LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Los Straitjackets) - Taking a cue from the lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) masks that they've worn since their 1994 inception, Los Straitjackets apply their brand of guitar-fueled, instrumental sturm und twang to their first Spanish language album, "Rock En Espanol, Vol. 1." Available April 3 via Yep Roc Records, the 14-song set finds Los Straitjackets (guitarists
Danny Amis and Eddie Angel, bassist Pete Curry, and drummer Jason "Teen Beat" Smay) sharing the spotlight with guest vocalists
Little Willie G. of East L.A. legends Thee Midniters, Fly-Rite Boys frontman Big Sandy, and - the album's producer - Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos.
Most of the songs heard on "Rock En Espanol" were originally huge U.S. Top 40 hits for riff-rockers The Kinks, the McCoys, The Troggs, R&B luminaries Jackie Wilson, Arthur Alexander, Brenton Wood, and Barbara Lynn, country stalwart Marty Robbins and '50s jive-bombers the Coasters and Larry Williams. However, these tunes were also recorded in Spanish language versions by such mid-'60s Mexican rock 'n' roll bands as Los Yaki, Los Freddys, Los Apson, Los Rockin' Devils, Los Teen Tops, Los Locos Del Ritmo, and Rebeldes De Rock. All of the latter, as well as Los Apson frontman Polo, Hermanos Carrion, and the sublimely named Juan El Matematico (John The Mathematician), made dozens of records in their native Mexico. And it is from these flipped discs - mostly consisting of U.S. Top 40 hits sung in Spanish - that Los Straitjackets drew their primary inspiration for "Rock En Espanol."
Los Straitjackets began life when Danny Amis, formerly of pioneering modern instrumental-rock combo the Raybeats, joined forces with Eddie Angel after witnessing the latter perform a Link Wray number while backing Webb Wilder. Since debuting with "The Utterly Fantastic & Totally Unbelievable Sounds of Los Straitjackets" in 1995, the masked marvels have unleashed an additional eight long-players on an unsuspecting world, including a live album, a Grammy-nominated/Living Blues award-winning collaboration with bluesman Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, a Christmas album, and a previous collection with guest vocalists called "Sing Along With Los Straitjackets."
Los Straitjackets' music has also graced the soundtracks of various TV shows - notably "Malcolm In The Middle" and "Melrose Place" - and at least 10 feature films, including "Meet The Parents," "Harriet The Spy," "Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room," "Two Days In The Valley," and "Psycho Beach Party" (wherein they appeared as themselves).
Long before "Nacho Libre" was a gleam in Jack Black's eye, Los Straitjackets' live shows were legendary for their left-right combination of offhand chops, unashamed choreography, and serious humor. Look for them to perform selections from "Rock En Espanol" at the South By Southwest festival - and in a town near you - when they begin their Spring 2007 tour.
