License plate pic by Richard Anderson Live pic by Amos Perrine
Seed by Todd Burge
Burge’s fifteenth studio album is an ongoing and open collaboration with his audience and friends.
“My new album is called Seed, and my intention is to kick start creation in others. To see where the breeze might take my seeds, and discover what might bloom, in soil that I'm not so familiar with.”
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Complete Lyrics
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SEED
As I’m releasing my 15th studio album, and Lisa and I prepare to be “empty nesters”, I believe I’ve landed on a creative way to celebrate this time in our lives. I hope this album finds us creating something together. It’s intended as a collaboration between you and me. Something that will spread, germinate, grow, flower, then go to seed, and start again. Hopefully, it’s a jumping off point for you. A kickstart for your muse. Whether you are a songwriter, poet, painter, videographer, photographer, potter, dancer, sound engineer etc. I’ve made the lyrics available to you, for you to manipulate, change and separate at will. The songs and melodies are available to sample. The audio tracks are available for overdubs and remixing. Grab a line or verse and write your own song or paint your own picture or write your own poem, or melody. Maybe you’ll choose to cover my song and make it your own. Let’s see where the Seed takes us, and later, let’s release our collaboration and we’ll call it,
FLOWER!
Where Did This Seed Come From?
These songs seemed to be “handed to me” like little gifts from various sources. A few were challenges from The Song Colony*, an open group of writers who meet each month in Marietta Ohio at The Stage Door. At the end of each session, we spontaneously pick one word to use as a jumping off point for a song. We call it the “Quick and Dirty”. The assignment is to spend one hour or less on a song, and the goal is to write whatever comes to mind, without the pressure of feeling it should be precious, or a “masterpiece”. We are simply working the songwriting muscle, and as a result, happy accidents occasionally occur. Hundreds of songs have come out of this group using this method.
Other songs from Seed are playful challenges from friends. Pig came from my late friend Mark Scohy saying to me, “there aren’t enough songs about bacon”. Weed and Keep Your Clover Bloomin’ came to me while I was doing yard work, and a couple others came from words I saw in a book called 300 Drawing Prompts.
There’s no wrong or right way to approach this project. No rules, no limits, no pressure.
I hope you will join us. Some have already started!
Thank you!
Todd
All rights will be released for you to use all parts of this work.
Recorded August 2023 at Bunj Jam Studio – Parkersburg WV
Mixed by Sean Sullivan – Nashville TN
Mastered by Justin Perkins - Mystery Room Mastering
©2023 T.Burge Bunj Jam BMI
*Made possible by The Oakland Foundation, The Ohio Arts Council & Peoples Bank Theatre
TODD BURGE
A native of West Virginia's Wood County region, Burge spent the '80s and '90s earning his place as one of the most important, prolific and enduring figures in the state's music scene, fronting everything from the alt-rock band 63 Eyes to the outlaw-country cover project Triple Shot. Since the early 2000s, Burge has concentrated on his singular brand of folk-pop storytelling. Employing wry humor, dexterous guitar work and an ear bending vocal range, if it’s been discovered by man, Todd Burge has written about it. Born to ponder and observe life, each of his songs tells a story. Whether drawn from personal experience or a tale of poetically woven fiction, you’ll live every second of it through his songs.
Burge has graced stages at an array of venues, from iconic locations like CBGB's and The Country Music Hall of Fame to the prestigious stages of The Kennedy Center, alongside countless music venues and theaters.He has been a repeat guest on various nationally syndicated programs including Mountain Stage Radio (NPR) and Songs at the Center (PBS).
FANS SPEAK!
“It's fantastic! (Your Reflection Will Kill You) Songs are great (as always) ...musicians are amazing.... the production is superb!”
Greg Marsh
”I actually listened to both of those new albums today on Spotify. The new album is probably one of your best IMHO, but 1986 is so good. ‘My Wasted Youth’ is amazing. I listened to that track alone 3 times in a row.”
Shane King - Williamstown WV
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WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT BURGE
"Look upon his works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Larry Groce – Host of NPR’s Mountain Stage
“Literate, witty, off-kilter & always highly entertaining...a real revelation. We definitely want him to come again."
