Why? Why? Why?
Paul Watson | Ireland | 08/27/2006
(2 out of 5 stars)
"This is my hardest review I have written on Amazon. I have been a Budgie fan since 1974,but didnt manage to see them Live until 1988 in London and once again a few years later. I had a good chat with Burke at the Six Ton Budgie convention in Cardiff in 1994. I was curious about Budgie TV performances and other video. I had promos of Smile boy smile/Pyramids,and knew they had appeared on OLd Grey Whistle Test. Burke told me that was from 1976 and that when they toured Poland in the early 70s they were treated like Royalty and filmed everywhere they went.Now, that would be one hell of a Gold-mine should they re-surface.While I write this piece, I have "Last Stage" blasting on the headphones to try and give me some inspiration. Sadly, that is not to be. Opener "Love is when you love" is the first of some very cliche lyrics and ordinary hard rock rhythms.The drumming of Steve Williams is steady, but it is pretty much the same drum-beat throughout the whole CD.Next, "House of a Sinner" is a lot better; a hard rocking number that would not be out of place on the "Power Supply" CD. "Same old sad affair" sums up that song. "Signed your own fate" had hit potential; A nice slow number that reminded me of the 1987 era Whitesnake circa "Here I go again". "Hard Luck" starts off promising, but the chorus goes and ruins it completely.But, it gets worse. Engineer Simon Dawson provides those horrible new romantics type keyboards on "You aint got love/Renegade/Sweet fast talker". It's a shame as the guitar of John Thomas had some great bite on the latter track. "Rock your Blood" would probably be the strongest of the songs on the CD. This is one of the few songs on the CD that Budgie performed live ,along with "Cant get out of bed in the morning",another below average song featuring the guitar of Rob Kendrick, and the old chestnut "Nutbush City Limits" which reminded me of early Foghat,the guitars at least."Heaven in your eyes" is another softer poppy tune,but WHOA! that can't be Electronic drums is it? Sure sounds like it."Picture on a screen" is another of the STRONGER songs. Shame, there are not more songs of this calibre. Closing song "Victim" is a half-decent pop-rock song very much in the Bon Jovi mode circa "Slippery when wet". Well, there you have it. My honest opinion on a once Mighty band. The Why? Why? Why?s?
1. Why was'nt the recording polish applied? The liner notes say the original rawness would be lost,but that is just a lame excuse. The sound quality at times was very glitschy. Shame!
2. Why was'nt the CD released as part of a Bonus package.It would have gone down great with some of Burkes other musical output like the Superclarkes and DSP for example. Live in San Antonio CD could have carried thes demos. It is the thing to do in these modern times.
3. Why no Classic era re-union with Shelly/Phillips/Bourge.
Even modern day demos of those 3 together or a one - off live concert would be more satisfying and meaningful to this reader.
FOOTNOTE: Just heard the samples of the new Album "Cuckooland", and it looks like Budgie have definitely re-found their righteous form. Life in San Antonio is also worth checking out. I have also noticed that remastered Budgie CDs are featuring Bonus Tracks in Demo/Alternate mix etc, and included is recent acoustical material featuring Tony Bourge."
Budgie The Last Stage - what a truimph!!!!!!
Robert F. Pippan | Australia | 03/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"At long last unreleased Budgie material from their hard rock early 80's period. And boy it was worth the wait!!. This is an essential purchase for any hard core Budgie fans (like myself). Though this is unfinished works ( in the sense that they are not final polished studio mixes) the first few tracks are outstanding and as good if not better songs than anything from 'Power Supply', 'Nightflight' or 'Deliver Us From Evil'albums. The sound quality is very good still, and it baffles me that RCA dropped the band as these tracks show a band on form and as good as ever! Its criminal this didnt come out at the time. I have waited 22 years to hear this and any purchasers of 'The Last Stage'I am sure will agree that they are in outstanding form. The first three tracks are worth the price of the purchase alone. Ok a few of the tracks are a bit raw and unpolished, but the songwriting is first rate, and the playing is top notch, as has always been the case with one of the worlds great under rated hard rock acts. Buy Buy Buy!!!! It was a joy and surprise to find that this CD came into existence, to order it and finally hold it in my hands! Now we can only hope for live footage of the band to turn up (oh what a dream!that would be)"
ESSENTIAL FOR FANS OF 80's BUDGIE! Killer post-"Deliver Us F
T. Kasuboski | Winneconne, Wisconsin United States | 09/01/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If anything is a testament to the brilliance of BUDGIE it is the material contained on "The Last Stage". Recorded between 1979 and 1985, "The Last Stage" is a compilation of demo and session material that never made it onto any albums, due to record label hassles and the eventual break-up of BUDGIE in the mid-80's. But don't get turned off by the prospect of a collection of demos. These songs could have easily been released as an album. As a matter of fact, it is downright depressing that the public never heard this material until 20 years after it was recorded. There is a strong chance that many of these songs may have been hits for BUDGIE had they been released. Despite the fact that these songs were only demos they are far better than the finished albums of many other bands!!! This era shows BUDGIE further experimenting with blending pop hooks with their updated New Wave of British Heavy Metal-ish/hard rock sound(i.e. "Power Supply", "Night Flights", "Deliver Us From Evil" LP's), while still incorporating the occassional funk/jazz elements which keep you guessing. John Thomas' guitar work on these tunes is amazing and top-notch. Just check out the torrential solo-ing on amazing hard rock tunes "House of the Sinner" or "Sweet Fast Talker". Burke Shelley's voice is at it's best as well, and these tracks really demonstrate just how dynamic he really was. In my opinion, songs like "Signed You Own Fate", "Renegade", "Hard Luck", "Same Old Sad Affair" are amongst the BEST SONGS BUDGIE EVER WROTE!!! Now as a warning, if you are expecting a rehash of LP's like "Squawk" or "Never Trust A Friend", you WILL be disappointed. But if you enjoyed "Bandolier" and everything which followed it, particularily "Power Supply" and "Night Flights" and "Deliver Us...", YOU WILL BE SHOCKED by how great this collection is. At first glance when I got "The Last Stage" in the mail I got kind of worried and thought 'just how good can a collection of demos be'? The answer:absolutely amazing. Hell, what else is there to expect from a band like BUDGIE. So pick up this disc, get high, crank it up, and have your mind blown by a collection of tunes which really should have been released years ago!!! Rock Your Blood, man!!!!!"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1