This is a highly entertaining album from the irrepressible pop couple Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme featuring a low-key Mamas & the Papas harmony over Cowsills-style arrangements. Nine covers of contemporary material made popular by the 5th Dimension, Tom Jones, the Turtles, Petula Clark, the Beatles, Dionne Warwick, and others are not your usual remakes of "hits of the day" churned out by the Ray Conniff Singers or Andy Williams. Like Johnny Mathis, this duo put something extra into the mix, giving the copyrights a new and interesting perspective. Despite racking up about 16 Top 40 hits between 1956 and 1964 Steve & Eydie went out of vogue on the charts with a fate worse than a blacklisting: They were simply ignored for being "unhip." The interesting thing is how amazingly hip this record is in a "bachelor pad," Ferrante & Teicher, or Esquivel sort of way. The happy couple take a Bacharach and David title like "Walk on By" and give it a vocal-heavy duet far removed from Sonny & Cher or Captain & Tennille, talented pairings for which they paved the way. The album opens and closes with material by author C. Carson Parks, the fellow who wrote "Somethin' Stupid" for Nancy Sinatra and her dad. Having had huge success in March 1967 with that number one, he was the perfect writer, it seems, to give another duo a chance at the hit parade. "Real True Lovin'" and "Chapter One" (originally titled "Chapter One The Ending Should" by the songwriter), failed to hit gold as "Somethin' Stupid" did, but they work in a Spanky & Our Gang fashion, although heavier on the adult contemporary. With their last names referenced only once in the liner notes, it is obvious the power couple were very famous at the time. With Steve & Eydie's immense popularity, it's a shame that something as grooving and uplifting as this disc got no attention outside of the Muzak stations. They have a unique and endearing charm displayed on each performance here, making Real True Lovin' a real true treasure. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide
Pat Williams (Conductor), Tony May (Engineer), Steve Lawrence (Vocals), Eydie Gorme (Vocals), Marty Manning (Arranger), Joe Mele Copacabana Band (Arranger), Pat Williams (Arranger), Joe Mele Copacabana Band (Conductor), Marty Manning (Conductor), Dick Williams (Vocal Arrangement)
