Many listeners, especially younger audiences, may not know this band today, yet they stand as one of the oldest names in Spanish music. They enjoyed a notable international tour in their era and even performed in a concert in Germany. The group, which drew inspiration from Valencian and Majorcan roots, is Los Javaloyas. Formed in 1952, they reached the later stages of their career while honoring their Levantine heritage. One album was devoted to the province of Alicante under a theme described as tourists’ songs.
Singer Paco Ibáñez, who should not be confused with any affiliation to this group, has included two tracks from this work in videos on his YouTube channel today. The year 1970 marked the release, with the A-side titled This Is Alicante and the B-side featuring The Lady of Elche, produced by EMI-Odeon.
The material by Ibáñez offers lyrical portraits that feel at once playful and earnest—a musical homage to the distinct charms of the two locales. The composition This Is Alicante runs just over three minutes and blends vivid regional imagery with memorable rhymes about the province’s capital, conveyed in a series of vivid, iconic lines.
Examples describe a place where the sea melds with orange blossoms, where sunshine seeks warmth, and where each new day follows a night that brightens rather than dims. The song invites visitors to imagine a landscape where spring is ever-present, where the city seems a peaceful world and love appears more luminous. The people nearby are likened to friends, and the colors of the flowers glow with life. The refrain repeats that spring always waits, affirming Alicante as a welcoming destination for travelers.
Alongside the lyric imagery, the sleeve notes celebrate the album side labeled This Is Alicante. The visual and textual presentation reinforces a sense of local pride anchored in Alicante as a cultural beacon.
In the Elche tribute, titled The Lady of Elche, the lyrics unfold with a dawn-lit mood and an homage to a figure carved from history and myth. The lines speak of emergence from darkness, the beauty of a form preserved by time, and the artistry that defines both the land and its people, culminating in a message about the nation’s heritage and identity.
The B-side of the album, titled The Lady of Elche, mirrors this lyrical reverence for a landmark tied to art and memory.
Los Javaloyas are noted for their origin in Valencia, with José Luis Perez Javaloyas often recognized as the founder and leader. He passed away in 2007 after a life spent shaping the group, which later moved from Valencia to Mallorca, where several members left and others joined, changing the lineup.
Initially, the ensemble performed on the island before expanding to European cities and eventually touring globally. Their journey took them to Beirut, Damascus, Amman, and Tehran, among other places, and they appeared in films shot in Caracas and Rome. The band played at many prominent festivals during the 1970s, helping to introduce international audiences to their distinctive sound.
Over time, Los Javaloyas became known as one of the earliest persistent presences in Spanish music. They faced competition and comparison with other groups who adapted foreign hits, including The Beatles and The Beach Boys. The band remained active for many years, with some members continuing to perform with their descendants after the original lineup began to fade. Their legacy endures as a bridge between regional roots and wider Spanish contemporary music, reflecting a long, collaborative history across generations.