Scott English
Encyclopedia
Scott English is an American
songwriter
and record producer
, best known as the composer (along with Richard Kerr
) of "Brandy", which became a number-one hit for Barry Manilow
in 1974 under the revised title of "Mandy
". English had a single
release of "Brandy", which reached #12 in the UK Singles Chart
in November 1971, and made the US
chart
in March 1972.
In 1964, English had a regional doo-wop
hit called "High on a Hill", written by Frank Cariola and A. Mangravito. "High on a Hill" has consistently been voted an all-time top song on oldies radio stations in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
With Larry Weiss, he wrote "Bend Me, Shape Me
", which became a hit for the Chicago
-based band The American Breed, reaching number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
chart in 1968; it was also a hit in the UK for Amen Corner
. (The song had been recorded a year earlier by The Outsiders
, but only as an album track on their The Outsiders In
album).
English and Weiss also penned Eric Burdon
and the Animals
' 1966 song "Help Me Girl
" (also released as a single around the same time period by The Outsiders), Lynne Randell
's 1967 hit "Ciao Baby", and "Hi Ho Silver Lining
" which English also produced for Jeff Beck
. He later produced Thin Lizzy
's self-titled debut album, 1971's Thin Lizzy
.
In 1998, English was listed as a co-writer (with Simon Stirling and Phil Mankiza) on the UK entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, "Where Are You?
". The song was performed by Imaani
, and at the time, the songwriters were producing her album. However, that album was never released as Imaani and her record label, EMI
, parted company.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, best known as the composer (along with Richard Kerr
Richard Kerr (songwriter)
Richard Kerr is an English composer, who co-wrote "Mandy", "Looks Like We Made It" and "Somewhere in the Night" - all of which became hit singles for Barry Manilow.-Career:...
) of "Brandy", which became a number-one hit for Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
in 1974 under the revised title of "Mandy
Mandy (song)
"Mandy", originally titled "Brandy", is a song jointly written and composed by Scott English and Richard Kerr."Brandy" had been a hit in 1971 for Scott English in the UK and in 1972 for Bunny Walters in New Zealand...
". English had a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
release of "Brandy", which reached #12 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in November 1971, and made the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in March 1972.
In 1964, English had a regional doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
hit called "High on a Hill", written by Frank Cariola and A. Mangravito. "High on a Hill" has consistently been voted an all-time top song on oldies radio stations in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
With Larry Weiss, he wrote "Bend Me, Shape Me
Bend Me, Shape Me
"Bend Me, Shape Me" is a song written by Scott English and Larry Weiss. It was first recorded by The Outsiders as a track on their album The Outsiders In in 1966...
", which became a hit for the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based band The American Breed, reaching number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in 1968; it was also a hit in the UK for Amen Corner
Amen Corner (band)
Amen Corner were a successful Welsh rock group, formed in late 1966 in Cardiff, Wales.-Career:The band was named after The Amen Corner, a weekly disc spin at the Victoria Ballroom in Cardiff, Wales, where every Sunday night Dr...
. (The song had been recorded a year earlier by The Outsiders
The Outsiders (American band)
The Outsiders was an American rock and roll band from Cleveland, Ohio, that was founded and led by guitarist Tom King. The band is best known for its Top 5 hit "Time Won't Let Me" in early 1966, which peaked at #5 in the US, but the band had three other hit singles in 1966 and released a total of...
, but only as an album track on their The Outsiders In
The Outsiders In
The Outsiders In – also known as simply In or In! – is the third studio album by the Outsiders. It is the first album released by the band that did not make the Billboard charts.-Release data:...
album).
English and Weiss also penned Eric Burdon
Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
and the Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
' 1966 song "Help Me Girl
Help Me Girl
"Help Me Girl" is a song performed by Eric Burdon in 1966. It was billed to Eric Burdon & The Animals for his 1967 solo album, Eric Is Here which also featured drummer Barry Jenkins, the only group member to remain during the transition from the "first" Animals group to the "new" lineup. It...
" (also released as a single around the same time period by The Outsiders), Lynne Randell
Lynne Randell
Lynne Randell was an Australian pop singer. For three years in the mid-1960s she was Australia's most popular female performer and had hits with "Heart" and "Goin' Out of My Head" in 1966, and "Ciao Baby" in 1967. In 1967, Randell toured the United States with The Monkees and performed on-stage...
's 1967 hit "Ciao Baby", and "Hi Ho Silver Lining
Hi Ho Silver Lining
"Hi Ho Silver Lining" is a rock song, written by American songwriters Scott English and Larry Weiss and first released as a single in March 1967 by The Attack, followed a few days later by Jeff Beck. Because the Beck version charted first, the song is most often associated with him...
" which English also produced for Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
. He later produced Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
's self-titled debut album, 1971's Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy (album)
Thin Lizzy is the first studio album by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy, released in 1971.-Track listing:Side one# "The Friendly Ranger at Clontarf Castle" – 3:01# "Honesty Is No Excuse" – 3:40...
.
In 1998, English was listed as a co-writer (with Simon Stirling and Phil Mankiza) on the UK entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, "Where Are You?
Where Are You? (Imaani song)
"Where Are You?" was the United Kingdom entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, held in Birmingham, United Kingdom. It was sung by Imaani and composed by Scott English, Phil Manikiza and Simon Stirling....
". The song was performed by Imaani
Imaani
Imaani Saleem is an English singer.-Career:In 1998 she entered the A Song For Europe competition to find the UK's song for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her track "Where Are You" was a runaway winner with the British public and was selected to represent the UK...
, and at the time, the songwriters were producing her album. However, that album was never released as Imaani and her record label, EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, parted company.