Budgie ‎– The Definitive Anthology: An Ecstasy Of Fumbling (1996)

By spanning their entire career, this may be the most comprehensive Budgie collection, but it's hardly the best. Disc one is flawless, showcasing the band's early '70s material where bassist/vocalist Burke Shelley and guitarist Tony Bourge combined adventurous songwriting with uncompromising heaviness to great effect. These classics include "Homicidal Suicidal," "In for the Kill," "Breaking All the House Rules," "Crash Course in Brain Surgery," and their masterpiece, "Breadfan" (these last two were famously covered by Metallica in the '80s). Disc two, on the other hand, reveals a band gradually running out of inspiration ("Melt the Ice Away"), fighting to stay relevant by incorporating more commercial elements ("Superstar"), and finally transforming into a cliche-ridden, second-class metal band ("Forearm Smash"). To anyone interested in '70s hard rock and heavy metal, Budgie remains an essential band, but most would do well to stick with their MCA releases through 1975.

Tracklist

Disc 1

01. Homicidal Suicidal
02. Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman (Single Version)
03. Whiskey River
04. Hot As A Docker's Armpit
05. In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand
06. Breadfan
07. Parents
08. In For The Kill
09. Crash Course In Brain Surgery
10. Napoloeon Bona Part One & Two
11. Who Do You Want For Your Love?
12. Breaking All The House Rules
13. Beautiful Lies

Disc 2

01. Anne Neggen
02. If I Were Britannia I'd Wave The Rules
03. Black Velvet Stallion
04. Melt The Ice Away
05. Forearm Smash
06. Time To Remember
07. Wildfire
08. Lies Of Jim (The E-Type Lover)
09. I Turned To Stone
10. She Used Me Up
11. Superstar
12. Don't Cry
13. Truth Drug
14. Hold On To Love
15. Superstar
16. Panzer Division Destroyed