“Los Lobos Goes Disney” with a terrific new album
Great music is a long standing Disney tradition. Walt Disney himself put a strong emphasis on the importance of music, either for films or for theme park attractions. Over the years the Disney Company has kept this tradition alive with some of the most memorable and beautiful pieces of music that have gone on to achieve incredible popularity and have become part of the culture at large. But every once in a while, Disney will put out a terrific and unexpected release under the radar, and this week we have one such release.
Los Lobos, the group best known for covering the Richie Valens hit song “La Bamba” for the film of the same name, has recorded an album of Disney songs called “Los Lobos Goes Disney”. And I can say with confidence that you don’t need to be a fan of Los Lobos, or even be very familiar with them, to really enjoy this release. They have picked some terrific songs and given them a wonderfully sincere and worthy treatment.
The album, which was released earlier this week, features some well known songs done with a very modern approach and often something of a Tex-Mex flare. “Grim Grinning Ghosts” is given a haunting reggae groove, with a vocal that recalls the original but without sounding like they are copying the ride’s soundtrack. “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” seemed on the surface to me like it may be too tropical for a Los Angeles rock band, but they make it a natural fit with perfect fluidity and harmony. The album ends with an instrumental medley of two Disney classics, “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “It’s a Small World”. But the band flies through it with a feel that somehow blends California surf and Mexican carnival.
But the diehard Disney fanatic will appreciate the fact that Los Lobos have picked a couple of songs that are not often covered or even heard very much. The best of these is a version of “Not in Nottingham”, from the largely under appreciated Robin Hood. It is a good song in the film to be sure, but after these guys get done with it, the song becomes just a gorgeous piece of folk music that makes one think you might find Nottingham somewhere along the New Mexico and Arizona border. It is obvious that Los Lobos and I share the same positive view of Robin Hood, as they cover the better know “Oo-Dee-Lally” later on the album with equally good results.
“Los Lobos Goes Disney” is an album that will please the Disney fan. It may not translate as well to small children as it does to adult, but that’s difficult for me to say. When I saw this album was being released, I didn’t know what to expect. But what I got was a strong release from start to finish that I can’t stop listening to. Enjoy.