And “Sail On, Sailor” is a nicely rendered tribute to the 1973 classic by the Beach Boys. The band turn to Jackson Browne for another classic, “Jamaica Say You Will,” a beautiful ballad that David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez sing with great sensitivity. is in strong voice, and the song maintains its focus and groove for eight and a half minutes. David Hidalgo, Steve Berlin, and Cesar Rosas each get solo time, but the track doesn’t fall prey to pointless jamming. The longest track on the album is a take on War’s 1973 hit “The World Is a Ghetto.” Guests include percussionist Camilo Quinones and singer Little Willie G., who sang on the original recording and was also a member of Thee Midnighters. The group then segues into a haunting version of “For What It’s Worth,” a song whose message is as valid now as it was when it was first recorded over 50 years ago. Hidalgo, on acoustic six- and 12-string guitars, trades riffs with him during the song’s lengthy instrumental section. Los Lobos do a double shot of Buffalo Springfield with a hard-rocking version of “Bluebird,” where Rosas deftly evokes Neil Young’s slashing guitar work. “Flat Top Joint,” a Dave Alvin tune originally recorded by his band, The Blasters, is a wailing jump-blues tune that Los Lobos play with stomping conviction. “Misery,” a 1962 hit on Motown Records for Barrett Strong, is a slice of old-school R&B that includes a stirring guitar feature from David Hidalgo. Percy Mayfield’s “Never No More” lets the band show their blues chops and gives Berlin generous solo time on baritone sax. The sheer variety of songs Los Lobos tackle on Native Sons demonstrates the band’s stunning command of America’s musical traditions, including the blues. Thee Midniters were garage-band tough, and Los Lobos capture the earlier group’s spirit while putting their own stamp on the song. Cesar Rosas plays a burning guitar solo, and Steve Berlin and guest musician Dannie Ramirez provide the exciting horn arrangement. The album gets off to a roaring start with a cover of “Love Special Delivery,” a horn-driven slice of rock’n’roll composed and originally recorded by Thee Midniters, a Mexican-American band from East Los Angeles. The band’s 17th album, Native Sons, brings together 12 tunes by songwriters known for their association with Los Angeles, Los Lobos’ home town, and adds a new track by the band. Their EP Ride This (2004) comprised covers of seven songs by musicians and songwriters who had appeared on the concurrently released Los Lobos album, The Ride, including Dave Alvin, Elvis Costello, and Richard Thompson. Their discography includes tribute albums to artists as varied as Fats Domino, the Grateful Dead, and Doc Pomus, and their recording of Ritchie Valens’s “La Bamba” was a big hit for them in 1987. Los Lobos are well respected for the quality of their songwriting, but throughout their career they’ve also excelled at bringing a fresh take to covers of other songwriters’ material.