Cargo -

Cargo was a Dutch hard-rock/jam band that released a 1972 self-titled album on Harvest. The band previously recorded as September, issuing three singles under that name on Imperial circa 1970/71.

Members: Jan de Hont (guitar), Ad de Hont (guitar), Dennis Witbraat (drums), Willem de Vries (bass, vocals)

Background

Cargo began as September, an Amsterdam band that guitarist Jan de Hont assembled in early 1970 with organist Ador Otting, bassist-singer Willem de Vries, and drummer Frans Smit. Jan de Hont had played in The Apron Strings and Robby and The Apron Strings before his 1962 move into ZZ en De Maskers. He remained with the post-Bob Bouber group De Maskers until his 1968 move to the Top Forty orchestra Anno Nu. Otting and Smit also came from ZZ en De Maskers. Willem de Vries entered September as bassist and lead singer.

September cut early recordings at EMI Studios in Heemstede and issued the Imperial single “Little Sister” (b/w “Walk on By”). By November 1970, September worked with guitarist Ad de Hont, a brother of Jan de Hont, in place of Otting. Drummer Frans Krachten, also billed as Snuffel, replaced Smit for the November session. The de Hont brothers gave September the two-guitar format later used for Cargo. September cut “Yelly Rose” (b/w “If Mr. Right Comes Along”) in February 1971 with drummer Jerry Göbel and singer-keyboardist Hessel de Vries. Willem de Vries held the bass role during that session. Drummer Dennis Whitbread joined before the August 1971 single “Lydia Purple” (b/w “Choker”). Hessel de Vries left the lineup, and Willem de Vries returned to lead voice.

Bassist-singer Willem de Vries and drummer Dennis Whitbread joined guitarists Ad de Hont and Jan de Hont in the final lineup. The quartet recorded longer guitar-led pieces during November 1971 and April 1972 at EMI Studios in Heemstede. Manager Jan van Setten assigned the Cargo name to the album project after the recordings. Harvest issued the four-track self-titled album through EMI in the Netherlands.

Cargo

Cargo released their self-titled album in 1972 on Harvest.

The album presents long-form guitar-led jams by bassist/singer Willem de Vries, drummer Dennis Whitbread, and guitarists Ad de Hont and Jan de Hont.

“Sail Inside” surges from a firm riff into a broad middle stretch, where fret lines braid through lead trades before the vocal refrain returns near the close. “Cross Talking” breaks into taut call-and-response figures with steady backbeats under tightened middle leads. “Finding Out” vaults through a dense, sharpe pattern, flanked with vocals amid relentless ensemble motion. “Summerfair” reclines into sunlit vocal passages, circles repeated themes, and opens into spacious jams before a more psychedelic close.

A1. “Sail Inside” (10:55)
A2. “Cross Talking” (8:35)

B1. “Finding Out” (5:15)
B2. “Summerfair” (15:40)

Cargo recorded the album in 1972 at Bovema Studio B in Heemstede. Harvest manufactured the Dutch issue through N.V. Bovema-EMI in Haarlem.

Cargo appeared in a laminated sleeve whose front cover shows a dockside crane lifting a wooden crate beside a cargo ship. Yellow block lettering places the title across the lower right corner.

Discography: