Budgie -

Budgie was a Welsh hard-rock band that released 10 albums between 1971 and 1982 on MCA, A&M, and RCA Victor. The one constant member throughout that time was bassist/vocalist Burke Shelley, who resurrected the nameplate in the 21st century.

Members: Burke Shelley (lead vocals, bass), Tony Bourge (guitar, 1967-78), Ray Phillips (drums, 1967-73), Pete Boot (drums, 1973-74), Steve Williams (drums, 1974-86, 1999-?), Myfyr Isaac (guitar, 1976-78), Rob Kendrick (guitar, vocals, 1978-79), John Thomas (guitar, 1979-88, 1995-96, 1999-2002), Duncan Mackay (keyboards, 1982)

Background

Budgie formed in 1967 Cardiff as a power trio comprised of bassist/singer Burke Shelley, guitarist Tony Bourge, and drummer Ray Phillips. They initially gigged as Hills Contemporary Grass before a prospective name-change to Six Ton Budgie. By the time of their 1968 demo sessions, they settled on the name Budgie, the nickname of the yellow/green budgerigar parakeet. After two years plying the UK club circuit, they secured a deal with MCA Records and entered Monmouth’s Rockfield Studios, the recording place for all but two of their ensuing studio albums.

Budgie

In June 1971, Budgie issued their self-titled debut album on Kapp (North America) and MCA (everywhere else). It features eight group-written numbers, including the medium-length epics “Rape of the Locks,” “The Author,” and “Homicidal Suicidal,” and the nearly nine-minute “Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman.” A concurrent non-album track, “Crash Course in Brain Surgery,” was issued as a single with an abbreviated “Nude” on the flip.

1. “Guts” 4:20
2. “Everything in My Heart” 1:00
3. “The Author” 6:25
4. “Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman” 8:30
5. “Rape of the Locks” 6:10
6. “All Night Petrol” 6:00
7. “You and I” 1:45
8. “Homicidal Suicidal” 6:30

Budgie and its followup were produced by Rodger Bain, who also produced Battle Hymn by Wild Turkey and the first three albums by Black Sabbath. The cover illustration, which depicts an airbound chicken-headed horseman, is credited to one David Sparling.

Squawk

Budgie’s second album, Squawk, appeared in September 1972. It features nine group originals, including the lengthy “Young Is a World,” the short “Make Me Happy,” and the five/six-minute-range “Hot as a Docker’s Armpit,” “Stranded,” and “Rocking Man.” The opening track, “Whiskey River,” was issued as a single.

1. “Whiskey River” 3:23
2. “Rocking Man” 5:25
3. “Rolling Home Again” 1:43
4. “Make Me Happy” 2:37
5. “Hot as a Docker’s Armpit” 5:51
6. “Drugstore Woman” 3:14
7. “Bottled” 1:52
8. “Young Is a World” 8:07
9. “Stranded” 6:17

The cover art to this album and its followup were illustrated by artist Roger Dean (Yes, Uriah Heep, Osibisa, Midnight Sun, Earth & Fire, Greenslade, Asia). The Squawk imagery, with its sleek cardinal-headed aircraft and ordinary typeface, is a departure from the fantasy-scapes that characterize most of Dean’s work.

Never Turn Your Back on a Friend

The third Budgie album, Never Turn Your Back on a Friend, was recorded February–March 1973 and released that June. Six of the seven numbers are group originals, including “In the Grip of a Tyrefitter’s Hand,” “Breadfan,” “You’re the Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk,” and the 10-minute epic “Parents.” This was their first self-produced effort and their first to include a cover, “Baby, Please Don’t Go,” written in the 1930s by Delta bluesman Big Joe Williams and popularized in the 1960s by Irish R&B/beatsters Them. Soon after this album’s release, Phillips left the band.

1. “Breadfan” 6:04
2. “Baby, Please Don’t Go” 5:25
3. “You Know I’ll Always Love You” 2:12
4. “You’re the Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk” 8:45
5. “In the Grip of a Tyrefitter’s Hand” 6:18
6. “Riding My Nightmare” 2:35
7. “Parents” 10:10

Original pressings of Never Turn Your Back on a Friend come in a gatefold cover that depicts winged/masked hybrid creatures in a scenic landscape, an image more in keeping with Dean’s contemporaneous works (Demons and Wizards, Tales from Topographic Oceans, Relayer). This marked the first appearance of Dean’s trademark Budgie logo, used by the band on their next two albums and later resurrected for their early ’80s output.

