Budgie - Live In St. Louis, Rusty Springs, USA (1976)

(U.K 1967-1988, 1995-1996, 1999-2010)

This is a very nice radio broadcast from 'If I Were Brittania I'd Waive The Rules' tour in the US, most likely sourced from a very low gen tape. This killer soundboard broadcast was recorded at Rusty Springs in St Louis, Missouri  on the 4th of December 1976.  The sound is flawless on this disc and it was first released about 10 years ago on the great French 'On The Air' label.  Bonus tracks 9 & 10 where recorded live at the legendary My Fathers Place on Long Island in New York, one week earlier and are great audience recordings. 

The sound quality and mixing improves throughout the recording, with a lively and vocal crowd in the background.  With additional Welsh guitarist Myf Issacs (a former member of Quest) touring with the band, Budgie's stage sound was a lot fuller than earlier gigs and Bourge was given a lot more freedom to reproduce those magical lead breaks that he is renowned for on record.  Budgie only used Myf Isaac, as the second guitar player for live performances between Mid 1976 - Mid 1978 and never recorded with any of their studio work.

L-R:  Tony Bourge,  Myf Isaac,  Steve Williams,  Burke Shelley

Budgie were originally scheduled to tour America in February of 1976, however for some reason (health problem?) they cancelled their opening show in Boston (07/02/1976) and postponed their US tour until late November, kicking off at the Royal Oak Theater in Detroit (20/11/1976). 

This was Budgie's first time in the states, and although their latest album 'If I Were Brittania I'd Waive The Rules' had already been released in April, they chose to play only a few tracks from this album and instead concentrated on showcasing their older material.  Judging by the crowd's enthusiasm heard on these recordings, it is safe to say that Budgie had won over the yanks. Their other US tour dates are shown below. 

It is worth noting that on the 2nd of December at the Night Gallery, Waukegan, they shared the bill with 'Captain Beyond'  and what a gig that would have been folks!  My two 'favourite bands' playing together on the same night - priceless!

Myf Isaacs & Steve Williams

Budgie's first American Tour Dates

(thanks to concerts.fandom.com)

US Tour In February (Cancelled) -

07/02/1976 Boston [Cancelled]

20/11/1976 Royal Oak Theater, Detroit, MI, USA (Budgie's first U.S gig!)

22/11/1976 Agoura Ballroom, Columbus, OH, USA

24/11/1976 Agricultural Hall, Allentown, PA, USA (Co-headline with Montrose)

25/11/1976 My Father's Place, Long Island, New York, NY, USA

27/11/1976 Revs, Milwaukee, WI, USA

29/11/1976 Agora, Cleveland, OH, USA (with Sparks)

01/12/1976 The Beginnings, Schaumberg, IL, USA

02/12/1976 Night Gallery, Waukegan, IL, USA (with Captain Beyond)

03/12/1976 Night Gallery, Waukegan, IL, USA

04/12/1976 Rusty Springs, St Louis, MO, USA

06/12/1976 EL Tejon, Madison, WI, USA

08/12/1976 The Echo, Dayton, OH, USA

09/12/1976 Another Place, Louisville, KY, USA

??/12/1976 Ricco's, Belleville, IL, USA

  

This post consists of FLACs (taken from a Radio Broadcast low gen tape) and includes full artwork for both CD and Vinyl (See Vinyl Covers below). Note that this bootleg has also been released under the title of 'Breaking The Kill', but features different bonus tracks, taken from a 1975 concert in Leicester (see right).

As mentioned, the bonus tracks on the featured bootleg were taken from an earlier concert held at 'My Father's Place' - namely "Black Velvet Stallion" and "Pyramids".  Because "Pyramids" had not been released on any albums at that stage, its inclusion in their set list gives us a hint that Budgie were already working on their next album (which would be called 'Impeccable') and would be released the following year. 

Track List

01 Breaking All The House Rules

02 In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand

03 Parents

04 Who Do You Want For Your Love?

05 Sky High Percentage

06 I Can't See My Feelings

07 Zoom Club

08 Breadfan

09 Pyramids [Bonus Track]

10 Black Velvet Stallion [Bonus Track]

Tracks (1-8) recorded live at the Rusty Springs, St. Louis, USA on 4th December 1976.

Bonus tracks (9-10) recorded live at My Father's Place, Roslyn, NY on 25th

November 1976.

Line-up:

Burke Shelley - bass, vocals

Tony Bourge - lead guitar

Myf Isaac - rhythm guitar

Steve Williams - drums

Budgie Live In St. Louis Link (553Mb) New Link