Culture
Top Tunes ’18: Todd Burge
< < Back toWow! 2018 has come and gone, and it’s about time we reflect on our favorite sounds of the past year. Leading up through the end of the year, WOUB Culture will be spotlighting what various music-centric people throughout the region have been enjoying the most for the past 12 months.
Todd Burge is a Parkersburg, WV singer-songwriter who released two albums this year, “Your Reflection Will Kill You” (an acoustic album recorded by Don Dixon) as well as his first ever full-length album that spent 32 years lost in record biz red tape entitled “1986-The First Album.”
Hi All!
I’ve created a Spotify playlist:
1. Patti Smith – Dream of Life
I was so moved when I saw Patti Smith with her two kids and Lenny K perform at the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame ceremony back in February. One of the most powerful performances I’ve ever witnessed. Her late husband Fred “Sonic” Smith was inducted and she told the story of the two of them writing “People Have The Power.” It was inspired by WV kitchen banter and Lenny’s grandmother. Beautiful.
2. Jet Set Vapor Trails – The Silence Explodes
Sadly, Morgantown WV/Baltimore MD music icon Thom Moore passed away a couple weeks ago and it has me listening once again to his most recent recordings with Jet Set Vapor Trails. For three decades, he never stopped cranking out great songs and sounds. He was about finished with his final album which I understand will be released sometime down the road.
3. John Hartford – Morning Bugle
I listened to a lot of music this year that was recorded live in the studio, with little or no percussion, as I wanted to create an album of that sort. This was one of my favorites.
4. Greg Brown – Over and Under
Again,I listened to a lot of music this year that was recorded live in the studio, with little or no percussion as I wanted to create an album of that sort. This was one of my favorites.
5. Jill Sobule – Nostalgia Kills
I saw Jill live once again when we both played Mountain Stage in Marietta back in August at the Peoples Bank Theatre. Ends up, she and I were writing about the same type things at about same time. This album is beautiful and as you would expect with Sobule, you never know what to expect.
6. Adam Remnant – Sourwood
He needs no introduction to you WOUB folks. This is a super release.
7. Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Our 12-year-old Sophia was obsessed with this album, listening daily for weeks. It seeped in and dug deep. Speaking on behalf of the whole Burge family. We’re all in and we dig it.
8. Aoife O’Donovan – Man in a Neon Coat (Live From Cambridge)
I’m not sure where I stumbled into this one, probably Crossing Boundaries, but it really took hold. A great performance.
9. Richard Thompson – 13 Rivers
I love it when music veterans release new work that is as great as anything in their catalog. Thompson is crunching bones electric on this new one.
10. The Velvet Underground – VU
Recorded in 1969ish and released around 1985. I first heard this album in its entirety while going to WVU. U-92 played it in full on their Album of the Week and as always, I had my cassette recorder ready. It totally holds up.
Favorite single songs I listened to … off the top of my head.
“Streets of Bakersfield” – Buck Owens (original version)
“Good Luck John” – Joe Crookston
“Don’t Let the Stars” – Perry Como
“Resignation” – Paul Cauthen
“Footprints in the Snow”- Bill Monroe
“The Mother” – Brandi Carlile
“Mose Allison Played Here” – Greg Brown
“Your Mind Is On Vacation” – Mose Allison
“Havana Burning” – Dan Reeder
“Salty Boogie” – Little Jimmy Dickens
“Waterloo Sunset” – The Kinks
“Lady Magdalene” – Neil Diamond
“The Year Clayton Delaney Died” – Tom T. Hall
“Take Five” – Dave Brubeck
“Open G” – Ray Wylie Hubbard
“This Is The Girl” – Patti Smith