Budgie is the debut album of British hard rock band Budgie. It was released in June 1971 through MCA Records. The US version on Kapp Records includes "Crash Course in Brain Surgery", originally released as a single and covered by Metallica on their 1987 EP The $5.98 EP: Garage Days Re-Revisited. "Homicidal Suicidal" has also been covered by the Seattle grunge band Soundgarden. Canadian band Thrush Hermit covered "Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman" on the album All Technology Aside, included on the 2010 "The Complete Recordings Box Set".
Budgie has generally received moderately positive reviews. Sounds criticized the album as being somewhat nondescript, but praised it for having "a lot of good natured foot-tapping music" and concluded "I certainly find it infinitely preferably to Black Sabbath, and I have the feeling that Budgie might develop into something a lot more interesting."
In a brief retrospective review, AllMusic declared that "For those seriously interested in metal's development, bombastic treasures like 'Homicidal Suicidal,' and 'Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman' are essential listening."
Budgie is a popular British television series starring former popstar Adam Faith which was produced by ITV company London Weekend Television and broadcast on the ITV network between 1971 and 1972.
The series was created by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall . The show was produced by Verity Lambert, Rex Firkin was the Executive producer. The show had two theme songs- the first was "The Loner" by The Milton Hunter Orchestra, and the later theme was "Nobody's Fool" written by Ray Davies and performed by Cold Turkey.
Each episode was a complete story, usually depicting Budgie's involvement in some harebrained scheme to make money, usually somewhere on the wrong side of legality. However he was continually the victim of circumstance, or of the sharper, more experienced underworld operators he tried to emulate.
Plots included:
Get up, get out of bed
I'll wrap my fist right around your head
Shut up, sit down, sit tight
Interrogate you roaming in the night
Crime against the world
Crime against the world
I am against the world
Crime against the world
He comes down and out with his stuff
I don't cry baby even when it's tough
He's wise he knows he wants you
And if he takes you what you gonna do?
The world's full of these mystery men
Who turn up, drag out my brethren
It's ain't right, it's all wrong
The backside of a very shiny coin
Hey hey
Why won't you listen, won't you listen to me
Hey hey
You, I'll think he'll get you
I get you mad, I get you bad
It's the worst I've ever had
Let me out, let me be