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For this month's issue of Texas Monthly, writers Jeff McCord and John Morthland took on an ambitious assignment: coming up with a list of the 100 best Texas songs. The task required the two to make agonizing decisions, between "On the Road Again," "Always on My Mind," "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" — and that's just music from Willie Nelson. McCord and Morthland discuss their choices with NPR's Melissa Block.

It's a labor of love, years in the making — Grammy-winning producer, composer and keyboardist Jason Miles brings together a stellar cast of "smooth" jazz legends on the compilation CD Coast to Coast.

Nashville-based band Lambchop has two new albums out, Aw C'mon, and No, You C'mon. Both CDs rely on lush guitar rhythms and a sultry sound, combined with the unmistakable baritone of bandleader Kurt Wagner. David Greenberger has a review.

Rock Historian Ed Ward on the history of African-American musicians in Nashville. He plays music from Night Train to Nashville a double CD put out by the Country Music Hall of Fame (in conjunction with a Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Show).

Catrin Finch

Andrew Wallenstein of The Hollywood Reporter comments on Janet Jackson's media appearances to promote her new album, and how she's handled the questions about the scandal over her breast-baring performance in this year's Superbowl halftime show.

Eric Clapton once wrote that Robert Johnson's best songs have "never been covered by anyone else, at least not very successfully — because how are you going to do them?" Now the rock guitarist has recorded Me and Mr. Johnson, a CD of the legendary bluesman's works that Clapton calls a labor of love.

NPR's Linda Wertheimer marks Sunday's semi-annual changing of the clocks with Annoying Music man Jim Nayder.

Jazz trumpeter Dave Douglas releases Strange Liberation, a CD of original compositions played by his quintet. The 40-year-old Douglas is joined on the record by Bill Frisell, the well-traveled guitarist who has worked with Brian Eno and Elvis Costello. Tom Moon has a review.

For five decades, Dave Frishberg has been crafting deftly worded, wry songs that harken back to the golden age of the musical. The jazz composer says he learned the art of musical wit from Broadway legend Frank Loesser. For Intersections, a series on artists' influences, NPR's Ketzel Levine reports.