Budgie  

Budgie was the lovable trio from Wales, the stepchild of Black Sabbath and Rush (due both to musical and visual similarities to these two bands), plying their trade at a time when practically no one other than Sabbath was doing so. One has to appreciate the humorous album covers and quirky song titles ("Napoleon Bona-Part I", "You're The Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk", "Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman", where do they come up with this stuff?), as well as one of the most diverse songwriting styles ever, with their Sabbath style on one end, folky acoustic ditties on the other, and practically everything in between as well. They were cult favorites in the UK for years, though they never really achieved a lot of success elsewhere. They were another band given a boost via the Metallica cover treatment, with two of their classics, "Breadfan" and "Crash Course In Brain Surgery", covered by James and company. Though it's difficult to pinpoint a best album, a good bet (and arguably one of the best overall representations of their style) might be Never Turn Your Back On A Friend. Budgie was an outstanding band, well ahead of its time.

The band officially disbanded in the mid-eighties, but reunion gigs have taken place in the years since, and at some point the band was more or less active once again. They recently released their first studio album in 24 years, entitled You're All Living In Cuckooland.

Current Members Burke Shelley bass/vocals Craig Goldy guitars (Dio) Steve Williams drums

Former Members/Guests Tony Bourge guitars (Tredegar) John Thomas guitars Simon Lees guitars Duncan McKay keyboards Ray Phillips drums (Tredegar) Pete Boot drums

Discography

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Budgie 
1971 MCA

Guts Everything in my heart The Author Nude disintegrating parachutist woman Rape of the locks All night petrol You and I Homicidal Suicidal

Burke Shelley Tony Bourge Ray Phillips

1971 Internet Top Ten album

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Squawk 
1972 MCA

Whiskey river Rocking man Rolling home again Make me happy Hot as a dockers armpit Drugstore woman Bottled Young is a world Stranded

Burke Shelley Tony Bourge Ray Phillips

1972 BNR and Internet Top Ten album

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Never Turn Your Back On A Friend 
1973 MCA

Breadfan Baby please don't go You know I'll always love you You're the biggest thing since powdered milk In the grip of a tyrefitter's hand Riding my nightmare Parents

Burke Shelley Tony Bourge Ray Phillips

1973 BNR and Internet Top Ten album

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In For The Kill 
1974 MCA

In for the kill Crash course in brain surgery Wondering what everyone knows Zoom club Hammer and tongs Running from my soul Living on your own

Burke Shelley Tony Bourge Pete Boot

1974 BNR Top Ten album

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Bandolier 
1975 MCA

Breaking all the house rules Slipaway Who do you want for love I can't see my feelings I ain't no mountain Napoleon Bona-Part One Napoleon Bona-Part Two

Burke Shelley Tony Bourge Steve Williams

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Best Of Budgie  COMPILATION
1975

Breadfan I Ain't No Mountain I Can't See My Feelings Baby Please Don't Go Zoom Club Breaking All The House Rules Parents In For The Kill In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand

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If I Were Brittania I'd Waive The Rules 
1976 A&M

Anne Neggen If I Were Brittania I'd Waive The Rules You're Opening Doors Quacktor And Bureaucats Sky High Percentage Heaven Knows Our Name Black Velvet Stallion

Burke Shelley Tony Bourge Steve Williams

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Impeckable 
1978 A&M

Melt The Ice Away Love For You And Me All At Sea Dish It Up Pyramids Smile Boy Smile I'm A Faker Too Don't Go Away Don't Dilute The Water

Burke Shelley Tony Bourge Steve Williams

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(EP) If Swallowed Do Not Induce ... 
1980 RCA

Wildfire High School Girls Panzer Division Destroyed Lies Of Jim (The E-type Lover)

Burke Shelley John Thomas Steve Williams

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Power Supply 
1980 RCA

Forearm Smash Hellbender Heavy Revolution Gunslinger Power Supply Secrets In My Head Time To Remember Crime Against The World

Burke Shelley John Thomas Steve Williams

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Nightflight 
1981 RCA

I Turned To Stone Keeping A Rendezvous Reaper Of The Glory She Used Me Up Don't Lay Down And Die Apparatus Superstar Change Your Ways Untitled Lullaby

Burke Shelley John Thomas Steve Williams

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Best Of Budgie  COMPILATION
1981

Whiskey River Guts Just Rolling Home Again Homicidal Suicidal Hot As A Docker's Armpit Drug Store Woman Rocking Man You And I Rape Of The Locks Stranded

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Deliver Us From Evil 
1982 RCA

Bored With Russia Don't Cry Truth Drug Young Girl Flowers In The Attic N.O.R.A.D. (Doomsday City) Give Me The Truth Alison Finger On The Button Hold On To Love

Burke Shelley John Thomas Duncan McKay Steve Williams

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An Ecstasy Of Fumbling  COMPILATION
1996 Repetoire

Homicidal Suicidal Nude Disitergrating Parachutist Woman Whiskey River Hot As A Docker's Armpit In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand Breadfan Parents In For The Kill Crash Course In Brain Surgery Napoleon Bona-Part One & Two Who Do You Wan't For Your Love? Breaking All The House Rules Beautiful Lies Anne Neggen If I Were Britannia I'd Waive The Rules Black Velvet Stallion Melt The Ice Away Forearm Smash Time To Remember Wildfire Lies Of Jim (The E Type Lover) I Turned To Stone She Used Me Up Superstar Don't Cry Truth Drug Hold On To Love Superstar Panzer Division Destroyed

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We Came, We Saw  LIVE
1997

Breaking All The House Rules Crime against the world Napoleon Bona-Part One Napoleon Bona-Part Two Forearm SmashTwo Panzer Division Destroyed Wildfire Breadfan Forearm Smash Crime Against The World I Turned To Stone Truth Drug Superstar She Used Me Up Panzer Division Destroyed

Burke Shelley John Thomas Steve Williams

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Heavier Than Air  LIVE
1998

Rape Of The Locks Rocking Man Young Is A World Hot AsADockers Armpit Sky High Precentage In The Grip Of A Tyrefitters Hand I Turned To Stone You're A Superstar She Used Me Up Hot As A Dockers The Author Whiskey River Nude Disintegrating Woman Breadfan You Are The Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk Melt The Ice Away In The Grip Of A Tyrefitters Hand Smile Boy Smile In For The Kill/You Are The Biggest Thing Since PowderedMilk Love For You And Me Parents Who Do You Wan't For Love Dont Dilute The Water Breaking All The House Rules Breadfan

Burke Shelley John Thomas Steve Williams

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Life In San Antonio  LIVE
2002

Crime Against The World Melt The Ice Away Gunslinger Panzer Division Destroyed I Turned To Stone Black Velvet Stallion In For The Kill/Rape Of The Locks/Guts Breaking All The House Rules Zoom Club Napoleon Bona Part 1 and II Wildfire Breadfan/Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman

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You're All Living In Cuckooland 
2006 Noteworthy

Justice Dead Men Don't Talk We're All Living In Cuckooland Falling Love Is Enough Tell Me Tell Me (Don't Want To) Find That Girl Captain I Don't Want to Throw You Compressing The Comb From A Cockerel's Head

Burke Shelley Craig Goldy Steve Williams