The Neighborhood is the fifth album by the rock band Los Lobos.[10][11] It was released in 1990 and includes contributions from, among others, Levon Helm and John Hiatt.[1][12]

The Neighborhood
Studio album by Los Lobos
Released	September 4, 1990 (1990-09-04)
Studio	Ocean Way, Los Angeles, California Sunset Sound, Hollywood, California
Genre	Roots rock Chicano rock R&B Tex-Mex Heartland rock
Length	44:52
Label	Slash Records, WB Records[1]
Producer	Larry Hirsch, Los Lobos[2]
Los Lobos chronology
La pistola y el corazón (1988) The Neighborhood (1990) Kiko (1992)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Chicago Tribune	[3]
Robert Christgau	[4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[5]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[6]
Rolling Stone	[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[8]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	7/10[9]

The album peaked at #103 on the Billboard 200 in September 1990.[13]

Production

The album followed a period of writer's block, brought on by the success of "La Bamba," and a confusion about what musical direction to go in.[14] The New York Times noted a more prominent blues influence, "in different moods and textures."[15] Some tracks employed session drummers in place of Louie F. Pérez, Jr.[8]

Critical reception

AllMusic called the album "a genuine step forward for a great band, as well as the jumping-off point to their most experimental period."[2] Rolling Stone called it "a bringing-it-all-back-home affair [that] finds a spiritual dimension, a sense of wonder in the course of everyday life."[7] The Washington Post wrote that "the album is a bold claim by these second-generation immigrants that they are Americans, and that all of America's culture belongs to them."[1] Trouser Press called the album "exciting, evocative and highly satisfying."[16] The Chicago Tribune called it "East L.A. soul music, played and sung with utter conviction."[3]

Track listing

All songs written by David K. Hidalgo and Louie F. Pérez, Jr., except where noted.

Personnel

• David K. Hidalgo - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, 6-string bass, tiple, accordion, bajo sexto, violine, Hawaiian steel, koto guitar, drums, percussion
• Cesar J. Rosas - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bajo-sexto, huapanguera
• Louie F. Pérez, Jr. - drums, percussion, guitars, jarana, hidalguer
• Conrad R. Lozano - vocals, fender precision and 5-string bass, guitarron, upright bass
• Steve M. Berlin - tenor, baritone and soprano saxophones, organ, clavinet, percussion

Additional personnel

• Jerry Marotta - drums (track 1, 3)
• Danny Timms - organ, wurlitzer, piano (track 1, 12)
• Alex Acuña - percussion, shekere, hand drums (track 1, 3, 4)
• John Hiatt - vocals (track 1, 10)
• Jim Keltner - drums, percussion (track 2, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
• Levon Helm - vocals, mandolin (track 2, 5)
• Mitchell Froom - harmonium (track 4)

Production

• Larry Hirsch - producer, engineer, mixing
• Los Lobos - producer
• Mitchell Froom - producer (track 4)
• Clark Germain - engineer
• Stacy Baird - engineer
• Brian Soucy - assistant engineer
• Dan Bosworth - assistant engineer
• Eric Rudd - assistant engineer
• Joe Schiff - assistant engineer
• Neal Avron - assistant engineer
• Tom Nellen - assistant engineer
• Tchad Blake - engineer (track 4)
• Julie Last - assistant engineer (track 4)
• Stephen Marcussen - mastering
• Terry Robertson-Mota - art direction, design
• Louie Perez - art visions
• Carlos Almaraz - paintings
• Max Aguilera-Hellweg - photography

References