Los Lobos "How Will The Wolf Survive?" 1984*****

My first contact with Los Lobos was their spot on La Bamba, the 1987 movie about the young chicano singer and early rock'n'roll casualty Richie Valens. I loved the music and bought the soundtrack LP shortly after, though I confess I haven't heard it for a very very long time. My closest encounter with them came when I saw them play as support to Neil Young in his Amsterdam concert at the Ziggodome, a couple years back. They weren't flashy, but played a great R&B/Rock'n'Roll set. Hope I'll get the chance to see them play a small or medium-sized club someday, because arenas don't suit them so well - no critique intended, I just think they could set a smaller venue on fire with their music. By 1984, Los Lobos (Spanish for The Wolves) had already played thousands of bars, juke-joints, parties and wedding receptions, were profficient in many different types and had an impressive repertoire of cover songs. When they got the chance to record for a major label, they were faced with the challenge to confine all of that in the limited space of an LP. A daunting task, for sure, but one in which they succeeded, producing a great party record that seamlessly mixed disparate styles while mainaining the feelgood mood, the way a good dj does. Only 2 of the 11 songs are covers, but every one will have you thinking "I know this, it's a classic" - which, of course, is true: these are (now) classics. For thirty years, this album stays high in the all-time greatest albums lists, while others rise to the top-10 only to disappear after a decade. Opener "Don't Worry Baby" is revved-up boogie, straight from the crossroad between John Lee Hooker Street and Stevie Ray Vaughan Avenue. It is followed by "A Matter of Time", an earnest folk rocker a la Springsteen, focusing on the hardships of working class immigrants. "Corrido #1" is a fast Tex-Mex polka with accordion, sung in Spanish and "Our Last Night" honky tonk country with distinctive lap steel guitar. 4 songs, 4 different styles until now and we continue with "The Breakdown", the only rockabilly song I know that features accordion as a lead instrument. "I Got Loaded" is a ripping cover of an old R&B number from Louisiana singer Little Bob extolling the virtues of alcohol and it's followed by "Serenata Norteña", a traditional mariachi song. "Evangeline" and "I Got to Let You Know" are a couple more rockers with a strong 50's vibe. "Lil' King of Everything" is an acoustic instrumental with guitar and mandolin, leading to "Will the Wolf Survive?", a catchy "modern" sounding folk rocker that got picked up by MTV and gave the band its first hit. Albums so lean and strong, with no unnecessary filler and with such diversity and timelessness are already rare, but this one also happens to be as enjoyable as an ice-cold Corona on a very hot day. Play loud and often!

***** for Don't Worry Baby

**** for A Matter Of Time, Corrido No.1, The Breakdown, I Got Loaded, Serenata Nortena, Evangeline, I Got To Let You know, Will The Wolf Survive?

*** for Our Last Night, Lil' King Of Everything