Cherry Beat - Recording Sessions (Part Sixteen - The Band's Post Reunion Live Concert Tour)

February 2000
The band Cherry Beat had released their first studio album since the group's breakup and their first reunion starting in late 1998. Their thirteenth studio album "Paintball Arena" was a surprise chart topping success. Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, Devon O'Connell, and new member Milford Ekdahl were satisfied with the results the album met. But there was something else the band met as well.

Torquil Dohrn, the band's original lead guitarist who had refused to take any further part in anything that was associated with the band's name from 1982 until now, was impressed with the band's thirteenth album. He admitted that he was sorry to have not been a part of the album's creation, and he credited it for driving him out of resignation to rejoin the group.

Of course Torquil wouldn't have been able to rejoin the group if the band members weren't willing to allow him to rejoin. But of course, the band had never been the same without Torquil's involvement, and Peter, Sam, and Devon had missed Torquil dearly, and were happy to be given the chance to get their lead guitarist back.

With Torquil back as the band's lead guitarist, Sam regained his role as the band's rhythm guitarist, while Milford continued his role as the band's keyboardist, although he would continue to play guitar on occasions when necessary.

26th February 2000
With Torquil Dohrn back as the band's lead guitarist for the first time in 18 years, the five band members held their first recording session to practice for their upcoming live concert, although this session was really a studio warm up, as none of the songs recorded on this day where intended to be played at the concert.

They recorded cover versions of three Paul McCartney compositions on this day, all of which were originally recorded in 1999 by Paul McCartney for his studio album Run Devil Run. "Run Devil Run", "Try Not to Cry", and "What It Is", all of which were chosen by Peter for the band to record as a warm up.

Paul McCartney had had a lifelong influence on Peter McDonald since the beginning of Cherry Beat. Both were bass players, had similar voices, similar tastes in music, and even similar looks. But it was mostly that they were both influenced by Little Richard that made them both similar to one another.

28th February 2000
Peter McDonald and Devon O'Connell record percussion overdubs for "Try Not to Cry" on this day. Sam Whitby recorded a lap steel guitar overdub for "Run Devil Run", while Torquil Dohrn recorded an electric guitar overdub for "What It Is".

5th May 2000
The band recorded another cover on this day. This time, a cover of a Supetramp song "Breakfast in America". Sam Whitby chose to get the band to record a cover version of the song, because he wanted another chance at hearing himself recapture the vocal style of Roger Hodgson. It would be the first time Sam had attempted to imitate the style since the band had recorded his own composition "Fiery Fossil" in 1981.

It would be a tad harder though since Sam was roughly 19 years older than when he and the band had recorded "Fiery Fossil", so Sam's tenor range would have a harder time trying to reach the high notes that Roger had reached back in 1979. Cherry Beat's own cover of the song was more than a minute longer than Supertramp's original recording, owing to the first four verses being repeated.

9th May 2000
Sam Whitby and Torquil Dohrn respectively record harpsichord and boehm system clarinet overdubs for "Breakfast in America" on this day. One more session of overdubbing would be necessary to complete the recording.

12th May 2000
Torquil Dohrn and session musician Ivory Scanlon respectively record trombone and tuba overdubs for "Breakfast in America" on this day. The recording was now completed.

22nd November 2000
The big day for the band members of Cherry Beat. Peter McDonald, Sam Whitby, Torquil Dohrn, Devon O'Connell, and Milford Ekdahl would play live in New York City. They would play a total of 36 songs on their own without any participation from session musicians. Four tracks from their recent album "Paintball Arena" would be played along with 32 tracks from earlier albums.

5th January 2001
Album Release — Live in New York City

15th January 2001
Milford Ekdahl brought his friend Wilbur Milardo over to the Moonlight Bay Studio on this day, and suggested to the other band members of Cherry Beat that they let him join as an additional keyboardist and percussionist. The band wasn't sure how long they could go without splintering again, like they did back in the early 1980's.

Knowing that a spare member would be beneficial, should any of the traditional members choose to leave the band, the others agreed to let Wilbur Milardo join. Of course, they did give Wilbur a trial run to see if he would be a suitable addition to the band.

25th May 2001
Peter McDonald and his wife Elodia McDonald record a duet cover of "Bip Bop/Hey Diddle" which itself was a duet by Paul and Linda McCartney. For "Bip Bop" Elodia provided backing vocals and handclaps, while she provided harmony vocals for "Hey Diddle".

28th July 2001
The band recorded vocals for what would become a cover of the traditional Anglo-American song "Yankee Doodle". This would be the first Cherry Beat recording to feature Wilbur Milardo as a band member.