HARLINGEN — When it comes to recording new albums, Los Palominos are fast.
When it came time to do their next album, “Me Enamore De Un Angel,” brothers Juan "Johnny" Arreola (accordion, vocals, keyboards), Jaime "James" Arreola (bajo sexto, guitar, lead vocals), Jorge "George" Arreola - (bass) and Julio Arreola (drums) — blocked two weeks out of their busy touring schedule.
“We don’t like to be distracted by other stuff when we’re recording,” Johnny Arreola said earlier this week by cellular phone. The band was on its way back to Uvalde after playing a gig in Corpus Christi.
The album, produced as always by La Mafia’s Armando Licthenberger Jr., was finished in a week and a half.
But that was October, and the album won’t be out until April, Arreola said. The scheduling was a decision made by the band’s new label ASL.
Arreola said the label is headed up by Mingo Chavez, a well-known hitmaker in Mexican Regional music.
Those who see Los Palominos perform tonight at Wild Bill’s will have to be satisfied with the quartet’s hits from the past decade and a half. Until the album is released, Los Palominos will not perform the new music live.
“That’s always been our policy,” he said.
If you just can’t wait, the title cut “Me Enamore De Un Angel” is available on the band’s page on myspace.com.
Los Palominos was formed in 1986 as Los Tremendos Pequenos (Little Giants). The brothers grew up with music, their father is a bajo sexto player in a conjunto band.
Lichtenberger’s relationship with Los Palominos goes back to 1989 when the quartet opened for La Mafia in Kerrville.
The keyboard player for La Mafia and the studio genius for the band, Lichtenberger and La Mafia’s singer Oscar De la Rosa offered to do a free demo for Los Palominos.
It lead to a recording contract with Sony Discos.
Since their recording career began in 1993, Los Palominos have stacked up a few gold and platinum records and won three Grammy awards. The latest was in November for the album “Evoluciones.”
“Evoluciones” is filled with rerecordings of the band’s greatest hits. Arreola said that after their Sony deal ran out in 1999, the band retained the rights to put out new versions of its old songs.
The album was packaged with a DVD of the band performing as well as interviews with the brothers. It spawned the mega hit “La Misma.” Arreola said gave them the chance to put a new shine on some fan favorites.
“Technology has improved so much since we began,” he said.
