Mandy (English and Kerr song)

For the 1919 Irving Berlin song, see Mandy (Irving Berlin song).

"Mandy", originally titled "Brandy", is a song written and composed by Scott English and Richard Kerr.[1]

"Brandy" was a hit in 1971 for Scott English in the UK and in 1972 for Bunny Walters in New Zealand, but achieved greater success when covered in 1974 by Barry Manilow in the US with the title changed to from "Brandy" to "Mandy" to avoid confusion with Looking Glass's "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)". His version reached the top of the US Hot 100 Singles Chart. Later on, it was recorded by many other artists. Irish boyband Westlife had a UK number one with their version in 2003.

Scott English version

"Brandy"
Single by Scott English
B-side "Lead Me Back"
Released 1971
Format 7" vinyl
Recorded 1971
Genre Pop
Label Trojan/Horse/Fontana (UK)
Janus (U.S.)
Writer(s) Scott English
Richard Kerr
Music video
"Brandy" on YouTube

Under the title Brandy, the selection's original title, the song charted in 1971 for Scott English, one of its co-composers, whose version of it reached number 12 in the UK Singles Charts. It was also released in the United States, where it was a minor hit, reaching the lower ends of the Hot 100.

The suggestion that Scott English wrote the song about a favorite dog is apparently an urban legend. English has said that a reporter called him early one morning asking who "Brandy" was, and an irritated English made up the "dog" story to get the reporter off his back.[2]

Charts

Chart (1971) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 12
US Billboard Singles Chart 91

Bunny Walters version

"Brandy"
Single by Bunny Walters
Released 1972
Format 7" vinyl
Recorded 1972
Genre Pop
Writer(s) Scott English, Richard Kerr
Music video
"Brandy" on YouTube

In 1972, Bunny Walters recorded "Brandy" and had a hit with it in New Zealand.[3] The backing vocals were by The Yandall Sisters. He later on included it in his album Very Best of Bunny Walters.[4]

Chart (1972) Peak
position
New Zealand Singles Chart 4

Barry Manilow version

"Mandy"
Single by Barry Manilow
from the album Barry Manilow II
B-side "Something's Comin' Up"
Released October 7, 1974
Format 7" vinyl
Recorded 1974
Genre Pop
Length

3:15 (single version)

3:32 (album version)
Label Bell
Writer(s) Scott English, Richard Kerr
Producer(s) Barry Manilow, Ron Dante
Certification Gold (RIAA)
Barry Manilow singles chronology
"Could It Be Magic"
(1973)		 "Mandy"
(1974)		 "It's a Miracle"
(1975)
Music video
"Mandy" on YouTube

In 1974, Barry Manilow recorded it under the title name of "Mandy", the song was Manilow's first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts, and his first gold single.

In the three years between English's and Manilow's recordings, Looking Glass's "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" had hit number-one in 1972. Therefore, to avoid confusion, when Manilow decided to record the selection, he changed the title to "Mandy". It was Clive Davis who suggested that Manilow record the selection. Joe Renzetti arranged the record.[5]

In the Manilow version, the first two lines from the fourth verse following the instrumental section, were omitted, being:

"Riding on a country bus/
No one even noticed us."

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts

Chart (1974-75) Peak
position
Canadian RPM 1
Germany 19
Ireland 6
New Zealand 30
UK 11
US Billboard Hot 100 1
US Cash Box Top 100 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1975) Position
US Billboard Hot 100 [6] 35
US Cash Box [7] 17
Canada 12

Westlife version

"Mandy"
Single by Westlife
from the album Turnaround
Released November 17, 2003
Format CD single
Recorded Rokstone Studios, London
Olympic Studios, London 2003
Genre Pop
Length 3:19
Label BMG
Producer(s) Steve Mac
Westlife singles chronology
"Hey Whatever"
(2003)		 "Mandy"
(2003)		 "Obvious"
(2004)
Music video
"Mandy" on YouTube

"Mandy" was covered by Irish boyband Westlife in 2003 and was released as the second single from their fourth studio album, Turnaround. The single peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart to become the band's twelfth number-one single on the chart.[8] The single sold over 190,000 copies in the UK.[9] The single was released on Monday, November 17, 2003.

Track listing

UK CD1
  1. "Mandy" – 3:19
  2. "You See Friends (I See Lovers)" – 4:11
  3. "Greased Lightning" – 3:19
  4. "Mandy" (video) – 3:19
  5. "Mandy" (making of the video) – 2:00
UK CD2
  1. "Mandy" – 3:19
  2. "Flying Without Wings" (live) – 3:41

Charts

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Austrian Singles Chart 16
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart 50
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[10] 3
Danish Singles Chart 2
Dutch Singles Chart 27
European Hot 100 Singles[11] 3
German Singles Chart 14
Irish Singles Chart 1
Norwegian Singles Chart 15
Scottish Singles Chart[12] 1
Swedish Singles Chart 4
Swiss Singles Chart 30
UK Singles Chart[8] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2003) Position
Irish Singles Chart 5
UK Singles Chart 32

Chart successions

Preceded by
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by Elton John		 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (Barry Manilow version)
January 18, 1975 (one week) 		Succeeded by
"Please Mr. Postman" by The Carpenters
Preceded by
"Me Against the Music" by Britney Spears featuring Madonna		 Irish IRMA number one single (Westlife version)
November 22, 2003 - December 6, 20003 (three weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Shut Up" by The Black Eyed Peas
Preceded by
"Crashed the Wedding" by Busted		 Scottish Singles Chart (Westlife version)
November 23, 2003 (one week) 		Succeeded by
"Leave Right Now" by Will Young
Preceded by
"Crashed the Wedding" by Busted		 UK number-one single (Westlife version)
November 29, 2003 (one week) 		Succeeded by
"Leave Right Now" by Will Young

Other versions

"Mandy" has been covered many times. Notable cover versions include:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mandy (legal title) - BMI Work #955340". Repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ Quoted in The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits.
  3. ↑ "Brandy - BUNNY WALTERS (1972) - Pop Archives - Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s". Pop Archives. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Very Best of Bunny Walters". Newzealandcds.com. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  5. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Mandy - Barry Manilow | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ http://50.6.195.142/archives/70s_files/1975YESP.html
  8. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 692. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  9. ↑ "Westlife: Official Top 20". Mtv.co.uk. October 28, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Westlife – Mandy" (in French). Ultratip.
  11. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc. "Billboard". Retrieved December 13, 2003.
  12. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20031123/41/

External links

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