Pete Marshall, Prism Coffeehouse, Charlottesville, VA / WTJU Charlottesville
"He's got a great talent as a writer and unique view of the world; he's invented his own art form. His songs just get better and better.”Tim O’Brien (Singer-Songwriter, Grammy winner)
“Todd Burge...he’s a really good singer songwriter who chose not to leave West Virginia and has built an impressive career. He was on the show (Mountain Stage Radio – NPR) last Sunday.
He has an album he just released, called “Seed”, and the idea is that his audience gets to take the songs and use them as a jumping off point to create their own spinoffs....everything from remixing it, messing with the tracks, recording a different version of a song, or taking a line and writing a completely new song, or poem or making a painting or drawing.
It’s a very cool idea. He hopes to gather all the pieces people make and release a follow up project called “Flower”....so cool! ”
“I'm convinced - Ingenious Todd Burge successfully blends more wit and wisdom per song than anyone else I've enjoyed in years.” Ron Goad - Vice Pres – Songwriter’s Association of Washington DC
"His by-turns smart, serious and funny tunes and his confident stage presence are a master class in the art of the solo singer-songwriter craft." Douglas Imbrogno - The Charleston Gazzette
“Todd Burge is one of the most original and funny songwriters I’ve heard”
"Man I have really been digging your Building Characters CD. Sometimes I literally laugh out loud at the some of the lines and stories. Great stuff Todd. The Jesus Night Light song cracks me up, but the whole CD is really original. My thanks and compliments to you." Jason Ringenberg/Jason & The Scorchers/Farmer Jason
“With wit and pathos in equal measure, Todd Burge takes on subjects in his songs that never occur to most folks. Subjects too quirky, too controversial, too obtuse for most writers to get a handle on. His compelling vocal style and unique perspective keep me interested long after the last note rings out.”
Don Dixon – Producer (R.E.M. Joan Baez) Performer, Songwriter
Notable Past Live Performances
Mountain Stage (NPR)
Songs at the Center (PBS)
The Kennedy Center
Joe’s Public Theatre (NYC)
Chautauqua Theatre (Chautauqua NY)
Nelsonville Music Festival
Music City Roots
The Country Music Hall of Fame
Rolling Hills Radio
Club Passim
The Station Inn
Café Lena
Ashland Coffee and Tea
Peoples Bank Theatre
Jammin’ Java
The Hamilton (DC)
Club Café
The Kent Stage
123 Pleasant Street
hundreds more......
Todd Burge has shared the stage with:
Bill Kirchen (Duo Tour)
Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore (Trio Tour)
Don Dixon (Duo Tour)
Tim O’Brien
Jimmy Clinton
Larry Groce
The Carpenter Ants
Bob Thompson
Hot Tuna
Bela Fleck
Lucinda Williams
Tift Merritt
Iron and Wine
John Gorka
Jason Isbell
Tyler Childers
Lucy Kaplansky
Ricky Skaggs
Greg Brown
Chris Smither
Justin Townes Earle
Connie Smith
Chris Hillman & Herb Petersen
Pere Ubu
Kathy Mattea
Todd Burge Discography
Seed (2023)
It’s My First Pandemic (2021)
Live in Parkersburg 2020
Baby Again (single) Tribute to Billy Edd Wheeler (2020)
Never Say Uncle – 30th Anniversary Remaster (2020)
Reflection Will Kill You (Nov 2018) with Todd Burge (1986 - The First Album)
Adam of Eve b/w Bald Eagle (Soar Away With Me) Digital Single (2018)
Shopping For Dresses (Single) Little Jimmy Dickens Tributre (2018)
Live on Mountain Stage (April 2016)
Live in Orlando (Download with video 2016)
Imitation Life (2015) Produced by Tim O’Brien
Building Characters (2012) Produced by Don Dixon
Character Building – For Kids and Grownups(2012)
Distraction Packed (2010)
My Lost and Found (2008) Produced by Tim O’Brien
Telephone Girl (Single) Tribute to Blind Alfred Reed (2008)
Most Requested 1989-2000 (2007)
Hip About Time (2006)
New Year (2003)
Dreams Upstairs (2000)
Live at Raveler’s (1997)
63 Eyes – Z8003 (1996)
Tin Since (1994)
New World Out of Order (1992)
Live at Maxwell’s (1991)
Never Say Uncle (1990)
63 Eyes - Gravel (1988)
63 Eyes – Look in For Mothmen (1987)
The Larries – Fun in the 80s (1985)
BOOKING
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Management
Charles Rich