Delivering The Goods

During their brief existence, Cargo -- a band that supported the likes of Sam Apple Pie, Stray, East of Eden, and Greenslade -- certainly delivered the goods with their powerful blend of hard-rock, psychedelic and progressive/jazz-rock sounds, full of screaming vocals, hard guitar, furious sax attacks, and heavy drums. Formed in Burton on Trent by guitarist/songwriter Andrew Perrins with members from the band Helter Skelter, they included killer lead guitarist Neillian 'Sped' Spedding, saxophonist Alan 'Nala' Wright, drummer Graham Hair, bassist Dave Kent, and a charismatic vocalist modeled after Robert Plant named Terence 'Ticker' Davies. Influenced by bands like Gentle Giant, ELP, and Yes, Cargo gained attention through strong live performances, supporting major acts like Queen and East of Eden. In 1973, they recorded a demo acetate titled Delivering The Goods at Zella Studios. Although they nearly signed with Island Records, they turned down the offer when it was only extended to the singer and drummer. This is without doubt a major find for any hard-rock/heavy-prog fan.