Sweet & Lovely: The Early Years

by Nino Tempo / April Stevens

Long before they hit with the million-selling 'Deep Purple', in 1963, brother/sister team NINO TEMPO & APRIL STEVENS had each pursued solo careers and also recorded as a duo, with varying levels of success. This compilation presents a 'Very Best Of' those early years, ranging from April's long forgotten/oft controversial early solo hits, to their first recordings together. Includes the pick of April's early 50s sides, like 'Don't Do It', 'I'm In Love Again' (a Top 10 hit), 'Gimme A?Little Kiss, Will Ya, Huh?' (also Top 10), 'And So To Sleep Again' (Top 30) and 'How Could Red Riding Hood (Have Been?So Very Good)?' as well as her sensational, overtly suggestive (and much-banned) 1959 comeback hit, 'Teach Me Tiger'. Juxtaposed alongside these are the best of Nino's early solo 45s, like 'Tempo's Tempo' (from The Girl?Can't Help It), 'Fifteen Girl Friends', 'Blue Eyed Baby' (on which he was billed as Tony Shepperd) and 'Jack The Ripper'. Also, their earliest duets, like 'High?School Sweetheart', 'A Letter On A?Train'/'Big John' (on which they were billed as Carol &?Anthony) and their first two hits, 'Sweet And Lovely' and 'Paradise'. Many of these sides are obscure, collectors' rarities, and unavailable elsewhere on CD.