Music : Bandolier

Rating: - Feelgood music times ten!
I went to see Status Quo at Cardiff Castle way back in 1976 as a naive youngster totally besotted with the above mentioned. It was a one day festival faeturing bands such as Hawkwind, The Strawbs, Curved Air, The headlining Quo and the opening act of the day Budgie.
It was a red hot blue sky day, the atmosphere just wonderful and then this band came on stage, didn't speak initially, just went into the opening track on this album 'Breaking all the house rules'. My jaw dropped, Burke Shelly (who I'd never heard of at that time) belting out the lyrics backed by his own faultless bass riffs which formed the backdrop of the whole idea complimented by Tony Bourge' brilliant lead breaks with Steve Williams kicking the other two up the arse with solid rock drumming. It was awesome. The naive youngster was now not quite so, the eyes opened by this fantastic sound that belted out across the castles surroundings. I fell in love with Budgie that instant and I honestly can't believe the lack of reviews on this album hence why I'm writing this one. Breaking all the house rules has stayed with me all my life and still sounds as fresh as that first time I heard it at Cardiff Castle in 1976. For me the finest rock track ever! The rest of the album is likewise. I clearly remember Burke saying "some people ask me why I wear glasses, It's because I can't see my feelings!" another absolutley grinding bass rock track as is 'Who do you want for your love'.I suppose the whole climax comes with 'Napoleon Bona Parts one & two at the end of the album which is absolute blazing rock! Honest this is an album that I have probably bought on vinyl several times before acquiring the CD because I wore it out time and time again. Bandolier is just quite simply a brilliant rock album, probably the best (my opinion) in terms of good honest hard working musicians who show backbone and determination! A1 plus

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Rating: - Nice music, shame about the name.
If Nigel Lythgoe had been around in the 1970's, wanting to form a progressive rock band, he wouldn't have chosen the name "Budgie". So just why did these boys from the South Walian valleys stick with it and essentially shoot themselves in the claw for such a long time?...... That may not be a question in the Final Exam for an Oxford University Degree in Philosophy but it is nevertheless intriguing. More astonishing that they achieved considerable success amongst the trench coated rock music afficianados of the time. This they did through sheer hard work and the considerable friendliness they showed to the people who attended their numerous concerts during that decade. You could always be assured if you saw them live that they wouldn't play the spoilt Rock primadonnas who were all too common at the time. What you got was exactly what it said on the label. Good honest working class metal with great hum-along melodies and fantastic guitar sounds from Tony Bourge. Also a word for Burke Shelley the vocalsit who I rated as one of the best bassists of the time.Bandolier was released in 1975 and I can clearly remember that music like this was listened to by a wide social spectrum back then and wasn't the niche/memorabilia article it is now. Best tracks are Breaking all the House Rules, I can't see my Feelings and I ain't no Mountain, with writing credits to Andy Fairweather-Low who ranks as having one of the best all-time double barrell names in rock history. That aside, these tunes posess so much intrinsic quality as they pulse along with great Welsh rriffs from Tony Bourge's guitar and pleading, yearning vocals from.....er....Burke. Okay, so PR wasn't their strong point, however to any sceptics out there, you'll be hard pressed to find more hummable, tuneful songs than these. These Welsh rock wizards may not have been Popstars of their day,they were probably just a few blokes who got together and played because they loved music, but as usual with product from this era there are many undiscovered songwriting gems waiting for you to discover.