So many great releases this year that I forgot to make mention of Willie  Nelson's Heroes. This is Willie's most consistently good album for many years. His son, Lukas,contributes three of his own songs and vocals. His brother Micah  Nelson also appears on the final track with Lukas.

Other guest include  Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Joe Shaver,  Ray Price, Jamey Johnson, Sheryl Crow (who caught Willie's "gotta duet with everybody" disease long ago)  and Snoop Dogg.

Last night Tom the Teacher (retired) joined me for what was our 5th annual "The Year That Was" show.

Here are Tom's Top 10  albums for 2012:

 1. Chris Wall - El Western Motel

 2. Willie Nelson - Heroes

 3. Gary P. Nunn - One Way Or Another

 4. James Hand - Mighty Lonesome Man

 5. Todd Fritsch  - Up There In The Saddle

 6. Leyla Fences - Itty Bitty Twang Twang

 7. Kelly Spinks - Right Out Of This World

 8. Tim Culpepper - Pourin' Whiskey On Pain 

2012 saw a slew of fantastic releases.

This is the first time in 16 years I've wimped out and had a shared #1 album of the year.

Leyla Fences “Itty Bitty Twang Twang” was my favourite album for the last half of the year, then Chris Wall releases his first album in 10 years “El Western Motel” and rockets to the #1 spot.

I could not possibly split them.

Chris Wall - along with the 2 Toms (Russell & Pacheco) is the most literate song writer of out time - music like Chris Wall's is the reason I have been presenting my radio show for the last 16 years.

It's only taken Chris Wall ten years for  to follow up  "Just Another Place" with "El Western Motel" on his Cold Spring  Record label.

Texas music's most literate songwriter is still exploring his favourite themes of love lost and the trials and tribulations of performing.

The album's one page say's it all:

Like all of Wall’s previous work, El Western Motel pulls no punches and dodges no attacks. It’s equal parts mea culpa, apology, and defiant bluster bolstered by the usual assortment of concise, insightful lyrics that have been a hallmark of Wall’s career.

See the video of  Home to Me on my Music page

A classic album of Texas Music from one of the genre's enduring masters

This is Jerry Jeff at the peak of his powers recorded in 1984 at Dixie's Bar & Bus Stop

Songs from the Texas hill country

Jimmy's usual mix of original songs and Dylan covers - he does Dylan better than Bob.

When I say I play "Texas' music on the show some people ask how come I play Ronny Elliott who's from Florida or Charlie Roth who is from Minnesota or The Far West who are from California - the list goes on. Well I guess Texas music to me is an attitude, not a place. You don't get much more Texas music attitude than Bill Chambers (Kasey's dad) and he's an Aussie