The Regents
Guy Villari (lead), Sal Cuomo (first tenor), Ernie Maresca (baritone), and Chuck Fassert (second tenor) formed in the Bronx, NY, in 1958 as the Montereys. Signing with Seville Records, they cut two Maresca songs that went unreleased, and soon Donnie Jacobucci replaced a disappointed Maresca. They recorded their demonstration records at the Regents Sound Studios, prompting a name change to the Regents, but their first release didn't happen until 1961, three years after they started.
"Barbara Ann" was recorded in 1958, but more than 50 recording companies said "no," causing them to disband before 1959 rolled around. Jacobucci's younger brother Eddie revived the Regents by accident. His group, the Consorts, lacked original songs for an audition so they cut a version of "Barbara Ann" from an old demo Eddie found around the house. When the owner of Cousins Records heard the song, he decided to put it out, not by the Consorts, but by the Regents. With Eddie replacing Guy, the original group reunited, and Cousins released "Barbara Ann" in March of 1961. The stuttering doo wop became a number one record in New York; the demand was overwhelming and Cousins leased it to Roulette/Gee for worldwide distribution and saw it soared to number 13 pop and number seven R&B.
A second single, "Runaround," charted at number 28 pop and number 30 R&B; a third single, "Liar," didn't chart, and neither did a fourth, "Oh Baby." They disbanded but emerged in 1964 as the Runarounds, waxing and releasing five singles on as many labels. The Runarounds were Villari, Fassert, Ronnie Lapinsky, and Sal Corrente; their first single, "Unbelievable," on Nat King Cole's short-lived KC label in 1963 didn't sell nor did their last, "You Lied," on MGM in 1967. Again they separated but reunited as the Regents in 1973 to play the oldie circuit. A copy of "Barbara Ann" on the Cousin label fetches around 1,200 dollars; the same recording on Gee sells for 25 dollars or less.
© Andrew Hamilton /TiVo
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The Album
Punk en New Wave - Released by Sanctuary Records on 1 jan. 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barbara Ann
Jazz - Released by Black Sheep Music on 17 okt. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barbara-Ann
Rock - Released by Beverly Hills Records on 16 jul. 1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Twisting Echoes (Best Of)
Rock - Released by Rarity Records on 1 jan. 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
More Than A Friend
Pop - Released by 3214386 Records DK2 on 22 mrt. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barbara Ann (Barbara Ann)
Rock - Released by Liberation Hall on 26 feb. 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Live At the A.M.-P.M. Discotheque
Wereldmuziek - Released by Vintage Masters Inc. on 15 mrt. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I'm so Lonely / Barbara Ann (Remastered)
R&B - Released by AT THE HOP on 1 jan. 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Regents - Music History
Jazz - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 15 apr. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Great Vocal Groups
Pop - Released by Play Digital on 28 feb. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barbara-Ann - The Best Of
R&B - Released by Master Classics Records on 1 mei 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of the Regents Doo Wop
Pop - Released by Old Gold Media on 23 okt. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Regents aka the Runarounds
Blues - Released by AMB on 1 mrt. 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Remember the Regents
Pop - Released by Shami Media Group 3 on 25 jan. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Celebrate Summer
Afrika - Released by The Gallo Record Company Vault on 27 aug. 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barbara-Ann
Rock - Released by Foggy Milan Records on 13 mrt. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo