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

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

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. Watch these videos to hear the contrast between

: 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.

: 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 : The original by Scott English was more

: The song found a new generation of fans in 2003 when the Irish boyband Westlife released their version, reaching #1 in the UK.

: 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 The Myth of the Dog : The song

: It became Barry Manilow's first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1975.