Brother and sister duo Nino Tempo and April Stevens already had a well-established hit pedigree behind them by the time they go their second wind of mid-60s hits. Tempo had been a close buddy of Phil Spector’s, so was well equipped to work at Gold Star Studios with Spector’s musicians to produce All Strung Out and The Habit Of Loving You Baby, two of the best Spector soundalikes ever.
There is more to this collection than a couple of corkers, however, as evidence by the poppy Follow Me and Alone Alone, which is sunshine pop a year or so before its time. Wings Of Love features a Tokens-styled intro that leads into another strong song, but the real gem is saved for the end. Nino’s solo Boys Town is a tour de force that marries a Pet Sounds recreation on the verses (even with some lyrical quotes) with fullon Spectorised choruses. All Strung Out was only initially pressed in small quantities, but has become a real collector’s item since then.
