Brandy - Scott English (original Version Of Mandy - Barry Manilow) Apr 2026

Before it became Barry Manilow’s career-launching ballad, "" began its life as a faster-paced rock-pop track titled " Brandy ," written and recorded by American musician Scott English in 1971 . While English’s version was a top 20 hit in the UK, it was Manilow’s reimagining that turned it into a global classic. The Evolution from "Brandy" to "Mandy"

For years, an urban legend persisted that the song was about a favorite dog.

: Scott English admitted he fabricated the dog story to get a pestering reporter off the phone. : Scott English admitted he fabricated the dog

Watch these videos to hear the contrast between the original rock-inspired version and the famous ballad version:

: Manilow’s version omitted two lines from the fourth verse: "Riding on a country bus / No one even noticed us" . The Myth of the Dog Manilow and producer Ron Dante initially struggled with

: The original by Scott English was more "rock and roll" and uptempo. Manilow and producer Ron Dante initially struggled with it until Manilow sat at the piano and slowed it down, finding the "love song hiding" within the arrangement.

: When Clive Davis suggested Manilow record the song in 1974, they changed the title to "Mandy" to avoid confusion with the popular Looking Glass hit, "Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)" . : Scott English admitted he fabricated the dog

: English has since clarified that the song was actually inspired by his own life, specifically the fear and vulnerability he felt about leaving his first wife. The "face through a window" mentioned in the lyrics refers to his father. Chart Impact and Legacy