Performed live at The Other Songs, May 2023, at The London Palladium.

In memory of Richard Kerr.

"Mandy", originally called "Brandy" when it was written by Kerr and Scott English in 1971, was first released by New Zealand singer Bunny Walters in 1972. However, the song reached heightened success when it was released by Barry Manilow in 1974.

For Manilow's recording, the title changed from "Brandy" to "Mandy" to avoid any confusion with Looking Glass's "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)". He scored his first #1 single with the song on January 18, 1975, establishing a career in which he would go on to sell more than 75 millions records. Manilow's version also reached the Billboard Top 100.

Later, it was recorded by many other artists. The song was a UK number one hit in 2003 for Irish boyband Westlife.

The following words are from The Other Songs founder, Al Webber:

Richard was an incredible songwriter and wonderful man.

Thanks to Don Black’s introduction we became friends and he performed “Mandy” three times at our live shows over the years. First at The Other Songs in 2017, second in 2018 and then at The London Palladium 2023. I’ll never forget the gasps from the young people in the crowd as he started singing the chorus, they couldn’t believe they were in the presence of such songwriter royalty. Somehow “Mandy” sounded more authentic coming from Richard, he wrote the song for Barry Manilow but when a songwriter sings their own song, the lyrics hit in a totally different way. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Of course, Richard wrote many other songs too, like “Looks Like We Made It” for Barry Manilow (Billboard no.1) and “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” for Dionne Warwick (Billboard no.5), amongst many others. Apparently he was writing songs until the day he passed away. Richard, thank you for the humour, the kindness and the timeless music. Sending love & strength to your wife, Charlotte, from all of us here at The Other Songs. Al x

Lyrics:

I remember all my life
Raining down as cold as ice
A shadow of a man
A face through a window
Crying in the night
The night goes into
Morning, just another day
Happy people pass my way
Looking in their eyes
I see a memory
I never realized
How happy you made me, oh Mandy
Well you came and you gave without taking
And I sent you away, oh Mandy
And you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh Mandy
I'm standing on the edge of time
Walked away when love was mine
Caught up in a world of uphill climbing
The tears are in my eyes
And nothing is rhyming, oh Mandy
Well you came and you gave without taking
And I sent you away, oh Mandy
And you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh Mandy
Yesterday's a dream
Now I face the morning
Crying on the breeze
The pain is calling, oh Mandy
Well you came and you gave without taking
And I sent you away, oh Mandy
And you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh Mandy
Well you came and you gave without taking
And I sent you away, oh Mandy
And you kissed me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh Mandy


#mandy #richardkerr #theothersongs #barrymanilow #livemusic #uksongwriters #westlife #mandysong #ohmandy

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