Cherry Beat - Recording Sessions (Part Six - The Band's Fifth Album)

Late January 1975
After the success of the band's fourth album "Merry Christmas", the band decided to take a break from their classic rock and roll roots, and record an album of heavier numbers. No singles yielding any new compositions were intended to accompany this album however. The band had several popular songs from their album "Merry Christmas" so they would release some subsequent singles containing some of those songs instead.

The band's decisions were not unchangeable, and they were prepared to alter any of their current plans if they felt that any of the songs recorded for their fifth album were deemed suitable for a single release.

24th January 1975
This was the band's first official recording session for their fifth album. The band members of Cherry Beat had decided that they would not be needing their music supervisor Chudley Maron to serve as their producer for this album, but he would still serve as their music supervisor. On this day the band recorded a new composition. "The End of the Beginning" was written primarily by Peter McDonald, with input from Sam Whitby.

The band also recorded a cover of Mars Bonfire's composition "Born to Be Wild", originally performed by Steppenwolf. However Cherry Beat's cover of the song was not intended for release on their fifth album.

29th January 1975
Single Release — Takin' a Ride for Money / Diamonds and Cherries

10th February 1975
The band recorded a cover of Black Sabbath's song "Paranoid". However, like all Cherry Beat covers, this recording was not considered for release on the band's fifth album.

The band also recorded an original composition on this day. "The Beginning of the End" was written primarily by Peter McDonald, with input from Sam Whitby. The song's title is obviously intended to reprise "The End of the Beginning". In-fact "The Beginning of the End" is considered to be a continuation of "The End of the Beginning".

28th February 1975
The band recorded an original composition on this day. "I Don't Want to Be with You Anymore" was written primarily by Peter McDonald, with input from Sam Whitby.

The band also recorded a cover of Free's song "All Right Now". However, like all Cherry Beat covers, this recording was not considered for release on the band's fifth album.

17th March 1975
Single Release — Mary-Anne / Sexy Young Hips

18th March 1975
The band recorded a cover of Golden Earring's song "Radar Love". However, like all Cherry Beat covers, this recording was not considered for release on the band's fifth album.

The band also recorded an original composition on this day. "If I Ever Get a Chance to See Her Again" which was written by Torquil Dohrn.

16th April 1975
The band recorded an original composition on this day. "Prostitutes of Nature" was written primarily by Sam Whitby, with input from Peter McDonald. The song was considered to be one of Cherry Beat's most controversial efforts, and was banned from certain radios, because of the word "prostitute".

The band also recorded a cover of Joe Walsh's song "Rocky Mountain Way". However, like all Cherry Beat covers, this recording was not considered for release on the band's fifth album.

1st May 1975
The band recorded a cover of Bad Company's song "Can't Get Enough". However, like all Cherry Beat covers, this recording was not considered for release on the band's fifth album.

The band also recorded an original composition on this day. "You Can't Fraternise with My Enemies" which was written primarily by Sam Whitby, with input from Peter McDonald.

16th May 1975
Single Release — Her / Sweet Little Suzie

12th June 1975
The band recorded two original compositions on this day. "You Got the Rhythm" which was written primarily by Sam Whitby, with input from Peter McDonald. And "Military Land" which was written by Devon O'Connell.

8th July 1975
The band recorded two original compositions on this day. "Crossing the Boundaries" and "The Caribbean" which were both written by Torquil Dohrn. The latter was inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

9th July 1975
Single Release — Nancy / Shakin' Up the Seventies

15th July 1975
After recording ten tracks for their 1975 hard rock album at Oxford Studios, the band members of Cherry Beat, with their producer and music supervisor Chudley Maron, were back in Dohrn Studios to record two original compositions, starting the sessions early for the band's sixth album in 1976.

"Think" which was written solely by Peter McDonald, was admittedly a ripoff of The Beatles' "Yesterday (Beatles song)". "Jeep", a composition by Peter McDonald, with input from Sam Whitby was considered to be Peter's attempt at writing a composition in the same style as Paul McCartney and Wings' song Jet.

