The 25 Best Los Lobos Songs, from East L.A. to La Bamba
Los Lobos grew up in East Los Angeles playing Mexican folk songs, rock and roll, blues and R&B, and for more than 50 years they have mixed all of it into a sound of their own. Here are their 25 best songs, from Anselma and Will the Wolf Survive? to their number one La Bamba, the Kiko album and Mas y Mas, with chart facts, Grammys and the stories behind them.
What is Los Lobos' most famous song?
"La Bamba" is Los Lobos' most famous song: their 1987 recording for the Ritchie Valens film La Bamba went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK. Fans also love "Will the Wolf Survive?", "Come On, Let's Go", "Kiko and the Lavender Moon", "Mas y Mas" and the Grammy-winning "Anselma".
Los Lobos' best songs
- "La Bamba", 1987: their version of the Mexican folk song Ritchie Valens made famous, a number one hit.
- "Will the Wolf Survive?", 1984: the title track of their major-label debut and a song about keeping your roots alive.
- "Come On, Let's Go", 1987: a top 30 cover of Ritchie Valens' rock and roll classic.
- "Anselma", 1983: a Mexican song, sung in Spanish, that won the first Grammy for Best Mexican-American Performance.
- "Mas y Mas", 1996: a hard-rocking jam from Colossal Head that is a concert favorite.
- "Kiko and the Lavender Moon", 1992: a dreamy, mysterious single from Kiko.
- "Don't Worry Baby", 1984: a driving rocker that reached the rock radio chart.
- "Shakin' Shakin' Shakes", 1987: an upbeat single from By the Light of the Moon.
- "One Time, One Night", 1987: a moving, thoughtful song about everyday lives.
- "Let's Say Goodnight", 1984: a gentle early single.
Songs from the La Bamba soundtrack
- "Donna", 1988: their tender version of Valens' ballad for his high school girlfriend.
Los Lobos recorded the Ritchie Valens songs for the 1987 film La Bamba, which told the story of the young Mexican-American rock and roll star who died in the 1959 plane crash with Buddy Holly. "La Bamba" topped the charts in the US and the UK, and "Come On, Let's Go" reached number 21.
Mexican folk songs by Los Lobos
- "Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio", 1983: a lively conjunto song by the Texas accordion player Santiago Jiménez.
- "Las Amarillas", 1988: a traditional son from La Pistola y el Corazón.
- "La Pistola y el Corazón", 1988: an original by Hidalgo and Pérez and the title song of their Grammy-winning album of Mexican folk music.
- "Bella María de Mi Alma", 1992: their Spanish version of the ballad from the film The Mambo Kings.
- "Cumbia Raza", 2000: a joyful cumbia single from This Time.
More Los Lobos classics
- "A Matter of Time", 1984: a song about a Mexican immigrant crossing the border for a better life.
- "Set Me Free (Rosa Lee)", 1987: a rocking single from By the Light of the Moon.
- "Down on the Riverbed", 1990: a swampy single from The Neighborhood.
- "Reva's House", 1992: a top 30 alternative radio single from Kiko.
- "Angels with Dirty Faces", 1992: a fan favorite from Kiko.
- "Bertha", 1991: their cover of the Grateful Dead classic for the tribute album Deadicated.
- "Revolution", 1996: the hard-hitting opening track of Colossal Head.
- "Good Morning Aztlán", 2002: the title track of a back-to-basics rock album.
- "Native Sons", 2021: the original title track of their Grammy-winning album of California songs.
Who are Los Lobos?
Los Lobos, Spanish for "the wolves", formed in East Los Angeles in 1973. David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez met at Garfield High School and were joined by Cesar Rosas and Conrad Lozano; saxophonist and keyboard player Steve Berlin joined in 1982. They started out playing traditional Mexican music at weddings and parties, then mixed it with the rock and roll, blues, country and R&B they grew up with. The band has kept the same five members for decades, and it was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
The story behind La Bamba
"La Bamba" is a traditional son jarocho, a folk song from Veracruz on Mexico's Gulf Coast, often played at weddings. Ritchie Valens turned it into a rock and roll hit in 1958, and when Hollywood made a film about his life, Los Lobos were asked to record his songs. Their faithful, energetic version, sung in Spanish, went to number one in the US and the UK in 1987 and introduced the band to millions of new fans. For more songs to celebrate Mexican heritage, see our Cinco de Mayo songs.
The story behind Will the Wolf Survive?
How Will the Wolf Survive?, their 1984 major-label debut produced by T Bone Burnett and Steve Berlin, is one of the most acclaimed albums of the 80s, and Rolling Stone later named it one of the decade's best. Its title song uses a wolf as a symbol for a band and a culture trying to hold on to its roots, and country legend Waylon Jennings took his own version into the country top five in 1986.
Kiko and the later albums
In 1992, working with producer Mitchell Froom, Los Lobos made Kiko, an adventurous, dreamlike album that critics rank among their best. "Kiko and the Lavender Moon" even turned up on Sesame Street as "Elmo and the Lavender Moon". The band kept exploring on Colossal Head, Good Morning Aztlán and Tin Can Trust, and in 2021 Native Sons, an album of songs by California artists, won the Grammy for Best Americana Album.
Los Lobos in films
Beyond La Bamba, Los Lobos scored and performed the music for Robert Rodriguez's 1995 film Desperado, and their "Mariachi Suite" won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. Their song with Antonio Banderas, "Canción del Mariachi", is featured in the film. They also recorded an album of Disney songs, Los Lobos Goes Disney, and played on Paul Simon's Graceland. For more, see our Paul Simon songs.
Los Lobos albums to start with
- How Will the Wolf Survive? (1984): the classic debut.
- By the Light of the Moon (1987): with "Shakin' Shakin' Shakes" and "One Time, One Night".
- La Pistola y el Corazón (1988): a Grammy-winning album of Mexican folk songs.
- Kiko (1992): their adventurous masterpiece.
- Just Another Band from East L.A. (1993): the essential collection.
Los Lobos songs for a wedding or a quinceañera
"La Bamba" is a classic for the dance floor at a Mexican-American wedding, and the son jarocho tradition it comes from has long been part of wedding celebrations in Veracruz. "Bella María de Mi Alma" is a beautiful slow dance, and "Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio" and "Cumbia Raza" keep every generation dancing at a quinceañera. For more, see our Spanish wedding songs and Spanish love songs.
Los Lobos at Christmas
In 2019 the band released Llegó Navidad, a warm album of Christmas music from Mexico and Latin America, with one original song by Hidalgo and Pérez. It is a lovely soundtrack for a family posada or a holiday dinner. For more, see our Spanish Christmas songs.
A song with roots, like Los Lobos
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Everything you want to know
What is Los Lobos' biggest hit?
"La Bamba", recorded for the 1987 Ritchie Valens film of the same name, is Los Lobos' biggest hit. It went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK.
What does Los Lobos mean?
Los Lobos means "the wolves" in Spanish. The band formed in East Los Angeles in 1973 and has kept the same core members for decades.
How many Grammys have Los Lobos won?
Los Lobos have won four Grammy Awards, including for "Anselma", the album La Pistola y el Corazón, the "Mariachi Suite" from Desperado and the 2021 album Native Sons.
Can I get a personalized song in Spanish?
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