When considering the origins of heavy metal, alongside the usual suspects such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, one band from Cardiff in Wales must definitely be mentioned: Budgie.

Formed in 1967, after a change on guitar, they toured the local clubs and bars in the following years with the lineup of Burke Shelley (b, voc), Tony Bourge (g), and Ray Phillips (dr). During an audition for legendary producer Rodger Bain, who was working at the nearby Rockfield Studios at the time, the power trio was spontaneously signed. Their debut album was recorded live on an 8-track tape in just four days and was produced by Rodger Bain, who had already helped Black Sabbath create their brutal rock sound on their early releases. Budgie combined psychedelic heavy rock mixed with late British blues to create a unique sound full of clever musical twists that were unusual and spectacular in the bluesy rock world of the time. The trademarks of their unique metal sound were Burke Shelley's distinctive high voice, Tony Bourge's virtuoso and hard-hitting hard guitar riffs, and Ray Phillips' accentuated drumming.

The self-titled LP was released worldwide in late July 1971 on the multinational label MCA Records and is now considered one of the most influential albums in heavy metal. Although they never became as famous as their early metal counterparts, they are among the best heavy metal bands of the early to mid-70s. That's why original pressings of this 1971 milestone are on all the lists of hard rock and heavy metal collectors.