Songwriter Matthew J Doughty has studied under Nashville's Tom Shapiro (four time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year: Randy Travis, Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood - another Belmont University alum) and Hollywood's Marty Panzer (35 Gold and Platinum Albums: Barry Manilow, Julio Iglesias, Disney).
In 2003, while assisting legendary Los Angeles Mixing Engineer Mark Needham on the 5.1 surround mixes of Fleetwood Mac's "SAY YOU WILL" Album, Matt Doughty and Phil Nichols assisted (co-wrote) with Songwriter/Guitarist/Vocalist Lindsey Buckingham on the Radio Edit Re-Write for the song "PEACEKEEPER". A few days before the song was to be released as a International Radio Single, the Record Label sent Buckingham back into the Recording Studio to Edit and Re-Sing the Vocals for the end of the song's Bridge section and the final line of the Outro. Though the song was "finished" in the band's mind, Label Executives felt that the line "…take no prisoners, only kill", was too violent for Radio.
Music visionary Lindsey Buckingham recorded a few ideas from the vocal booth, then asked the three of us in Cornerstone Recorder's Control Room if there were any ideas. Doughty and Nichols (the Assistant Mixing Engineers) had been collaborating quietly and spoke up, "Take no prisoners, Break Their Will." Lindsey sang three or four takes (versions, performances) of that line, and eventually chose it as the final cut for the official Radio Mix edit. Before the session was finished for the day, it was clarified that the two assistant recording engineers wouldn't receive any royalties for our contribution. "That's ok", I said, "as long as we can tell the story later!" "Sure", Buckingham returned with a smile.
Billboard Magazine has calculated over 800,000 copies of 'SAY YOU WILL' have been sold in the U.S. since 2003. It was an honor working with Mark Needham, Phil Nichols, and FLEETWOOD MAC on this RIAA Certified GOLD RECORD. Just another reason I love co-writing songs with other talented musicians: Everyone is a winner when you collaborate!
