When I was 10, all I could think about was Men At Work. They were my first favorite band. Their first album, Business as usual(1982) was a solid piece of work but there were too many candy songs on it. Cargo only has one candy song (Dr. Heckyll and Mr.Jive)and the rest are pure pop bliss. The guitar work on this album (Ron Strykert)is brilliant. Songs like "I Like To", "Blue for You", "No Restrictions", and "No sign of Yesterday" are all sort of dark in their own poppy way. It really seemed as if Men At Work were getting much better and greater things were yet to come. I truly beleive that the drumming of Jerry Spieser was just as good as anybody ever (before or since) and Colin Hay had the voice of a superstar. I think this album really could have been and certainly should have been the launching pad to an even more focused project. The only other studio album that they did was almost 3 years later and without Spieser and Bassist John Reese (two hearts 1985). The album was terrible and almost completely void of that great Men At Work sound. I have no idea why these guys couldnt stick together but I do know it cost us some great music. Great Album.
March 31, 2001I've always liked Men at Work. I remember listening to some of the songs from this album for the first time many years ago. Cargo is a pretty solid and listenable piece of music. The songwriting, musicianship, and production are quite satisfying and tight. Cargo is in a pop rock musical direction, and the album is mostly guitar-oriented--keyboards are only used sparingly. There's some good guitar playing throughout the album. Colin Hay has a unique and easily recognizable vocal style, also. Guitarist Ron Strykert handles the lead vocals on a couple of tracks ("Settle Down My Boy" and "I Like to"). There's a total of ten tracks on Cargo. Some of the songs that I like are "Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive," "Overkill," "It's a Mistake," and "High Wire." "Overkill" is my favorite song. It has an impressive intro, and the saxophone playing is also nice. "Settle Down My Boy," "Blue for You," and "I Like to" are just okay. Cargo is enjoyable and worth a listen.
August 29, 2000CARGO, A true classic 1983 album by this semi-populer short time early 80s soft rock group. Has pretty much got to be in my opinion and i'm sure others the best thing to come out since sliced bread, and will go down in history. It deserves a lot more recognition then it's got when it first came out, and i thought to be a whole lot better then thier first. This whole recording is jam-packed with some of the most inovative type songs you will ever hear, you will enjoy every note and word. From the start off song of (DR. HECKELL AND MR. JIVE) i just love the consistent cymbal beating on the drums to this song and a few others. (OVERKILL) has to be my favorite with the sax as the intro, then colin hay lead saying -i can't get to sleep i think about the implacations of diveing in to deep or possably the complecations. (SETTLE DOWN MY BOY) sung and written by the groups guitarist ron strykert is a clever song. (UPSTAIRS IN MY HOUSE)and (NO SIGN OF YESTERDAY) rank with the best of the best (IT'S A MISTAKE)it's also clever to make this song sound like a fun war song (HIGH WIRE)to a circus song -neat- (BLUE FOR YOU)also to regge sound (I LIKE TO) another song by ron strykert with a tint of punk in it. If your thinken about buying a cass-or-cd through this service or any other take my advice or better yet, let it surprise you.
October 16, 1999CARGO, A true classic 1983 album by this semi-populer short time early 80s soft rock group. Has pretty much got to be in my opinion and i'm sure others the best thing to come out since sliced bread, and will go down in history. It deserves a lot more recognition then it's got when it first came out, and i thought to be a whole lot better then thier first. This whole recording is jam-packed with some of the most inovative type songs you will ever hear, you will enjoy every note and word. From the start off song of (DR. HECKELL AND MR. JIVE) i just love the consistent cymbal beating on the drums to this song and a few others. (OVERKILL) has to be my favorite with the sax as the intro, then colin hay lead saying -i can't get to sleep i think about the implacations of diveing in to deep or possably the complecations. (SETTLE DOWN MY BOY) sung and written by the groups guitarist ron strykert is a clever song. (UPSTAIRS IN MY HOUSE)and (NO SIGN OF YESTERDAY) rank with the best of the best (IT'S A MISTAKE)it's also clever to make this song sound like a fun war song (HIGH WIRE)to a circus song -neat- (BLUE FOR YOU)also to regge sound (I LIKE TO) another song by ron strykert with a tint of punk in it. If your thinken about buying a cass-or-cd through this service or any other take my advice or better yet, let it surprise you.
October 15, 1999 |  | IF YOU LIKED BUSINESS AS USUAL CARGO IS NO EXCEPTION. |  |
LET ME START OFF BY SAYING I AM MOST LIKELY THE WORLDS BIGGEST MEN AT WORK FAN. I HAVE LOVED THIS LAND FROM DOWN UNDER GROUP SINCE I WAS 10 YEARS OLD, AS A MATTER OF FACT THEY WERE MY FIRST CHILDHOOD GROUP. THIER AWSOME DEBUT BUSINESS AS USUAL WAS THE BEST THING TO COME OUT. WITH COLIN HAY STRONG SONG WRITING ABILTY AND GREAT VOICE. (PEOPLE JUST LOVE TO PLAY WITH WORDS) (THOUCHING THE UNTOUCHABLES) (DOWN UNDER) ARE JUST TO NAME A FEW. CARGO FOLLOWS IN THE SAME MANNER. STRONG VOCALS EXCELLENT SONG WRITING, ALL MEANS ENJOYABLE MUSIC. (DR.HEKELL AND MR.JIVE) (OVERKILL) (SETTLE DOWN MY BOY) (IT'S A MISTAKE) (HIGH WIRE) (BLUE FOR YOU) (I LIKE TO) ARE ALL EXCEPTIONAL. YOU COULDENT GET NO BETTER THEN THIS. COLIN HAY- GREG HAM- RON STRYKERT- JOHN REES- JERRY SPRISER WERE THE GREATEST.
September 14, 1999More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(9 reviews)
