recording for the album began at real world studios, box, wiltshire, england, throughout september 1993. he then took a break from recording throughout the rest of 1993, returning to sierra leone to play a series of benefit concerts whose money raised was used to purchase food and medicine for sierra leoneans that had been dislocated by the rebel war which prevailed the eastern and southern provinces. it was while in sierra leone that he was diagnosed with a serious heart problem. in early january 1994, he returned to london, and after taking a short rest, he returned to real world to record the remainder of the album throughout that month. on 16 february 1994, shortly after the album's recording but prior to its release, rogie underwent successful heart bypass surgery.