Running From My Soul - The MCA Years 1973-1975

3CD collection capturing an early career peak for the influential Welsh heavy metal band. Includes non-album B-sides and single edits. Budgie songs have been covered by Metallica, Iron Maiden and Soundgarden, among others.

Budgie formed in Cardiff, Wales in 1967, releasing their debut record in 1971. This three disc collection kicks off two year later, featuring the three albums they recorded for MCA Records between 1973 and 1975.

Fronted by singer and bass guitarist Burke Shelley, joined by lead guitarist Tony Bourge and original drummer, Ray Philips, Never Turn Your Back On A Friend (CD 1) was the band’s third album of classic hard rock and proto metal, originally was released in June 1973. Like previous album Squawk, the album features cover artwork by famed designer Roger Dean (Yes, Asia).

Whereas the first two records had been produced by Roger Bain (Black Sabbath, Judas Priest), Budgie now elected to produce themselves on a collection of original Budgie songs, with the exception of a cover of R&B classic ‘Baby, Please Don’t Go’.

Never Turn Your Back On A Friend was followed in May 1974 by In For The Kill! (CD 2), the sole album to feature drummer Pete Boot, reaching a creditable No. 29 on the UK album charts.

The third album in this collection is Bandolier, released in September 1975; the first to feature long-term drummer Steve Williams. With cover artwork by famed fantasy artist Patrick Woodroffe (Judas Priest, Pallas), Budgie’s fifth album reached No. 36 in the UK album charts.

The bonus tracks included here are mono and stereo single edits of ‘I Ain't No Mountain’, a single edit of ‘Zoom Club’, plus non-album B-sides ‘Wondering What Everyone Knows’ and ‘Honey’.

Budgie’s influence on hard rock and heavy metal is far wider than their commercial success might suggest, demonstrated by Metallica’s patronage when they covered ‘Breadfan’ and ‘Crash Course In Brain Surgery’ on their multi-platinum ‘Garage Inc.’ compilation, by Soundgarden who covered ‘Homicidal Suicidal’ in 1992 and by Iron Maiden, who covered ‘I Can’t See My Feelings’, also in 1992.