We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
Heavy Metal music was rearing it’s flaming head in 1971. Into the mix flew a band from Cardiff Wales that mixed some Zep with Sabbath…lots of tasty riffing…pounding bass and drum bashing…plus some of the most interesting song titles ever. Say hello to Budgie.
The power trio made up of Burke Shelley (bass and vocals), Tony Bourge(guitar) and Ray Phillips (drums) had their debut LP produced by Rodger Bain of Black Sabbath fame and you can certainly here some of that here. You can even argue convincingly that the playing is better. Shelley can also channel Robert Plant at times and yet doesn’t come off as a cheap copy.
And they must have been doing something right…despite not selling many records they were able to release 9 LPs in the 1970’s. And some of their tunes were covered by venerated bands like Metallica, Soundgarden and have been cited as an influence by many more.
With titles like Nude Disintigrating Parachutist Woman and Homicidal Suicidal they check the metal boxes but the playing is what shines here. It really is a cut above a lot of their competition and for some critics, even a better example of the genre than early Sabbath (sorry Gos).
But why quibble, when you can listen to both. You probably have heard Ozzy and the boys and you certainly have heard Led Zep…you might not have heard Budgie…here’s your chance.
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