Budgie Squawk CD

Having acquired a small cult following with its first album, Budgie offered a second dose of abrasive, forceful heavy metal that, like its predecessor, drew on influences ranging from Cream to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Budgie was a band that loved contrasts -- the folk-ish qualities of "Make Me Happy" and the Beatlesque "Rolling Home Again" make hard-driving classics like "Hot as a Docker's Armpit," "Drugstore Woman," and "Rocking Man" seem all the more intense. For all its strengths, Squawk didn't turn Budgie into the well-known outfit it should have been. Budgie's followers were a devoted bunch, but unfortunately, there weren't nearly enough of them. ~ Alex Henderson

Having acquired a small cult following with its first album, Budgie offered a second dose of abrasive, forceful heavy metal that, like its predecessor, drew on influences ranging from Cream to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Budgie was a band that loved contrasts -- the folk-ish qualities of "Make Me Happy" and the Beatlesque "Rolling Home Again" make hard-driving classics like "Hot as a Docker's Armpit," "Drugstore Woman," and "Rocking Man" seem all the more intense. For all its strengths, Squawk didn't turn Budgie into the well-known outfit it should have been. Budgie's followers were a devoted bunch, but unfortunately, there weren't nearly enough of them. [The 2006 Noteworthy edition includes bonus tracks.] ~ Alex Henderson

Second album remastered with the bonus tracks "Whiskey River" (A-side single version), "Stranded" (Alt Mix), "Whiskey River" (2003), and "Rolling Home Again" (2003). 13 tracks

Recorded at Rockfield Studios, South Wales, Wales. Includes liner notes by Ray Dorsey.

Budgie: Burke Shelley (vocals, bass), Tony Bourge (guitar), Ray Phillips (drums).