Customer Reviews

Texas in My Soul

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"Texas In My Soul" was originally released on RCA Records in 1968. Willie would probably call this a "theme" album rather than a "concept" album since there is no story or narration throughout the songs, but rather a cohesive theme linking the songs. The theme is songs about Texas, and in retrospect the record seems quite prescient given how Texas would serve as a retreat and a source of reinvigoration for Willie just a few years after it was originally released.

At the time of its original release the album was considered by RCA to be a disappointment. The album itself did not chart, and the lone single from the album, "San Antonio", made it no higher than #50 on the Country charts. The production is by Chet Atkins, and, as on most of Willie's 1960s recordings, Willie is treated primarily as a vocalist on the LP. None of the compositions are from Willie's pen, and if Willie is playing guitar on the record he's playing rhythm, not lead, and that rhythm guitar is buried in the mix. Given that, Willie's in fine voice and it's probably safe to assume that Willie approved of the album's theme and the songs contained within.

"Texas In My Soul" has been out of print for years, and this reissue is its first issue on CD as an individual release. (The songs from the album were included as part of the multi-CD Bear Family box Nashville Was the Roughest a few years back.) It's one of the very few RCA LPs to be given a CD release, on which count alone this release could be considered an essential purchase for the Willie Nelson fans out there. It's an enjoyable, though brief, listen and the quality of the audio is superb. I wanted to take off a half star for the cheap quality of the inner liner notes however, but having no half stars on Amazon I wound up taking a full star off the rating.

So, to sum up: long out of print Willie Nelson album from 1968 issued for the first time as an individual CD release. What more needs to be said?! Don't let the chintzy liner notes deter you, this release helps to fill a long neglected gap in the Willie Nelson catalog (his RCA years) and helps to tell part of the story of Willie's longtime love for Texas. Recommended for Willie fans looking to dig a bit deeper beyond the hits.

I was so excited to find this cd. We have an 8 track tape of this album from the 70's. Of course, nobody has an 8 track player any more. I have been looking off and on for several years, hoping to find a cassette and later a cd because I'm not only a Willie Nelson fan, I'm a Texas fanatic. Some girls in the office where I used to work tried to tell me there was no such album, now I will have to take it back and play it for them. Do not tell a Willie fan, or a Texas fanatic there is not an album called "Texas In My Soul". It may not be in circulation for a while, but ii IS there and we will keep sending e-mails until it gets re-released. Hooray!!!

It's early Willie, but it is Willie and it is Texas.

Willie's 1960's cuts for RCA are generally underrated as is this album. His voice was as distinctive then as it is today, even more so. His relaxed, yet hesitating style is honest and deep. The gem from the album for me is REMEMBER THE ALAMO, a noble ballad that has a unsettled, dark and fatalistic undertone.

If you've got Texas in your soul, you'll really like this. If you're from the West Coast, probably not so much.

Willie does a professional job on the vocals, but the lyrics are only for real Texas-philes