By 1966, Nino and April had left the Atlantic umbrella and signed with White Whale Records, a small, adventurous L. A.-based label--a move which eliminated the difficulty of dealing with an East Coast company while recording in California.  The new label also afforded them more opportunities to continue experimenting even further with a wider range of musical expression.  Nino and April were no longer content to blow the dust from old material, and the first single for their new label was "All Strung Out," a delicious Tempo-Jerry Riopelle penned sonic feast, produced in a manner suggested by the Righteous Brothers' symphonic "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling." This record demonstrated that April and Nino could perform a variety of contemporary musical forms, yet retain the fresh imagination and unique harmonies of the Nino and April everyone knew.

"All Strung Out" peaked at #26 nationally and was a top ten choice in many cities.  In 1978, the song was remade into a top 40 rendition by John Travolta.   

The follow-up was a sort of "All Strung Out" clone entitled "The Habit Of Lovin' You Baby," surrounded with all the Spectorian sound walls of its predecessor. Many disk jockeys turned the record over, however, and played "You'll Be Needin' Me Baby," which had been written by future Bread leader David Gates. The next record was a Tempo-Riopelle composition, "I Can't Go On Livin' Baby Without You," an unusual choice, since the catchy song had originally been the B side of "All Strung Out."  Picked for enormous success by Billboard, the single never really caught on with the American public (perhaps many fans already owned it) and stopped its ascent at #86.

Unlike many pop artists of the '60s, there is not a toss-off cut in any of their recorded work.  The silliness of, say, 'Baby Weemus' or their monotoning in their version of 'Begin The Beguine' (Buh-begin the beguine...) is very likely calculated expressly to vary the mood of the album set. But when a venerable melody called for a straightforward delivery, they knew exactly the effect their sweet sibling blend could have, and released the best take they could get. Listen to their 'I Surrender Dear', or 'Think of You', for 3 minutes of perfect melodic pop music.

April and Nino are consummate professionals.  April's early recordings are a part of the last days of true Hollywood glamour, and she certainly taught a few young ladies how to sing a ballad that would speak directly to the, um, heart of a young man.  That she was able to incorporate her torchy technique into a pop/rock music setting, bringing the champagne to the party, so to speak, is a remarkable accomplishment.  Nino, having cut his baby teeth on jazz improv, whips his voice all around the octaves as effortlessly as he blows his sax. The easy abandon of their often laidback delivery can make you feel as if you were eavesdropping on a family sing around the piano. When Nino takes a lead, April seems to anticipate his every nuance, and covers him with a relaxed harmony, and vice versa, as though they'd been singing each song since they were tots. And come to think of it...