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&1975 solo hit "Shoes". On 18 October 1974, Mary O&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&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&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&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&a whole big megillah...". O&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&right to the master tapes of "Shoes", which had been recorded during O&contract with Dart. This dispute was settled out of court and the single was eventually released on 8 August 1975 on both Dart and...