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 Cherry Beat 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 who's production efforts would be on pair with Chudley's own. He soon found Greg Doran, 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.

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 Cherry Beat 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 synthesizer, 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 Cherry Beat. 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 synthesizer, 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 synthesizer 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 synthesizer 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 synthesizer 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 synthesizer, 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 slide guitar overdubs.