Mandy by levipatrick

levipatrick - Mandy

levipatrick

Jul 21, 2024 03:43pm

Are you a fanilow? <img src="https://www.songfacts.com/img-artalbums-145-cdbade851fbf10b074c497f43deb80a1.png"> Album: Barry Manilow II (<a href="https://www.songfacts.com/browse/years/1974" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">1974</a>) <ul><li>Scott English wrote the lyrics and recorded this song in 1971 as "Brandy." His version was a hit in the UK. In the US, this was changed to "Mandy" to avoid confusion with the Looking Glass hit "<a href="https://www.songfacts.com/facts/looking-glass/brandy-youre-a-fine-girl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)</a>."</li></ul> <ul><li>Among the other songs English co-wrote was 1968's "<a href="https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-american-breed/bend-me-shape-me" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Bend Me, Shape Me</a>," a #5 hit for The American Breed in the US and #3 hit for Amen Corner in the UK. He also co-penned "<a href="https://www.songfacts.com/facts/jeff-beck/hi-ho-silver-lining" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Hi Ho Silver Lining</a>," a #4 UK hit for Jeff Beck in 1967 and "Help Me Girl," a Top 40 hit for The Animals in 1966 in both the UK and US.</li><li>Richard Kerr wrote the music. Kerr is a pianist who teamed up with <a href="https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/will-jennings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Will Jennings</a> to write two more hits for Manilow: "<a href="https://www.songfacts.com/facts/barry-manilow/looks-like-we-made-it" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Looks Like We Made It</a>" and "Somewhere In The Night."</li><li>This was Manilow's first hit single and the first song on Clive Davis' Arista Records label (formerly Bell) to hit the Billboard Hot 100.</li><li>The bit about "Mandy" being about Manilow's dog is an urban myth. Songwriter and original performer Scott English says he was woken by a phone call from a reporter, wanting to know who "Brandy" was. "I would have said anything to get rid of him," says English, "So I spat out the first thing that came to mind: It was about a dog like Lassie and I had sent her away - now you go away!' And I hung up on him." <a href="https://www.songfacts.com/facts/barry-manilow/mandy#" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">>></a></li><li>The Simpsons parodied this in the episode in which Homer feels torn between his attractive new co-worker (Mindy) and his own wife. They were in a hotel room together, and a turkey slips behind the bed. Later, when Homer brings Marge to the room, he starts singing to her, "Oh, Margie, you came and you found me a turkey." <a href="https://www.songfacts.com/facts/barry-manilow/mandy#" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">>></a></li><li>The song was on an episode of Family Guy titled "Back to the Woods." Barry Manilow comes to Quahog, but not without a little bit of criticism from Peter and his friends, until all admit they are closet Manilow fans. In the episode, Barry plays himself and sings his own version of "Mandy," re-titled as "Quagmire" for having an exotic name. The words are the same, but the name has changed. <a href="https://www.songfacts.com/facts/barry-manilow/mandy#" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">>></a></li><li>"Mandy" was the first of 13 #1 hits for Manilow on the Adult Contemporary chart.</li><li>Manilow was taken aback when Clive Davis said they needed to find the singer a hit record. "'Find me one?' I thought. I was a songwriter! I write the songs!" he recalled in the liner notes to his 1992 anthology, The Complete Collection and Then Some.</li></ul> <ul><li>But Davis was more interested in Manilow's growth as a singer and entertainer, and told him he shouldn't limit himself to only performing original songs. Still, Manilow was certain he could write a hit, but he was a bit out of touch when it came to popular radio tunes.</li></ul> <ul><li>"The next afternoon I tuned on a Top 40 radio station. They were playing something called '<a href="https://www.songfacts.com/facts/carl-douglas/kung-fu-fighting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Kung Fu Fighting</a>'! Then I changed to another station. They were playing '<a href="https://www.songfacts.com/facts/jethro-tull/bungle-in-the-jungle" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Bungle In The Jungle</a>'! On another they were playing a polka by Bobby Vinton called 'My Melody Of Love'!!! I didn't have a chance!</li></ul> <ul><li>But I knew one thing: The Top 40 needed me desperately!"</li></ul> <ul><li>So Manilow relented and agreed to give "Brandy" a chance.</li><li>In order to learn the song, Manilow slowed it down and played it like a ballad, which he thought suited him better than the uptempo arrangement. Davis, however, was insistent that he record it in the manner of the original - that is, until he heard it. Manilow, who put the track together with his co-producer Ron Dante and a small rhythm section, recalled the awkward listening session:</li></ul> <ul><li>"'What's that?' he said as we played the song back.</li><li>'Brandy,' I said. 'It's exactly like the record you sent me.'</li><li>'Well it's all wrong,' he said. And we all sat there and looked at each other.</li></ul> <ul><li>Michael Delugg, our engineer, tweaked dials and fades and played it back again.</li><li>'I hate it,' said Clive."</li></ul> <ul><li>Feeling desperate, Manilow told him about the ballad version and offered to play it for him. Davis loved it, and they recorded it right then and there.</li></ul>