BUDGIE – Budgie (originally 1971, 2004 Noteworthy Productions reissue)
In the early 1970’s, a new young band was rumbling out of Europe with a fresh, sludgy heavy rock sound. With a debut album produced by Rodger Bain under their belts, they peddled that new style of music often called “heavy metal”, known for its loud distorted guitars and long-haired musicians.
Black Sabbath? Not this time. Let’s not forget Cardiff’s own Budgie.
Budgie’s 1971 self-titled debut album demonstrates that the band had already found their own niche. Lead throat Burke Shelley had the looks and the voice of a young Geddy Lee, but three full years before Rush’s first album in 1974. They had obvious Sabbathy elements, but without the doom and evil overtones. They wrote long, groove oriented songs unlike anything Ozzy & co. were writing. Shelley’s lyrics and song titles ran from unusual to bizarre. The opener “Guts” is a great example of the strangeness and groove coming together in one addictive sludgy confection.
Budgie were also known for soft acoustic interludes. “Everything in My Heart” is one, clocking in at less than a minute. (According to the liner notes, Shelley recalls he wrote this for some girl he liked.) This acts as a sort of prelude to “The Author” which combines the quiet side with the sludge. The droning heavy riffage, switching lanes with softer sections, make for a pretty epic Budgie track. As a power trio, Shelley’s bass becomes the deliverer of many hooks. However on “Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman” the bass joins forces with Tony Bourge’s distorted axe to build a wall of riff. Both the album and single versions are included on the 2004 deluxe CD edition. One is over twice as long as the other! The album cut contains a long Purple-like instrumental section.
“Rape of the Locks” (a satire about a hair cut, get it?) commences with a very Blackmore guitar freakout. The riffs are more Sabbath, while its jammy aspects remind of the first album by the Scorpions. Burke Shelley continues the groove on “All Night Petrol”, both punishing and catchy. “You and I” is another acoustic interlude, 1:42 of Burke trying to be lovey-dovey. It acts as a reset before the final onslaught: “Homicidal Suicidal”. Soundgarden covered this one in 1991 on an obscure B-side. Perhaps it is the definitive example of the early Budgie sound. Almost seven minutes of heavy Budgie, drums hammering at the walls while Burke rumbles the foundation. Meanwhile there’s Tony Bourge with the riff of riffs.
The bonus tracks on this edition are well worth seeking. In addition to the above mentioned single edit of “Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman” there is its B-side “Crash Course in Brain Surgery” which Metallica covered. This is an unreleased alternate mix of one of Budgie’s best known metal thrashers. Finally there are 2003 re-recordings by the reformed Budgie composed of Shelley, Steve Williams and Simon Lees. “Parachutist Woman” and “Guts” are very different from the originals, although the arrangements are pretty much the same. It’s just a matter of different musicians and 32 years!
The Budgie remasters can be expensive to track down, but well worth it. May as well get all the extra tracks if you’re going to hunt for some Budgie.
4/5 stars
I’ve got four Budgie albums… really need to get more! This and Squawk are first on my list to buy next!
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I have four as well! But Squawk is not one of them sadly! Bandolier is.
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Durr turns out I’ve only got three actually! Bandolier is one of them though! Must get more.
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Although, to complicate this further… I have two versions of the three haha. I have the Noteworthy CDs and I got that MCA box last year with the same three on it. Shouldn’t have bothered as it has no bonus tracks but it was cheap. And if they do more boxes like that I’ll want them all.
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I have no budgie yet – none on the 1001 list either, but from the sounds of it, that may have been an oversiiiiiiiight!
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I really need to bring back the “oversiiiiiight” don’t I?
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I have never heard of such a band, but I once had a Budgie. Her name was Polly. She probably wasn’t a she. Who can tell?
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My sister had a budgie named Luke. Then she somehow found it Luke was a girl and she decided that Luke was shorty for Luccia.
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Love Budgie, true innovators and metal godfathers.
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Awesome, glad you agree Weirwolfe! Got a favourite album?
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Probably Bandolier Mike. The iconic cover and Napoleon Bona Parts 1, 2 & 3 get me every time. They had a stack of great songs over all their albums.
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In the dim and distant past when Zeppelin ruled the sixth form common room, yes I went to one of those schools, I held to the fact that Budgie out rocked the poseurs in dragon pants and midriff baring cheesecloth shirts. This was not an easy sacrilege to hold to, however I may still believe this.
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Agreed. Budgie were underground Gods.
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I hadn’t heard of Budgie until, I think, HMO mentioned them a while back. Decided I needed to get some of their stuff (dare say it’ll be CD) and this has prompted me to do so as a priority!
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Budgie is such a great name for a band.
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I believe their original name was 10 Tonne Budgie.
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That sounds like a dodgy porn title.
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Hah! It kinda does!
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It made me laugh.
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Glad to see you covering a Welsh band here. I love the strangeness they slip in amongst the heaviness. The original vinyls are expensive these days.
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The CDs are expensive here. Usually between $30 and $40 for the reissues.
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