Riley Ganz, saying that Riley was doing the band a favour by lending his production experience to the band's music, and that Peter had been prejudiced by Riley's work ever since he had overproduced much of the band's seventh album by adding excessive percussion decorations.

Peter finally lost his temper. It was now very clear that he had no intention in recording another album with Riley Ganz. Much to the surprise and shock of Sam, Peter furiously told Riley to get out, that he was fired and his work with the band was done. Riley left, but not before he declared that if Peter wasn't happy with his work as a producer, he should find someone else to produce the band's music exactly how Peter wanted it, even if their next album was a disaster.

Chudley Maron neither had the interest nor patience to resume his role as the band's producer, so at Peter's request, Chudley searched for a producer whose production efforts would be on par with Chudley's own. He soon found Gregory Dogan, a young producer in his early twenties. The band interpreted him as a younger version of Chudley himself.

Peter and Torquil were happy, but Sam was still irritated at Peter's firing Riley without giving his work another chance.

2nd May 1981
This was the first official recording session for the band's eleventh album. The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Sweet Devils" which was a Torquil Dohrn composition.

18th May 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Egg Rolls" which was a Sam Whitby composition.

23rd May 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Golf Caddy" which was a Sam Whitby composition.

1st June 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Captain Hero" which was a Sam Whitby composition.

12th June 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Dirty Numbers" which was a Torquil Dohrn composition.

20th June 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Patrol Officer" which was a Sam Whitby composition.

25th June 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Break Down" which was a Devon O'Connell composition.

2nd July 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Cherry Blues" which was a Peter McDonald composition.

13th July 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Party DJ" which was a Sam Whitby composition.

24th July 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "I Don't Want to Be a Womaniser" which was a Peter McDonald composition. The title was inspired by the song "".

4th August 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Don Juan" which was a Devon O'Connell composition. This would be one of the last sessions to feature the participation of Devon O'Connell who left the band shortly after the recording of this song began.

9th August 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, Torquil Dohrn, Devon O'Connell, and Riley Ganz respectively record cello, thumped acoustic guitar, grand piano, handclaps, and percussion overdubs to "Break Down" on this day. Devon O'Connell's lead vocal is also double tracked. Following Devon O'Connell's decision to quit the band, he and the other band members would complete the recordings of his songs, to get them out of the way, so Devon could leave the other three to finish the other songs for their eleventh album.

10th August 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, Torquil Dohrn, and Devon O'Connell respectively record cello, Moog synthesiser, keyboard, and tambourine overdubs to "Don Juan" on this day. Devon O'Connell's lead vocal is also double tracked. Following Devon O'Connell's decision to quit the band, he and the other band members would complete the recordings of his songs, to get them out of the way, so Devon could leave the other three to finish the other songs for their eleventh album.

11th August 1981
Devon O'Connell is now officially, no longer a. His last work with the band was completing his songs for the band's eleventh album, on the 9th and 10th August 1981.

25th August 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, Torquil Dohrn, Riley Ganz, and session musician Leandro Groff respectively record cello, keyboard, Moog synthesiser, eggbeater, and acoustic guitar overdubs for "Egg Rolls" on this day. Sam Whitby's lead vocal is also double tracked.

28th August 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record turntable, keyboard, and Moog synthesiser overdubs for "Party DJ" on this day. Sam Whitby's lead vocal is also double tracked.

30th August 1981
Peter McDonald and Torquil Dohrn respectively record cello and Moog synthesiser overdubs for "Sweet Devils" on this day. Session musicians Tracey Lessman and Marcellus Folger record violin overdubs, while Neal Nobriga records viola overdubs for the track.

31st August 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record cello, keyboard, and golf club overdubs for "Golf Caddy" on this day.

1st September 1981
Sam Whitby records a Moog synthesiser overdub for "Golf Caddy" on this day. The song was now completed.

2nd September 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record cello, Moog synthesiser, and keyboard overdubs for "Captain Hero" on this day.