Neither of these songs were completed on this day, instead they would not be completed until 1976 when the majority of the sessions for the band's sixth album began.

23rd July 1975
The band members were in the studio again recording two more original compositions on this day. "Soldier Rhymes" had been written solely by Sam Whitby, while Peter McDonald had helped him to polish off the rough edges of his composition "Ticket to Paris".

Neither of these songs were completed on this day, instead they would not be completed until 1976 when the majority of the sessions for the band's sixth album began. The title of the song "Ticket to Paris" is a play on The Beatles' song "Ticket to Ride".

The title of the song "Soldier Rhymes" was inspired by the song "Soldier of Love (Lay Down Your Arms)" which was originally recorded by Arthur Alexander.

30th July 1975
The band members were in the studio again recording two more original compositions on this day. "Daymare" was a joint effort between Peter McDonald and Sam Whitby, while "Do the Ronde Ronde" was written by Torquil Dohrn. Neither of these songs were completed on this day, instead they would not be completed until when the majority of the sessions for the band's sixth album began. The title of the song "Daymare" is a play on the term "Nightmare", only it's in the day time.

"Do the Ronde Ronde" was inspired by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich's song "She Hangs Out", originally recorded by The Monkees. The music style of "Do the Ronde Ronde" was inspired by The Crystals' song "Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)" written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector.

12th August 1975
Single Release — Brown Haired Gorgeous Girl / Charlotte Wood

13th August 1975
Torquil Dohrn adds tape loops to "Pineapple Heart" at Dohrn Studios.

Peter McDonald adds tape loops to "Tropical Beach Hearts" at Dohrn Studios.

14th August 1975
Sam Whitby adds keyboard overdubs to "You Got the Rhythm" at Dohrn Studios. He also double tracks his lead vocal.

Torquil Dohrn adds alto saxophone overdubs to "If I Ever Get a Chance to See Her Again" at Dohrn Studios. Sam Whitby adds electric piano overdubs to the track. Torquil also double tracks his lead vocal.

15th August 1975
Torquil Dohrn's lead guitar, Peter McDonald's lead vocal and Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass Guitar, Devon O'Connell's drum kit, and Sam Whitby's rhythm guitar on "I Don't Want to Be with You Anymore" are all double tracked at Dohrn Studios.

Sam Whitby records an electric piano overdub for "Prostitutes of Nature" at Dohrn Studios. He also double tracks his lead vocal.

16th August 1975
Torquil Dohrn double tracks his lead vocal on "Crossing the Boundaries", and adds an alto saxophone overdub, at Dohrn Studios. Sam Whitby also adds an acoustic guitar overdub.

Torquil double tracks his lead vocal on "The Caribbean" at Dohrn Studios. Peter McDonald and Sam Whitby also add cello and electric piano overdubs respectively.

17th August 1975
Peter McDonald double tracks his lead vocal, and records cello overdubs for "The End of the Beginning", at Dohrn Studios on this day. Sam Whitby also records an electric piano overdub.

Peter McDonald double tracks his lead vocal, and records cello overdubs for "The Beginning of the End", at Dohrn Studios on this day. Sam Whitby also records an electric piano overdub.

18th August 1975
Sam Whitby double tracks his lead vocal, and records an acoustic guitar overdub for "You Can't Fraternise with My Enemies" at Dohrn Studios on this day. Torquil Dohrn's lead guitar is also double tracked.

Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, and Torquil Dohrn respectively add cello, grand piano, and tack piano overdubs for "Military Land" at Dohrn Studios on this day. Devon O'Connell's lead vocal is also double tracked.

19th August 1975
Peter McDonald records Moog synthesizer overdubs for "I Don't Want to Be with You Anymore", "You Can't Fraternise with My Enemies", and "Crossing the Boundaries" at Dohrn Studios on this day.

Torquil Dohrn records a Moog synthesizer overdub for "The Caribbean".

3rd September 1975
Album release — Heavy Rock