REVIEW: Cargo Recording Studios 1977-1985

Abbey Road, Music City and Sun Studios could be classed as 3 of the more well known recording studios where exemplary composers have structured their radiant choral jewels for unsuspecting devotees to devour upon being disclosed.

Rochdale’s 16 track Cargo Studios in certain social circles might not have been on everyone’s radar when it comes to obvious stand out recording havens. That is until Chris Connelly unleashed a beauteous testament simply entitled Cargo Recording Studios 1977-1985. The 360 page strong full colour hardback book encased in a replica tape box stands out just from first glance, when opening this authoritative document it’s clear that hours of devotion, groundwork and research of the highest order have been employed by Connelly.

Original studio owner John Brierley and Peter Hook, who recorded at Cargo and also owned the studio when it was sold renaming it as Suite 16, both give empowered and impactful opening witness statements, Brierley giving his stamp of approval ‘the book is a fascinating insight into the music and recording at that time from the musicians who made it’, Hook comes in with affectionate fables of working with Tony Wilson, Rob Gretton and Martin Hannett ‘the first time I walked into Cargo Studios I was terrified’ before settling on fond depictions of recording with Joy Division under the guidance of genius knob twiddler Hannett.

This tireless essay has been 12 years in the making and quite clearly, it’s been a labour of adoration for Connelly, mixing with many artists who are thankfully here and some sadly departed, he says ‘the book is far from a complete reference of the bands/artists who recorded at the studio. It is a book for intermittent reading, dipping in and out whilst looking for an obscure single to play’. That said the artist featured help the pages jump out with new extensive interviews and glistening chronicles which include photos of studio employees hard at work, list of recording artists, an overview of the studio layout, single and album covers, posters, extensive equipment details and various bits of personal archive from artists like The Beloved, Dead Or Alive and The Fall.

There are many bands included here that might not be familiar to millions, such as Boltons Artzone, their drummer Phil Hurst recalls “when we first went to Cargo to have a look around…the band The Mekons were in the studio. As we arrived they went on a break. One of the members came over to Steve W (our lead guitarist) and said ‘when we get back, if any of our gear is missing I will find you and I will f*cking kill you’” maybe this is where Liam Neeson got own of his lines from, who knows, but this type of anecdote is fondly replete in the book. Middletons finest The Chameleons who recorded one of the best ever debut albums in the studio reminisce about recording a demo for John Peel who was quite obviously a fan of the studio, On his radio show Peel used to play any track that said ‘Recorded at Cargo’ on the sleeve, often without listening to it first, just simply on the studios reputation for good indie music.

Further recollections that help show evidence of how hallowed Cargo really is comes from Stockholm Monsters drummer Shan Hira ‘it (Cargo) influenced me to work in a studio, I really liked the place, straight away it had a nice vibe, I remember all the record sleeves of bands that had recorded there were all over the walls’, Hira goes on to share that when the studio changed to Suite 16 and upgraded to 24 track Oasis founding member Bonehead purchased the 16 track. Much more of these folk tales from the likes of Echo and The Bunnymen, Gang Of Four and A Certain Ratio plus an enamored reflection of enshrined producer Martin Hannett who ofttimes was found in Cargo producing bands like Joy Division, OMD, Nico, Crispy Ambulance, Durutti Column, Tunnel Vision, Section 25, and Stockholm Monsters only help elevate this document to the realms of magnificent.

Either if you’re a fan of the bands as mentioned or not, this capsule full of narratives of a bygone era is one not to be missed by any music fan, it pulls firmly on the heartstrings and has the reader yearning for more. A highly recommended prodigious and absorbing publication.

Cargo Recording Studios 1977-1985 can be purchased here and here