First Offense
First Offense is the debut studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Corey Hart. It was released in 1983 by Aquarius Records in Canada and Capitol Records internationally.[1] The album features the hit single "Sunglasses at Night", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984.[2] Recorded primarily in England, it blends synth-pop and pop rock elements, marking Hart's breakthrough in the music industry.[1]Background
Early career and influences
Corey Hart was born on May 31, 1962, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, as the youngest of five children to parents Mina Weber Hart and Bert Hart.[3] His early exposure to music stemmed from a nomadic family life, as he grew up across multiple locations including Montreal, Spain, Mexico City, and Key Biscayne, Florida, which fostered his fluency in English, Spanish, and French.[3] At age 11, Hart began performing publicly, singing alongside established artists such as Tom Jones and Paul Anka during shows in Miami Beach and Las Vegas, marking his initial foray into professional entertainment.[4][5] Following his parents' separation around age 10 in the early 1970s, with his father relocating to Nassau, Bahamas, Hart deepened his musical pursuits amid personal challenges.[3] By 1981, at age 18, he moved to Long Island, New York, to record demonstration tapes and perform, including stints with Billy Joel's backup band after submitting recordings that caught the attention of the group's saxophonist.[4][5] These experiences honed his skills through solo piano gigs in local clubs and collaborations that exposed him to professional recording environments.[6] Hart's artistic influences drew heavily from rock and pop icons, including The Beatles—particularly John Lennon's introspective songwriting, which resonated deeply after Lennon's 1980 assassination—and contemporaries like Billy Joel and Nick Lowe, shaping his evolution toward a more sophisticated sound.[6] The burgeoning 1980s new wave and synth-pop scenes, exemplified by artists such as David Bowie, further inspired Hart's transition from youthful pop inclinations to a mature, synthesizer-infused style evident in his early work.[6] In 1982, following persistent demo submissions, Hart signed with Aquarius Records (distributed by Capitol), a pivotal contract that emphasized international appeal and led to the decision to record portions of his debut album abroad, including sessions in England to capture a global edge.[4][6] This move abroad reflected his ambition to blend North American roots with emerging European production trends, setting the stage for First Offense.[6]Songwriting process
Corey Hart took a predominantly solo approach to songwriting for his debut album First Offense, crediting himself as the writer for all tracks.[7] This process occurred primarily during 1982–1983 while Hart was based in England, where he conceptualized the material before principal recording sessions. Amid England's rainy evenings, Hart infused the songs with introspective themes.[8] The lead single "Sunglasses at Night" exemplifies this method, serving as a metaphor for emotional vulnerability and the intuition to detect deception in a romantic partner.[8] Hart composed the initial melody on guitar, inspired by unused Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses purchased during the UK sessions, evolving it from an earlier demo idea titled "My Cigarette Got Wet" recorded in a simple, rainy-weather context.[6] This track was written after the bulk of the album and added late in the process as a last-minute inclusion for the original Canadian release.[6] Collaborative writing credits were minimal, with Hart maintaining control over the core creative elements across the project.[9] Demos for the songs, including rough versions captured in Montreal, Canada, helped refine their pop-oriented hooks and emerging synth-driven structures before full production.[10]Production
Recording sessions
The recording sessions for First Offense took place primarily at Revolution Recording Studios in Cheadle Hulme, near Manchester, England, with additional work at Eel Pie Studios in London, England.[1][2] These sessions began in early spring 1983 and spanned approximately three months through late May, during which the core 11 tracks were completed, followed by further refinements in the summer.[6] Corey Hart traveled from Canada to the United Kingdom for the duration to fully engage in the production process. The album's new wave and synth-pop sound was crafted using keyboards and synthesizers, including overdubs of layered vocals and guitars to build depth.[1] Producers Jon Astley and Phil Chapman oversaw the sessions, guiding the transition from Hart's initial demos to fuller band arrangements.[6] Key challenges included adapting rough demos—such as the instrumental track that became "Sunglasses at Night"—into polished ensemble pieces amid tight budgets, as well as contending with persistent rainy weather that limited outdoor activities.[6] Final mixing occurred at Eel Pie Studios, emphasizing the era's crisp, atmospheric production style.[1]Personnel
The debut album First Offense by Canadian singer-songwriter Corey Hart features him as the lead artist, performing lead vocals, backing vocals, and keyboards across all tracks.[1] Hart also contributed rhythm guitar on select songs, drawing from his multi-instrumentalist background honed during early career performances.[1] Production was handled by Jon Astley and Phil Chapman, who oversaw the full creative and technical aspects of the recording, including engineering duties at Eel Pie Studios in London and Revolution Studios in Cheadle Hulme, England.[1] Astley additionally served as mixing engineer, while Chapman contributed keyboards throughout the album; both also provided backing vocals on tracks like "Peruvian Lady" and "At the Dance."[1] The core session musicians included bassist Gary Tibbs, known for his work with Roxy Music and Adam and the Ants; drummer and percussionist Paul Burgess, formerly of 10cc and Jethro Tull; and lead guitarist Andy Barnett.[1] Additional instrumentation featured rhythm guitars by Andy Mac and Mike Hehir, keyboards by Ritchie Close, and tenor and alto saxophone by Andy Hamilton.[1] Backing vocals were supplemented by Phil Wooley and Tim Green on specific tracks.[1] A notable guest appearance came from guitarist Eric Clapton, who played Dobro on the track "Jenny Fey," adding a distinctive slide guitar texture to the ballad.[6] All songs on the album were written solely by Corey Hart, with no co-writers credited.[11] Engineering support was provided by Andy MacPherson as the primary engineer, alongside Astley and Chapman.[1]Release and promotion
Album editions and track listings
The debut album First Offense by Corey Hart was released in Canada on November 11, 1983, by Aquarius Records under catalog number AQR 537. The original Canadian pressing featured an 11-track lineup with a total runtime of approximately 43:00, including tracks unique to Canadian editions such as "Araby (She's Just a Girl)" and "Don't Keep Your Heart."| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sunglasses at Night" | 3:58 |
| 2. | "Peruvian Lady" | 4:20 |
| 3. | "She Got the Radio" | 3:54 |
| 4. | "It Ain't Enough" | 3:30 |
| 5. | "Araby (She's Just a Girl)" | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Does She Love You" | 3:31 |
| 7. | "Cheatin' in School" | 4:24 |
| 8. | "Don't Keep Your Heart" | 3:45 |
| 9. | "The World Is Fire" | 5:03 |
| 10. | "At the Dance" | 3:29 |
| 11. | "Jenny Fey" | 3:35 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sunglasses at Night" | 3:58 |
| 2. | "Peruvian Lady" | 4:20 |
| 3. | "She Got the Radio" | 3:39 |
| 4. | "It Ain't Enough" | 3:29 |
| 5. | "Araby (She's Just a Girl)" | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Does She Love You" | 3:31 |
| 7. | "Cheatin' in School" | 4:24 |
| 8. | "Lamp at Midnite" | 4:10 |
| 9. | "The World Is Fire" | 5:03 |
| 10. | "At the Dance" | 3:29 |
| 11. | "Jenny Fey" | 3:35 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sunglasses at Night" | 5:20 |
| 2. | "Peruvian Lady" | 4:21 |
| 3. | "Lamp at Midnite" | 4:06 |
| 4. | "She Got the Radio" | 3:56 |
| 5. | "It Ain't Enough" | 3:31 |
| 6. | "Does She Love You" | 3:35 |
| 7. | "Cheatin' in School" | 4:25 |
| 8. | "The World Is Fire" | 5:09 |
| 9. | "At the Dance" | 3:31 |
| 10. | "Jenny Fey" | 3:37 |