Most famous for being picked for a contract by England's Decca Records in early 1962 in place of the Beatles, Brian Poole & the Tremeloes actually started long before the Beatles, but it wasn't until after the Liverpool quartet hit that they saw any success in England or America. Their biggest British success was a version of the Contours' "Do You Love Me," but the hottest number on their first album was a searing (by British standards) rendition of "I Want Candy," later popularized by the Strangeloves, whose Bo Diddley-based beat Bob Porter and company handled with admirable style. Poole later faded into obscurity, while the Tremeloes achieved success on their own. ~ Bruce Eder