REPARATA ~ Shoes
Reparata and the Delrons were an American girl group. They are best known for their 1965 recordings "Whenever a Teenager Cries" and "Tommy", for the 1968 European hit "Captain of Your Ship" and for Reparata's 1975 solo hit "Shoes". On 18 October 1974, Mary O'Leary released a Reparata solo single "Shoes", backed with "A Song for All", as a UK-only promo on Surrey International Records as SIT 5013. Reparata's contract with Dart Records ended in February 1975, and "Shoes" was then given a commercial release on her new label Polydor in the summer of that year. While the single was drawing praise for its catchy and unique sound, promotion and distribution were hampered by two legal disputes. When Mary O'Leary released "Shoes" in 1975, with Mazzola now also singing with as Reparata with Barry Manilow, this caused a problem. In a 2005 radio interview, Mary O'Leary explained that this seriously affected the success of "Shoes" because the record had to be removed from sale during the case: "When the record came out, being done by Reparata, the record was squashed because, quote unquote, Reparata was with Barry Manilow. Believe me, it's a whole big megillah...". O'Leary won the case when Mazzola did not come to the hearing. Second, and separate from the dispute over the name Reparata, Dart Records disputed Polydor's right to the master tapes of "Shoes", which had been recorded during O'Leary's contract with Dart. This dispute was settled out of court and the single was eventually released on 8 August 1975 on both Dart and Polydor with one catalogue number. "Shoes" did become a "turntable hit" in both the United States and the United Kingdom. In August 1975 it reached number 92 in the Billboard Hot 100, while in the United Kingdom, it reached number 43 in October 1975. The record's biggest chart success was in South Africa, where it made the Top 10 in early 1976. After Mary O'Leary won the right to perform as Reparata, Lorraine Mazzola changed her legal given name from Lorraine to Reparata and therefore she could also continue to use the name. This has continued to cause confusion down the years, with Lorraine Mazzola often assumed to be the person who led the group Reparata and the Delrons throughout its recording career, when in fact all recordings feature Mary O'Leary's lead vocal, except for some tracks on "1970 Rock and Roll Revolution" when all group members took turns singing lead. Some examples of the confusion: The Discogs listing shows a photo of Lorraine Mazzola, but has information about Mary O'Leary, The Bubblegum Timemachine website says that Mazzola recorded "Shoes" (it was Mary O'Leary). An otherwise comprehensive review of the 2005 Best of Reparata and the Delrons compilation says that O'Leary joined Lady Flash (it was Mazzola).
Reparata and the Delrons were an American girl group. They are best known for their 1965 recordings "Whenever a Teenager Cries" and "Tommy", for the 1968 European hit "Captain of Your Ship" and for Reparata's 1975 solo hit "Shoes". On 18 October 1974, Mary O'Leary released a Reparata solo single "Shoes", backed with "A Song for All", as a UK-only promo on Surrey International Records as SIT 5013. Reparata's contract with Dart Records ended in February 1975, and "Shoes" was then given a commercial release on her new label Polydor in the summer of that year. While the single was drawing praise for its catchy and unique sound, promotion and distribution were hampered by two legal disputes. When Mary O'Leary released "Shoes" in 1975, with Mazzola now also singing with as Reparata with Barry Manilow, this caused a problem. In a 2005 radio interview, Mary O'Leary explained that this seriously affected the success of "Shoes" because the record had to be removed from sale during the case: "When the record came out, being done by Reparata, the record was squashed because, quote unquote, Reparata was with Barry Manilow. Believe me, it's a whole big megillah...". O'Leary won the case when Mazzola did not come to the hearing. Second, and separate from the dispute over the name Reparata, Dart Records disputed Polydor's right to the master tapes of "Shoes", which had been recorded during O'Leary's contract with Dart. This dispute was settled out of court and the single was eventually released on 8 August 1975 on both Dart and Polydor with one catalogue number. "Shoes" did become a "turntable hit" in both the United States and the United Kingdom. In August 1975 it reached number 92 in the Billboard Hot 100, while in the United Kingdom, it reached number 43 in October 1975. The record's biggest chart success was in South Africa, where it made the Top 10 in early 1976. After Mary O'Leary won the right to perform as Reparata, Lorraine Mazzola changed her legal given name from Lorraine to Reparata and therefore she could also continue to use the name. This has continued to cause confusion down the years, with Lorraine Mazzola often assumed to be the person who led the group Reparata and the Delrons throughout its recording career, when in fact all recordings feature Mary O'Leary's lead vocal, except for some tracks on "1970 Rock and Roll Revolution" when all group members took turns singing lead. Some examples of the confusion: The Discogs listing shows a photo of Lorraine Mazzola, but has information about Mary O'Leary, The Bubblegum Timemachine website says that Mazzola recorded "Shoes" (it was Mary O'Leary). An otherwise comprehensive review of the 2005 Best of Reparata and the Delrons compilation says that O'Leary joined Lady Flash (it was Mazzola).