S9E464 - The Chameleons 'Script Of The Bridge' with Chris Connelly
Author Chris Connelly (Cargo Recording Studios 1977-1985) joins us to unpack criminally underrated UK band The Chameleons and their 1983 debut album 'Script Of The Bridge'.
Cargo Studios, though only active from 1977 to 1985 in Rochdale, quickly became the epicentre for post-punk and independent recording bands across the UK, including The Fall, Joy Division, OMD, Gang Of Four, Felt and many many more. Chris was THERE for some of the 'Script Of The Bridge' sessions, and offers keen insight into this fantastic record - AND this special place/time.
Songs discussed in this episode: View From A Hill (acoustic version) - The Chameleons; Atmosphere - Joy Division; The Fan and the Bellows, Things I Wish I'd Said - The Chameleons; The Cutter - Echo & The Bunnymen; I Will Follow - U2; Don't Fall, Here Today, Monkeyland, Second Skin, Dreams In Celluloid (Demo), Second Skin (Live, 2000), Up The Down Escalator - The Chameleons; Untitled - Interpol; Less Than Human, Less Than Human (Demo), Pleasure and Pain - The Chameleons; Psykick Dance Hall - The Fall; Electricity (Martin Hannett Cargo Studios version) - OMD; Thursday's Child, As High As You Can Go, A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days, Paper Tigers - The Chameleons; Damaged Goods, Love Like Anthrax - Gang Of Four (Damaged Goods EP 1978); Atmosphere - Joy Division; View From A Hill - The Chameleons; Raindance - The Last Seven Days; Tomorrow Never Knows (Beatles cover) - The Chameleons
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Chris Connelly spent twelve years researching the 360-page hard-back book which features over a thousand pictures and music memorabilia. The book comes housed in a replica tape
box.
There’s an introduction from Cargo’s founder and studio engineer John Brierley and a foreword by Peter Hook, who recorded there with Joy Division and New Order and continued the legacy when he later bought the premises.
Cargo Studios is where the seminal ‘Atmosphere’ by Joy Division was recorded and other influential tracks from The Fall, Gang of Four, The Chameleons, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Nico, A Certain Ratio, Echo and the Bunnymen DAF and many more.
The book lists the equipment used in the studio and has a section displaying owner John Brierleys’ picture sleeves from the studio which used to be displayed in the studio.
Included are essays by artists who recorded their who expand upon the times, hustling to get gigs, the politics of the day and venues played.
The aim of the book was to try and include all recordings from the studio and over 900 people were interviewed. A vast array of musical styles and projects are covered such as:
Punk, Blues, Cabaret, School projects, Experimental, Electronic and Supermarket background music!
Bands travelled from Scotland, Bristol, London Liverpool and Germany to record at Cargo. The book has been a is a real labour of love and of interest to music fans of all tastes.
Prior to writing the book Chris produced a fanzine on Manchester UK from 1982 to 1983, he is a life long music lover.<…