5th September 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, Torquil Dohrn, and session musician Obdulia Dery respectively record cello, whistle, keyboard, and snare drum overdubs for "Patrol Officer" on this day.

7th September 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record cello, keyboard, and percussion overdubs for "Dirty Numbers" on this day.

9th September 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, Torquil Dohrn, and session musician Ernesto Selby respectively record acoustic guitar, maracas, electric slide guitar, tambourine, and alto saxophone overdubs for "I Don't Want to Be a Womaniser" on this day.

11th September 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record cello, keyboard, and tenor saxophone overdubs to "Cherry Blues" on this day. Session musicians Darin Askins, Erich Phong, and Gaylord Whelpley record trumpet overdubs. Horace Voris, Tomas Newkirk, and Dominick Stowell record oboe overdubs, Rafael Branum, and Raphael Carnegie record alto saxophone overdubs, and Cortez McNab records lap steel guitar overdubs.

13th September 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Beach Ball" which was a Peter McDonald composition.

14th September 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record drums, foot tapping, and percussion overdubs for "Beach Ball" on this day.

15th September 1981
Peter McDonald and Sam Whitby respectively record tape loops and keyboard overdubs for "Beach Ball" on this day.

16th September 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "I'm Nothing Without You Girl" which was a Torquil Dohrn composition.

18th September 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Dream of Love" which was a Peter McDonald composition.

19th September 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Riley Ganz respectively record drums, Lowrey organ, and tambourine overdubs for "Dream of Love" on this day.

20th September 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Fiery Fossil" which was a Sam Whitby composition. The song shows Sam for the first time coming under the influence of of.

21st September 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record drums, harpsichord, and clarinet overdubs for "Fiery Fossil" on this day.

22nd September 1981
Sam Whitby records a harmonium overdub for "Fiery Fossil" on this day.

23rd September 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Cold Fish" which was a Peter McDonald composition.

24th September 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record drums, grand piano, and percussion overdubs for "Cold Fish" on this day.

25th September 1981
Peter McDonald and Sam Whitby respectively record tape loops and percussion overdubs for "Cold Fish" on this day.

26th September 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Sick and Tired of Travelling" which was a Peter McDonald composition. The song's style was loosely inspired by the John Lennon song "".

27th September 1981
Sam Whitby and Torquil Dohrn respectively record grand piano and electric slide guitar overdubs for "Sick and Tired of Travelling" on this day. Peter McDonald's lead vocal is also double tracked.

28th September 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "A World without Romance" which was a Peter McDonald composition. The song's style was loosely inspired by ' song "", except it is somewhat heavier and rockier than The Monkees' song.

29th September 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record grand piano, grand piano, and french horn overdubs for "A World without Romance" on this day.

30th September 1981
Peter McDonald records a trumpet overdub for "A World without Romance" on this day.

1st October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "House Wave" which was a Sam Whitby composition. The song is arguably the band's first attempt at recording a song inside what would become known as the genre.

2nd October 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record drum machine, music sequencer, and Moog synthesiser overdubs for "House Wave" on this day.

3rd October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Savant Supreme" which was a Sam Whitby composition. The song was written in the style of Supertramp, and the vocal was undoubtedly inspired by that of Roger Hodgson.

4th October 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record electric piano, backing vocal and Moog synthesiser, and alto saxophone overdubs for "Savant Supreme" on this day.

5th October 1981
Torquil Dohrn records a Lowrey organ overdub for "Savant Supreme" on this day.

6th October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Marriage Nightmare" which was a Torquil Dohrn composition.

7th October 1981
Peter McDonald and Sam Whitby respectively record electric cello and electric piano overdubs for "Marriage Nightmare" on this day.

8th October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Dusk Dawn" which was a Sam Whitby composition.

9th October 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record drum machine, music sequencer, and Moog synthesiser overdubs for "Dusk Dawn" on this day.