In for the Kill

Budgie’s fourth album, In for the Kill, was released in May 1974. It contains three Bourge–Shelley originals per side, including the six-minute side openers “In for the Kill” and “Hammer and Tongs” and the nine/ten-minute side closers “Zoom Club” and “Living on Your Own.” Also included is the 1971 rarity “Crash Course in Brain Surgery,” later covered by Metallica. For this release, the drum seat was deputized by one Pete Boot.

1. “In for the Kill” 6:24
2. “Crash Course in Brain Surgery” Shelley, Bourge, Ray Phillips 2:34
3. “Wondering What Everyone Knows” 2:50
4. “Zoom Club” 9:51
5. “Hammer and Tongs” 6:46
6. “Running from My Soul” 3:32
7. “Living on Your Own” 8:49

Bandolier

Budgie released their fifth album, Bandolier, in September 1975 on MCA.

1. “Breaking All the House Rules” 7:23
2. “Slipaway” 4:02
3. “Who Do You Want for Your Love?” 6:10
4. “I Can’t See My Feelings” 5:54
5. “I Ain’t No Mountain” Andy Fairweather Low 3:36
6. “Napoleon Bona-Part One” (2:36)
“Napoleon Bona-Part Two” (4:39) 7:15

If I Were Brittania I’d Waive the Rules

Budgie released their sixth album, If I Were Brittania I’d Waive the Rules, on April 23, 1976, on A&M Records.

1. “Anne Neggen” 4:04
2. “If I Were Brittania I’d Waive the Rules” 5:50
3. “You’re Opening Doors” 4:14
4. “Quacktor and Bureaucats” 3:52
5. “Sky High Percentage” 5:52
6. “Heaven Knows Our Name” 3:52
7. “Black Velvet Stallion” 8:07

Impeckable

Budgie released their seventh album, Impeckable, on February 17, 1978, on A&M.

1. “Melt the Ice Away” 3:33
2. “Love for You and Me” 4:04
3. “All at Sea” 4:21
4. “Dish It Up” 4:21
5. “Pyramids” 4:22
6. “Smile Boy Smile” 4:31
7. “I’m a Faker Too” 4:48
8. “Don’t Go Away” Blanche Shelley, Burke Shelley 4:56
9. “Don’t Dilute the Water” 6:12

If Swallowed, Do Not Induce Vomiting

In July 1980, Budgie released If Swallowed, Do Not Induce Vomiting, a four-song 12″ EP on Active Records, a subsidiary of RCA.

Power Supply

Budgie released their eighth album, Power Supply, on October 10, 1980, on Active Records.

1. “Forearm Smash” 5:40
2. “Hellbender” Shelley, Thomas, Steve Williams 3:25
3. “Heavy Revolution” 4:28
4. “Gunslinger” 5:03
Side twoNo. Title Length
5. “Power Supply” 3:41
6. “Secrets in My Head” 3:58
7. “Time to Remember” 5:27
8. “Crime Against the World” 5:36

Nightflight

Budgie released their ninth album, Nightflight, in October 1981 on RCA.

1. “I Turned to Stone” 6:11
2. “Keeping a Rendezvous” 3:45
3. “Reaper of the Glory” 3:50
4. “She Used Me Up” 3:17
5. “Don’t Lay Down and Die” 3:35
6. “Apparatus” 2:52
7. “Superstar” 3:28
8. “Change Your Ways” 4:22
9. “Untitled Lullaby” 1:16

Deliver Us From Evil

Budgie released their tenth album, Deliver Us From Evil, in October 1982 on RCA.

1. “Bored with Russia” Bo Hill 3:49
2. “Don’t Cry” 3:19
3. “Truth Drug” 4:23
4. “Young Girl” Mason, Grieves (Benjamin Laub) 2:18
5. “Flowers in the Attic” 5:12
6. “N.O.R.A.D. (Doomsday City)” 4:15
7. “Give Me the Truth” 4:11
8. “Alison” Shelley 3:26
9. “Finger on the Button” 3:59
10. “Hold On to Love” 4:16

Discography: