Budgie - Running from My Soul: The MCA Years 1973–1975
While the first two albums were produced by Rodger Bain, best known for producing the first three Black Sabbath albums and later on Judas Priest’s debut, when Never Turn Your Back On A Friend came along the band decided to produce it themselves. The album explodes out the speakers with the now infamous “Breadfan,” a raw, hard-charging and in-your-face track with a gorgeous middle section. Next up is a rocking cover of Big Joe Williams’ “Baby Please Don’t Go” that has a bluesy, boogie woogie undercurrent. They do a 180 with “You Know I’ll Always Love You,” (and later in the album “Riding My Nightmare”) a couple of really strong, folky, acoustic guitar and vocal tracks. At almost nine minutes, “You’re The Biggest Thing Since Powered Milk” starts off with a drum solo then shifts into a very dynamic, Led Zeppelin flavored bluesy rocker. With a very interesting arrangement that has a bit of a prog vibe, “In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter’s Hand” is an impressive track that’s rock, but with elements of blues and funk. The album closes strongly with the ten-and-a-half-minute epic “Parents,” which throws together folk and prog with some heavier parts that really showcase Bourge’s guitar work.
For album number four, In For The Kill!, Pete Boot took over on drums after Phillips became disillusioned with the music industry and left the band. The album followed a path similar to its predecessor, but the band sounds a little looser. It also ended up being their highest charting album hitting 29 on the UK album chart. The title track kicks the album off and is a hard-rocking classic Budgie tune with a hint of Led Zeppelin, although a bit rawer. “Wondering What Everyone Knows” is another of their pretty, laid-back folkier acoustic songs with some Beatles-esque touches, especially in the harmonies. At just under ten minutes, “Zoom Club” is an awesome hard rock track that sounds like a jam session with a dirty bluesy groove and a little funk, that really showcases their musicianship. Starting off dissonant and quiet, “Hammner And Tongs” becomes slow and heavy, sounding like a cross between Sabbath and bluesy Zeppelin rock. With some incredible guitar work from Bourge, “Running From My Soul” is a fun and loose bluesy jam, while closer “Living On Your Own” is another epic long track that at almost nine minutes keeps you on your toes with its ever-shifting dynamics and even a little prog in the middle. Disc two also includes a very well edited single version of “Zoom Club,” but unfortunately due to licensing issues is missing “Crash Course In Brain Surgery,” which was released as a standalone single between the first two albums and was included as a bonus cut on the US version of the debut, as well as being included on In For The Kill!
Bandolier is the final album here and found them with another new drummer in Steve Williams, who after Shelley, ended up being the band’s second longest serving member. They also upped the funk influence here which can be heard right out the gate on the loose rock of “Breaking All The House Rules,” which again shows the dynamics of their music with some more technical sections. The gentle, laid-back, almost dreamy, “Slipaway” finds them venturing into more of a jazzy sound, while “Who Do You Want For Your Love?” shifts back and forth from soul to funky rock and “I Can’t See My Feelings” is more of a somewhat nondescript, straight-ahead midtempo rocker. Next up is their cover of Andy Fairweather Low’s “I Ain’t No Mountain,” which is more funk rock with a little Southern Rock blues. The album high point is the two part closer “Napoleon Bona - Part One” and “Napoleon Bona - Part Two,” a galloping beat driven, explosive hard rocker that is more reminiscent of their earlier stuff. There are also three more bonus tracks including stereo and mono edits of “I Ain’t No Mountain” and the b-side “Honey,” another strong acoustic track. One listen to the music in Running From My Soul - The MCA Years 1973-1975 and its very obvious why this band was so influential.