10th October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Drill Instructor" which was a Sam Whitby composition. Even though certain parts of the song featured the sound effects of a in the background, the actual song was not about being instructed how to drill holes with a drilling machine, but about a  in the.

Sam explained years later that the song featured the sound effects of a drilling machine because it was a nod towards the fact that he initially thought that the term "" referred to someone that instructed people how to drill holes with a drilling machine. He said that he had always known the term to be associated with the Military, however.

11th October 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record drums, backing vocal and grand piano, and trombone overdubs for "Drill Instructor" on this day.

12th October 1981
Sam Whitby records drilling machine overdubs for "Drill Instructor" on this day.

13th October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Roommate or Friend?" which was a Sam Whitby composition. The song was about a teenager that had moved in with a married couple just as a roommate only she later became more than just a roommate, in other words she became their friend.

14th October 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, Torquil Dohrn, and Riley Ganz respectively record drums, electric piano, metal fire door, and maracas overdubs for "Roommate or Friend?" on this day.

15th October 1981
Single Release — Sick and Tired of Travelling / A World without Romance

The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Rights from Wrongs" which was a Sam Whitby composition. The song's title and style was loosely inspired by the Monkees' song "Writing Wrongs" which was written by.

This became the last composition to feature the participation of longstanding session percussionist Riley Ganz who co-produced the track.

16th October 1981
Sam Whitby records a Lowrey organ overdub for "Rights from Wrongs" on this day.

17th October 1981
Even though there were still five tracks left to record for the band's eleventh studio album, Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn discussed the possibilities of recording a twelfth studio album, and how they were going to do it.

Sam Whitby suggested that Riley Ganz should serve as the sole-producer for the band's twelfth studio album, should they choose to record a twelfth album. Peter McDonald flatly denies that Riley should produce an entire album on his own, declaring that it was bad enough letting him produce any musical output issued under the band's name.

18th October 1981
Peter McDonald aggressively tells Riley Ganz that he has been fired by the band. Sam Whitby is unaware of this.

19th October 1981
Sam Whitby learns to his horror that Riley Ganz has been fired by Peter McDonald on the group's behalf.

Peter McDonald asks their music supervisor Chudley Maron to search for a new producer for the band's twelfth album.

20th October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Chaos and Corruption" which was a Peter McDonald composition.

21st October 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record cello, grand piano, and Baldwin spinet overdubs for "Chaos and Corruption" on this day. Peter McDonald also records an additional lead vocal.

22nd October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "This is Romance" which was a Torquil Dohrn composition.

23rd October 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record cello, keyboard, and sitar overdubs for "This is Romance" on this day.

24th October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Romantic Tendencies" which was a Peter McDonald composition.

This would be the first song to feature the participation of Gregory Dogan, who would soon serve as the band's new producer.

25th October 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record electric cello, Moog synthesiser, and clarinet overdubs for "Romantic Tendencies" on this day.

26th October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Love Me Girl" which was a Torquil Dohrn composition.

27th October 1981
Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record drums, foot tapping, and tape loops to "Love Me Girl" on this day.

28th October 1981
The band recorded a new composition on this day. "Moolah Mogul" which was a Peter McDonald composition. This was the first composition to feature Gregory Dogan as the band's producer.

All the windows and doors were open during the recording of the song, to help try and give it a more open and live edge to the sound.

29th October 1981
Single Release — I Don't Want to Be a Womaniser / Rights from Wrongs

Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively record drum machine, Moog synthesiser, and music sequencer overdubs for "Moolah Mogul" on this day. Peter McDonald's vocal is also double tracked.

30th October 1981
Peter McDonald records a harmony vocal, and backing vocal overdubs for "Moolah Mogul" on this day. The overdubs recorded on this day were omitted from the single mix of the song, because they were not finished in time for the single release.

15th November 1981
Single Release — Moolah Mogul / Chaos and Corruption

25th November 1981
Album Release — X-Rayed