Song of the Day 8/1: Los Lobos, “Native Son”

H/t Nathan Arizona

Los Lobos just dropped a new album of cover songs, “Native Sons,” all by bands from Los Angeles, and not just obvious choices like the Chicano band Thee Midniters — the Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, the Blasters and even Jackson Browne are represented. Los Lobos did write one original song for the LP, and naturally it has the feel of an old ’50s classic. “The song is a tribute to L.A.,” said Louis Perez, who wrote the lyrics. “We tried to create something that is us but that’s not really about us.”

The album’s getting good reviews, most noting that the covers show the breadth of the band’s musical influences. The most impressive performance might be on War’s “The World Is a Ghetto,” one minority-led L.A. band that belongs in the Hall of Fame paying tribute to another that’s also been denied the honor.