Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” Hit #1 50 Year Ago Today! Here Are 8 Things You Didn’t Know About the Classic Tune

Whether you belted it out with pride when it came on the radio or quickly changed the station on your FM dial, Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” was everywhere back in 1975. Considered to be the hit that propelled Manilow to superstardom, the song reached #1 on the Billboard charts 50 years ago today, on Jan. 18, 1975 … but did you know that he didn’t write it? Read on and learn everything you ever wanted to know (and more!) about the song.
One word of caution: You will have “Mandy” stuck in your head all day after reading this.
1Manilow’s song was actually a cover version
Though Manilow is the self-described man who writes the songs that make the whole world sing, he didn’t write this one. In fact, the song, then called “Brandy,” had already been a U.K. hit in 1971 for its writer, Scott English (English also co-wrote the 1967 hit “Bend Me, Shape Me”).
English wasn’t even the only person to record the song before Manilow — New Zealand-based singer Bunny Walters recorded a version of “Brandy” in 1972 that was a hit in his home country.
By 1974, Barry Manilow had been working in the music industry for years, releasing work under his own name and as part of a group called Featherbed; he’d also had a steady gig as Bette Midler’s piano accompanist. But that year, super-producer Clive Davis took over the record label that released Manilow’s music, forming Arista Records — and approached Manilow with a pitch: Release a cover of Scott English’s “Brandy.” Manilow recorded it for his second solo album, Barry Manilow II, which was released in October 1974.
2He changed the title to avoid confusion with another hit
One big difference between Manilow’s song and the original version? A decision was made to adjust the title and lyrics to “Mandy,” rather than “Brandy” — The Looking Glass had had a major hit in 1972 with “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl),” so the tweak was made to avoid listener confusion.
3It was more than just Manilow’s first #1

Credit: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
“Mandy” was not only Manilow’s first #1 single (though he’d eventually score a dozen more throughout his iconic career). It was also the first song on Clive Davis’ then-new Arista Records label to chart on the Billboard Top 100.
4Mandy was never man’s best friend
One of pop music’s most enduring urban myths is that “Mandy” was written about a dog. On the contrary, English confessed in an interview that he told a reporter this tall tale to get him off the phone — the reporter had called him very early in the morning, and he was irate after being woken up early. “Brandy” was actually lyrically inspired by some memories from English’s own life — and a dirty joke that made use of the fact that “Brandy” was the name of both a woman and an after-dinner drink.
5The original songwriter didn’t know the cover was coming
Songwriter Scott English didn’t know that a deal had been reached for Manilow to record and release a new version of his song “Brandy” until he read about it in Billboard Magazine. He’s since stated that his ego made him reluctant to like the idea of another artist covering his song, but he eventually had to admit that Manilow’s recording was beautiful.
6“Mandy” returned to the top of the charts almost 30 years later… sort of
In 2003, the Irish boy band Westlife released their own version of “Mandy” on their album, Turnaround. The cover of a cover was a #1 chart-topper in the UK, even earning the distinction of “Record of the Year”.
7Love beat Mandy
“Mandy” was in the running for “Record of the Year” at the 1976 Grammy Awards, but was defeated by Captain and Tennille’s bouncy hit “Love Will Keep Us Together.”
850 years later, it’s part of the soundtrack to our lives
Fifty years later, doesn’t it feel like you still hear “Mandy” all the time? That’s probably because TV shows have been resurrecting this classic for decades. From Will & Grace and That 70’s Show to Family Guy and The Simpsons, Hollywood never misses an opportunity to look back with fondness at one of music’s schmalziest, yet sweetest, hits.

Pop Music Legends
August 2017
Dedicated to the sights, sounds and stories of the golden age of pop.
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