I once met a bunch of those "lowrider" guys the night before a record convention in L.A. back in 1980.
I'd gone down there with Mark Edmund, a 45 dealer who specialised in soul, and he'd arranged for them to come round to the motel room and play some 45s he was selling.
Knock on the door and I opened it to find 5 or 6 Latino guys who looked like they'd just broken out of Alcatraz!! I'd never seen so many tattoos in one place in my life. My first impression was pretty accurate cos after a few beers I found out that most of them had been in prison or were waiting to go to prison.
Up until then I'd not known much about their scene and they knew nothing about Northern but soul music does break down the barriers.
I got taken for a ride round the block in some souped-up 1940's car. The idea is to cruise very slowly, alter the suspension at every available opportunity, and shout things at passers-by in Spanish.
I probably looked like I'd been kidnapped!! They were just as enthusiastic about soul as we were.
That may go some way to explaining the ladies on the CD covers but I certainly would think twice before passing any comment on their availibility or otherwise.
ROD