: 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.
: The song found a new generation of fans in 2003 when the Irish boyband Westlife released their version, reaching #1 in the UK. : The original by Scott English was more
: Scott English initially "hated" the changes Manilow made, but he grew to love the version because the massive royalties "bought him houses". : Scott English initially "hated" the changes Manilow
: It became Barry Manilow's first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1975. : Manilow’s version omitted two lines from the
: 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)" .
: 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
: 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