Cargo - Selftitled (1972) plus bonus tracks

(Netherlands 1970 - 1972)

This band from Netherlands started out as 'September' and recorded a few singles that hold no interest to progheads. They then changed their name to 'Cargo' and recorded their sole album. Cargo consisted of brothers Ad and Jan De Hont both on guitars, Willem DeVries on bass and vocals and English drummer Denis Whitbread. The music developed here is a seducing hard rock with a killer twin-guitar attack much in the line of Wishbone Ash around their "Argus" album. The two brothers played delightfully long and complex guitar lines that intertwined beautifully, proof of their long-standing mutual trust and camaraderie.

Formed in 1970, September released a single on Imperial records "Little Sister/Walk On By". The A-Side was written by the band, and it sounds like hardrock with some progressive influences. It became a minor hit in the Netherlands but left no permanent impression. Band members at the time were Ador Otting (real name Jan Otting) on organ, Jan De Hont on guitar, Frans Smitt on drums who all played with De Maskers and Willem de Vries on vocals and bass.

September (Early Cargo)

A year later the line-up of the band changed with a new drummer, Jerry Gobel replacing Frans Smit (who went on to join Jan Akkerman's band 'Brainbox'), and a new vocalist/keyboardist, Hassel de Vries replacing Ador Otting. Hessel de Vries wrote September's second single, "Yelly Rose/If Mr. Right Comes Along", which was released in 1971.

Their third single was also released in 1971, "Choker/ Lydia Purple". 

By this this time, Jerry Gober was replaced for a short time by drummer who went under the name Snuffel (real name Frans Krachten) but was later replaced by former 'Ekseption' drummer Dennis Whitbread (real name Dennis Witbraad) and they were joined by Adrie de Hont (Brother of Jan and had also played with De Maskers) who also played guitar.

September Singles (1970-1971)

In 1972, September changed their name to Cargo. The change in name indicated also a change in musical direction for the band. They transitioned from a singles band to a "serious" rock band, focusing now on long, mostly instrumental passages.

By now the manager of the band, John van Setten, wanted to record an album with the band. But he had the luminous idea to put no name on the sleeve. he thought it would make the media curious, and hence the album sales would rise. Their record company at the time EMI, booked a studio for only two days, and they could record whatever they wanted. They decided to play as if it was a live performance, and they wouldn't restrict each other in the improvisations thay would play.

When the record was released, they only put Cargo on the sleeve. But unfortunately the media never got curious, and the album didn't sell well. As a result, the band finally decided to part ways with their manager, and eventually broke up.

This album was later released on CD by Pseudonym records which included their "September" singles as bonus tracks.

This post consists of FLACs ripped from CD and includes full album artwork for both vinyl and CD releases.  All three September singles have been included as bonus tracks along with two rare demo's that were recorded in 1971 but were never released until Pseudonym's Cargo CD release in 1993.

The standout tracks of this album are really the first four recorded by Cargo in 1972, featuring the awesome dual guitar work of the De Hont brothers and free form jams reminiscent of bands like Wishbone Ash and The Grateful Dead.  The bonus tracks are also interesting as they provide an insight into how the band developed its sound over such a short period of time. It is just a pity that they threw in the towel after their debut album's release - probably in response to poor management and lack of support from their record company.  

Track List:

01 Cargo – Sail Inside   10:54

02 Cargo – Cross Talking  8:33

03 Cargo – Finding Out  5:14

04 Cargo – Summerfair  15:35

Bonus Tracks (Singles/Demos)

05 September – Choker (A-Side Single)  3:52

06 September – Lydia Purple (B-Side Single) 3:51

07 September – Yelly Rose (A-Side Single) 4:01

08 September – If Mr. Right Comes Along (B-Side Single) 4:23

09 September – Little Sister (A-Side Single) 3:41

10 September – Walk On By (B-Side Single) 2:59

11 September – Run Away (Demo)  3:14

12 September – One More Change (Demo)  2:35

Track/Band Lineup:

Drums – Dennis Whitbread (tracks: 1 to 6), Frans Smit (tracks: 9, 10), Jerry Göbel (tracks: 7, 8), Snuffel (tracks: 11, 12)

Guitar – Ad de Hont (tracks: 1 to 8, 11, 12), Jan de Hont (tracks: 1 to 12)

Organ [Hammond] – Ador Otting (tracks: 9, 10)

Vocals, Bass – Willem de Vries (tracks: 1 to 12)

Vocals, Electric Piano – Hessel de Vries (tracks: 7, 8)

Cargo Link (486Mb)