Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen report:While Los Lobos [ tickets ]' fans wait for their next album due this spring (their first for Hollywood Records), it will be preceeded by three spin-off projects.

First up is guitar/vocalist Cesar Rosas' Soul Disguise (released February 2nd on Rykodisc). In mid-March comes Houndog's eponymously titled album. Houndog is vocalist/guitarist David Hidalgo's project with blues player Mike Halby (Canned Heat, John Mayall). The album was recorded at Halby's home studio in Los Angeles and produced by Hidalgo.

Also due mid-March is the Latin Playboys' second album, Dose, featuring Hidalgo and Louis F. Perez Jr., Los Lobos [ tickets ]' drummer/percussionist. Dose is produced by Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake. Froom and Blake previously co-produced Los Lobos' 1996 Colossal Head along with the group; Froom and Los Lobos also produced their 1992 LP, Kiko.