"Texas in My Soul" is the seventh studio album by country singer Willie Nelson, released in 1968. It is considered an early concept album, intended to pay tribute to the state of Texas. The album’s original artwork features the Alamo alongside three San Antonio construction projects completed in 1968: the Tower of the Americas, HemisFair Arena, and the HemisFair monorail system.
By 1968, Nelson had recorded several albums for RCA, though none had achieved significant commercial success. While he was a respected songwriter in Nashville, known for hits like "Crazy" and "Hello Walls," his success as a recording artist had not matched his songwriting reputation. Nelson felt stifled by Nashville’s recording practices, particularly the use of background vocalists and strings, which he believed diminished the soul of his songs. According to Nelson, it was RCA head and producer Chet Atkins who came up with the idea for Texas in My Soul as a way to boost the sales of Nelson’s records. The concept was to have Nelson sing songs about his home state, but Nelson was frustrated when Atkins insisted on using studio musicians instead of his road band.
The album features several songs that pay tribute to Texas honky-tonk legend Ernest Tubb, including three of his compositions: "Waltz Across Texas," "There’s a Little Bit of Everything in Texas," and the title track, "Texas in My Soul." The latter was written by Ernest Tubb, Zeb Turner, and Justin Tubb in the late 1940s, though Ernest Tubb himself never recorded it. Nelson had been heavily influenced by Tubb and had appeared on his syndicated show many times in the 1960s. Another key track is "Dallas," co-written by Dallas-based music promoter Dewey Groom. The song, which highlights Dallas landmarks and references the city's post-assassination reputation, was the first to make Dallas sound appealing after the assassination of President Kennedy.
The album also includes "The Hill Country Theme," written by Cindy Walker for Lyndon B. Johnson, the Texas-born U.S. President at the time. The song became Johnson's official theme and was even recorded by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops in a symphonic version.
Despite not yet fully embracing the sound that would define his Outlaw era in the 1970s, Nelson’s musical personality shines through on Texas in My Soul. The album features a mix of country and honky-tonk tunes, with tracks like "Who Put All My Ex's in Texas" and "Texas in My Soul" showcasing Nelson’s ability to have fun with a song, while he delivers "Waltz Across Texas" with heartfelt emotion.
While the session musicians were not as closely aligned with Nelson’s touring band, the album still captures a sense of his style. Chet Atkins, as producer, had strong control over the sessions, and he insisted that some of Nelson’s regular band members, like Johnny Bush and Jimmy Day, not return to the studio, claiming they were "road pickers" rather than professional studio musicians.
"San Antonio," written by steel guitar player Jerry Blanton, became a single for Nelson, peaking at #50 on the charts. Blanton had recently performed with Nelson in Las Vegas, and the song reflects the Texas spirit that runs through much of the album.
