Song:Barbara Ann
Album:The Doo Wop Box
Barbara Ann is best known as a #2 hit for The Beach Boys in 1965. But it was originally written and recorded by the doo wop group The Regents and reached #13 on the pop charts in 1961. That the song even got released was an accident. The Regents were a standard Bronx doo wop group called The Montereys. They were formed in 1958 by Guy Villari (lead), Sal Cuomo (first tenor), Ernie Maresca (baritone) and Chuck Fassert (second tenor). They signed with Seville Records but after two songs weren't released, Maresca left and was replaced by Donnie Jacobucci. Maresca would go on to write Runaround Sue & The Wanderer for Dion and also had a hit as a singer with Shout Shout (Knock Yourself Out) in 1962. The group name was changed to The Regents but they were unable to sell their songs to record companies and they split in 1959. They were revived by accident. Jacobucci's younger brother Eddie Jacobucci had a group called The Consorts. He found a demo of Barbara Ann (written by Fassert's brother Fred Fassert) and recorded it. Cousins Records decided to release it by The Regents instead of The Consorts and Eddie replaced Villari as lead singer. Barbara Ann was leased to Roulette for national distribution and it hit #13 on the charts in 1961. The follow up Runaround also did well but then they petered out and split in 1963. Barbara Ann is one of many doo wop classics in The Doo Wop Box. The Regents reformed in 1964 as The Runarounds. That was unsuccessful and a version of The Regents has toured the oldies circuit since 1973. Here's a video of Barbara Ann by The Regents.
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