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Scott English

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For the basketball player, see Scott English (basketball).

Sheldon David English (January 10, 1937 – November 16, 2018), known as Scott English, was an American songwriter, arranger and record producer. He is best known as the co-writer of "Brandy" which he wrote with Richard Kerr.[1] This song became a No. 1 hit for Barry Manilow in 1974, with the title changed to "Mandy". English had also released a single of "Brandy" which reached No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1971,[2] and entered the US charts in March 1972.

Scott English
Born
Sheldon David English

(1937-01-10)January 10, 1937
Brooklyn, New York, United States
DiedNovember 16, 2018(2018-11-16) (aged 81)
England
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
Employer(s)Warner Brothers, EMI
Notable work"Hi Ho Silver Lining", "Brandy", "Bend Me, Shape Me", "Help Me Girl"
StylePop
SpousesJacquiline Tames, Elfie Redburn
ChildrenJonathan English, Roxanna Kennedy
Parent(s)Ida English (deceased), Harold English (deceased)
RelativesWoody Mann (blues musician)

Life and career

English was born in Brooklyn, New York, United States.

In 1960, he released his first single, "4,000 Miles Away", on Dot Records.[1] In 1964, English had a regional doo-wop hit called "High on a Hill",[1] written by Frank Cariola and A. Mangravito.[3] "High on a Hill" has consistently been voted an all-time top song on oldies radio stations in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. It also reached No. 3 in popularity on the San Francisco Bay Area radio chart.[4]

With Larry Weiss, he wrote "Bend Me, Shape Me", which became a hit for the Chicago-based band The American Breed, reaching No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968 and also becoming a hit in the UK for Amen Corner. This song had been recorded a year earlier by The Outsiders as an album track on The Outsiders In (1967).

English and Weiss, whom he met through arranger Claus Ogerman, became good friends.[5] Together, they also penned "Help Me Girl" (1966), which was a hit for two acts in late 1966: Eric Burdon solo for Decca, a UK No. 14 and The Outsiders, Lynne Randell's "Ciao Baby" (1967) and Jeff Beck's hit "Hi Ho Silver Lining", originally recorded by English group The Attack in early 1967.

English produced the song "West Virginia" by The Elves in 1969 (a band later known as Elf) which featured Ronnie James Dio on bass and vocals. He later produced Thin Lizzy's eponymous debut album Thin Lizzy (1971).[6][7] He co-wrote the song "Words Don't Mean a Thing" with Lynsey De Paul, who released her version of the song on her album Just a Little Time.[8][9] The song was also featured on the 2008 album Songs From The British Academy, Vol. 1.[10] A Spanish version was released by Cadafal on their album En La Carretera.[11]

In 1998, English was credited as a co-writer with Simon Stirling and Phil Mankiza on the UK entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, "Where Are You?", performed by Imaani. In 2014, English appeared on BBC Radio London's Jo Good Show, debuting a new song "Holla" he wrote for the artist WestWay Beats.[12]

He died in England on 16 November 2018 at the age of 81, due to complications of hip surgery.[13]

Discography

as Scott English

Albums

  • Scott English (1978)

Singles

  • "4,000 Miles Away" (1960)
  • "High on a Hill" (1964) (US Pop #77)
  • "Brandy" (1971)
  • "Denver Calling" (1971)
  • "Waterfall Woman" (1971)
  • "Ballad Of The Unloved" (1972)
  • "He Was Me He Was You" (1972)
  • "Dark Eyed Daughter Of Love" (1973)
  • "Rescue Man" (1973)
  • "Mobile" (1973)
  • "Camp Followin' Rosie" (1973)
  • "Moonlight Lady" (1974)
  • "Something's Missin' In My Life" (1974)
  • "Dance ('Till You're Out Of My Life)" (1978)
  • "Stay" (1978)

Selected credits

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

  • Syria. "Manca di te" (2000)
  • Indiana [BE]. "Imitation Love" (2002)
  • Sarah Kreuz. "Gipsy Girl" (2009)
  • Sarah Kreuz. "I'll Be Yours" (2009)
  • Sarah Kreuz. "Whenever It's Raining" (2009)
  • Sarah Kreuz. "You Carried Me" (200)
  • Spike [UK]. "The Brooklyn Bridge" (2014)
  • Spike [UK]. Bonnie Tyler. "Fortune" (2014)
  • Westway Beats. "Holla" (2014)
  • Westway Beats. "Famous" (2015)
  • Westway Beats. "Ruby Rain" (2015)
  • Bob Welch. "Bend Me, Shape Me"
  • Arthur Louis. "If Ever I Need You" (2009)[14][15]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Scott English Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 184. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ "High On A Hill by Scott English". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  4. ^ "High On A Hill by Scott English Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  5. ^ "Scott English: Lyricist, Recording Artist, Producer [interview]". The Paul Leslie Hour. WordPress. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  6. ^ Alan Byrne, 2005, Thin Lizzy, SAF Publishing, p. 34
  7. ^ "Thin Lizzy - Thin Lizzy : Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  8. ^ "Lynsey De Paul - Just A Little Time". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Words Don't Mean A Thing - Lynsey de Paul Song - BBC Music". BBC. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Various - Songs From The British Academy, Vol. 1 (CD, Album)". Discogs.com. 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  11. ^ "Cadafal - En La Carretera". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  12. ^ "Scott English". BBC Music.
  13. ^ Aniftos, Rania (20 November 2018). "Scott English, Producer & 'Brandy' Songwriter. Dies at 81". Billboard Magazine. Prometheus Global Media, LLC. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  14. ^ "Scott English". Discogs.com. 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
  15. ^ "Scott English". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
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