NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON A FRIEND

This is probably the best of the three earliest Budgie albums, and not due the glorious Roger Dean covers, but as here I think the trashy trio's rock visions found its purest synthesis. The menacing opener "Breadfan" is much better here than Metallica could work out of it on their cover version, the repetitive riff is strengthened with contrasts of bluesy middle passages and a slow acoustic moment. "Baby Please Don't Go" explores also the depths of heavy stoner jamming of single idea flavored with Burke's "muscular voice". "You Know I'll Always Love You" is pretty, and the quick acoustic drafts of such gentle numbers have matured here to very good levels. "You're The Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk" starts with the worst drum solo of the 1970's, where Ray's helicopter smashing is blurred via flanger-effects as really strange sonic porridge. Don't be fooled that I wouldn't like this drummer; I think he's is the best drummer this band ever had, but his power is not maybe in solo playing. Also I make an educated guess of humor relating to this intro, not claiming I would detect a joke. The main part of the composition is really powerful however, starting with more major key heavy blues, which turns after guitar solo with interesting turns to more minor key stoner coda in style of Black Sabbath at their best. On the B-side of the vinyl "In The Grip of A Tyrefitter's Hand" delivers more groove in the basic hard rock blues style of the group. "Riding My Nightmare" is maybe the most obsolete track here, but luckily short one, leading to dramatic "Parents". Here the lyrics are not again show the most sophisticated prose from the poets of the age, but the realistic and important theme of difficult relations between parents and their children in society's pressure is interesting realism and easy to sympathize. The song has a strong downwards heavy riff, which leads to more gentle acoustic main theme, from where the song gathers power and emerges from time to time, creating really beautiful and powerful song. I'm not sure if the guitar-created cries of the gulls are the best solution here, but I guess on could not find this kind of ideas from anywhere else than Budgie records. If you like the other early albums, then this is a must, and I would also suggest this album as the first listening experience of this group. For vinyl hunters the gatefold sleeves make this record even nicer collection target.