Very Best of Budgie

Well I feel almost ashamed as a Metal fan for not having listened to this group MUCH sooner! Their music (atleast the early stuff) is phenomonal. I know it's been mentioned before that they were an influence on Metallica, and listingeing to a few songs here it's blairingly apparent why! Breadfan reminds me much of the setup for "Master Of Puppets" (though Metallica also covered this song on "Garage Inc."). The lead singer is a bit nazally and highstrung, but considering some of the other early acts of the time (Ozzy in Sabbath) this wasn't that odd. But the guy here really can deliver lyrics in a special way. They are always exciting and clear, and often border between bizzaar and just plain creepy ("baby lying in a womb, are you free or in a tomb?). If their other albums weren't all upwards of $20, you bet I'd be snatching them up too. Though I understand they fell to the deadly foe of metal that was 80s commercialism, all the stuff on this CD is solid. And for the life of me, I don't know why I "Aint No Mountain" wasn't a Billboard chart topper. It's the poppiest and most easily accessable of the bunch. Breadfan is just a speed demon of a song, a slug fest of lyrics and guitar. Parents is, as mentioned before, epic. "Breaking All The House Rules" and "Hammer and Tongs" had a surprising blues feel to them, for a metal band, but were pretty awesome too! I highly advise any fan of metal and hard rock to pick this up! It's a true classic and a treasure!

Very few compilations deliver as well as this one but it's hardly a career-spanning epic, that said the ten songs featured, representing three albums from the mid seventies, clock up an amazing seventy minutes of raw, hard rock from a band sadly overlooked, under-rated and often ignored.It must be stated that Budgie existed before Led Zep and around the same time as Cream but like many UK regional bands suffered the ignominy of London record companies. Budgie, Taste and Stud all had similar experiences of low profile marketing and low budget recording deals. The comparisons often levelled pale in light of this.This album kick starts with "Breadfan" and maintains the momentum with "In The Grip of a Tyre-fitter's Hand". It's enough to reel the listener in and apart from an attempt at a single, Andy Fairweather-Low's 'I Ain't No Mountain', the album offers some truly great moments in arguably Budgie's best period. All ten minutes of 'Parents' and the epic 'Zoom Club' too, not to mention Napoleon Bona Parts I & II. Shelly's vocals may be an aquired taste but they work in this framework along with some amazing guitar from Tony Bourge. Drum duties are split between Ray Phillips and Pete Boot but I defy anyone to spot the difference.Highly recommended especially to casual listeners, real fans would have all this material already.

Good condition for a used CD, but took so long to receive.

Speaking of Crash Courses, where the hell is Crash Course in Brain Surgery?Despite that obvious omission (prob due to copyright issues), this disc does include Breadfan, with its intricately picked rhythm guitar in all its original glory. Metallica's 1988 cover version is probably better, but the 1973 (1973!) original is still a classic of proto-speed metal. And if you listen closely to the intro of Breadfan, especially at the first drum beat, it's obvious "Welcome to the Jungle" (and GNRs entire brief career) owes a HUGE debt of gratitude to this song.Also recommended: Typefitter's Hand; I Can't See My Feelings; I Ain't No Mountain; & Napoleon.Check these guys out. This Best Of collection is an underrated gem.

I am sorely disappointed in you guys.Why have you not told me of this before?You have been scolded.Yes, they can be compared to Rush (or, Rush compared to them), with a little less 'fantasy' and more 'heavy'.Any '70's rock fan, who has not heard Budgie, no 'wish list', 'buy now'.I will definitely be picking up some individual albums to see what this is all about.

Good memories, love Budgie!!

Had some good songs and I liked it. Good intro to a band Id never heard anything from before. If I didnt love RUSH so much one might say they ripped budgie off, But Rush took that trios style and turned it into another level. Both singers are close in range though.

An affordable and all too brief collection on an unheralded band. I came to BUDGIE, like most new fans thru METALLICA (thank you). Just ten songs. (I know, it's a budget release.) A great primer, and leaves you wanting for more. If you're thinking about buying this... do it. What a shame that their catalog is either out of print, too expensive, or both. Under any circumstance, they probably would have never become huge, but they held their own and made their mark. Get off the fence and buy it.

Spurred into digging out this CD again after seeing the band live at Mr. Kyps in Poole on September 21st, (for the second year running - check their website, they're on tour and may be playing at a venue near you!), the tracks covered here are excellent. I originally got into Budgie in 1968 with their first album, tempted partly by the sleeve and the publicity surrounding the band at the time, and also the intriguing 'Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman' song title; which is as strangely quirky today as it was back then. And they didn't stop there, either, as 'In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand' also on here justifies. Budgie reformed partly due to a DJ in Texas playing their tracks and a cult-following building from the airplay, and thankfully enough fans remember them vividly as an excellent live band which enable's Budgie to keep selling out venues like Mr. Kyps on an annual basis. Here we have 'Breadfan,' covered by Metallica a few years ago, and again added to their impetus to reform. 'I Ain't No Mountain' is their take on a ballad, and a splendid one at that, and 'Napoleon Bona Part I & II' is to Budgie what 'Starway To Heaven' is to Led Zeppelin and 'Ace of Spades' is to Motorhead - their absolute classic in my opinion, even though others might disagree, it's a stormer. If you've never heard Budgie's music this is great as an intro. And although, as the reviewer below notes that "the cover is a bit naff!" yes, it is, but the 'don't judge a book by the cover' adage also works here: it's the music that matters, and it's terrific!

as above

Wow! Discovered this band by accident on Youtube and was blown away! How I have never discovered them before? How have lived without them? They were peers of Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath and share a similar sound... imagine Sabbath and Zepplin jamming... and you kinda get Budgie! Okay, lyrically they're not the best, but who listens to heavy metal for philosophical lyrics?The lead singer has a Robert Plant-esque voice (an angel being tortured to the point of ecstasy)and the music is just stunning. However, they do get a bit self-indulgent with the guitar and drum riffs mid-song and this leaves some songs feeling disjointed. The songs are mostly 5+ minutes, no bad thing per se, but can seem a little flabby at times.The album is a great (and if you'll excuse the pun) cheap way to discover a band that both Metallica and Soundgarden cite as being a major influence on their respective careers. It loses a star due the fact my personal favourite track 'Homicidal Suicidal' is absent.Hammer and Tongs is probably the best tune to look for on Youtube and discover the glory of Budgie, just don't get involved in the whole did/didn't Budgie influence or copy Sabbath and Zepplin... it doesn't matter! Enjoy the music!

It is very very rare that i will ever give a thumbs up for a BEST OF CD. I usually hate them with a passion. I find that the production values usually lack any quality on these discs, the songs themselves usually suck and the songs themselves are the kind of songs which we are all sick of by the time the best of disc comes out...In this case however all those bad things are missing. First Budgie is a hard Rock band which most folks do not know of, the songs therefore will sound new, the production values are good for a change, and this 3 piece band really cook from start to end of the disc. whether you are a huge budgie fan or a beginning listener of the group this disc will ring true for you. While their CD-LPs are not cheap this one is relatively well priced and the content will fill that slot well for you with this one CD.

Very happy with item and delivery