"Budgie" is the debut album by the Welsh rock band, Budgie. It was released in July 1971 through MCA Records. The band consisted of Burke Shelley on vocals and bass, Tony Bourge on guitar and vocals, and Ray Phillips on drums. The music in the album is distinguished by its heavy, atmospheric sound, unique lyrical content, and Burke Shelley's distinct vocal style.
The album's tracklist includes notable songs like "Guts", "The Author", and "Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman". "Homicidal Suicidal" was another outstanding track that gained further fame later when it was covered by various bands like Soundgarden. Both "Guts" and "Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman" were part of the band’s live performance repertoire.
Although the album was not a commercial success initially, it established a strong cult following and secured the band as a popular live act in the UK. The album also received recognition in later years for its innovative approach to heavy metal and is considered a precursor of the New Wave British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement. Despite flying under the mainstream radar, "Budgie" as an album significantly contributed to the evolution of heavy metal genre in the 70s and inspired several rock bands in the years that followed.
