Budgie formed in Cardiff, Wales in 1967, releasing their debut record in 1971. This three disc collection kicks off two year later, featuring the three albums they recorded for MCA Records between 1973 and 1975.
Fronted by singer and bass guitarist Burke Shelley, joined by lead guitarist Tony Bourge and original drummer, Ray Philips, “Never Turn Your Back On A Friend” (CD 1) was the band’s third album of Classic Hard Rock and proto-Metal, originally was released in June 1973. Like previous album “Squawk,” the album features cover artwork by famed designer Roger Dean (YES, Asia).
Whereas the first two records had been produced by Roger Bain (Black Sabbath, Judas Priest), Budgie now elected to produce themselves on a collection of original Budgie songs, with the exception of a cover of R&B classic “Baby, Please Don’t Go.”
“Never Turn Your Back On A Friend” was followed in May 1974 by “In For The Kill!” (CD 2), the sole album to feature drummer Pete Boot, reaching a creditable No. 29 on the UK album charts.
The third album in this collection is “Bandolier,” released in September 1975; the first to feature long-term drummer Steve Williams. With cover artwork by famed fantasy artist Patrick Woodroffe (Judas Priest, Pallas), Budgie’s fifth album reached No. 36 in the UK album charts.
The bonus tracks included here are mono and stereo single edits of “I Ain’t No Mountain,” a single edit of “Zoom Club,” plus non-album B-sides “Wondering What Everyone Knows” and “Honey.”
Budgie’s influence on Hard Rock and Heavy Metal is far wider than their commercial success might suggest, demonstrated by Metallica’s patronage when they covered “Breadfan” and “Crash Course In Brain Surgery” on their multi-platinum “Garage Inc.” compilation, by Soundgarden who covered “Homicidal Suicidal” in 1992 and by Iron Maiden, who covered “I Can’t See My Feelings,” also in 1992.
– 3xD collection capturing an early career peak for the influential Welsh Heavy Metal band.
– Includes non-album B-sides and single edits.
– Budgie songs have been covered by Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Soundgarden, among others.
DISC ONE — NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON A FRIEND
01. Breadfan
02. Baby Please Don’t Go
03. You Know I’ll Always Love You
04. You’re The Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk
05. In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter’s Hand
06. Riding My Nightmare
07. Parents
DISC TWO — IN FOR THE KILL! *
01. In For The Kill
02. Wondering What Everyone Knows
03. Zoom Club
04. Hammer And Tongs
05. Running From My Soul
06. Living On Your Own
BONUS TRACKS
07. Zoom Club (Edit)
08. Wondering What Everyone Knows (B-Side)
*Due to licensing issues, we are unfortunately unable to include ‘Crash Course In Brain Surgery’.
DISC THREE — BANDOLIER
01. Breaking All The House Rules
02. Slipaway
03. Who Do You Want For Your Love?
04. I Can’t See My Feelings
05. I Ain’t No Mountain
06. Napoleon Bona – Part One
07. Napoleon Bona – Part Two
BONUS TRACKS
08. I Ain’t No Mountain (Stereo Edit)
09. Ain’t No Mountain (Mono Edit)
10. Honey (B-Side)